SBA loans in Arkansas: who lends, what gets bought, how it performs
Since FY2018, SBA lenders have approved 334 7(a) loans to buy an existing business in Arkansas, totaling $415M. The median loan was $847,500, 31% higher than the $645,250 national median for SBA-financed acquisitions. Volume rose 65% from FY2024 to FY2026.
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SBA lenders in Arkansas
The lenders that made the most SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in Arkansas, FY2018 to FY2026.
| # | Lender | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Financial Bank | 44 | 13.2% | $66.9M | |
| 2 | Arvest Bank | 35 | 10.5% | $34.4M | |
| 3 | Live Oak Banking Company | 25 | 7.5% | $50.2M | |
| 4 | Simmons Bank | 23 | 6.9% | $13.3M | |
| 5 | The Huntington National Bank | 18 | 5.4% | $18.3M | |
| 6 | Southern Bancorp Bank | 16 | 4.8% | $10.9M | |
| 7 | FNBC Bank | 13 | 3.9% | $11.6M | |
| 8 | Bank OZK | 12 | 3.6% | $17M | |
| 9 | ACC Capital | 9 | 2.7% | $4.1M | |
| 10 | CS Bank | 7 | 2.1% | $2.7M |
What this tells a buyer
- Deal size band. Half of Arkansas acquisition loans fell between $324,250 and $1,658,750. The nationwide band is $283,000 to $1,465,000.
- Share of national volume. Arkansas accounts for 0.7% of all SBA acquisition loans and ranks number 38 of 54 states and territories by count.
- Industry concentration. Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production is the most financed business type here (38 loans, 11% of the state). The top three industries together are 22%.
- Lender concentration. First Financial Bank made 13% of the state's acquisition loans. No single lender dominates, so there are several lenders with local acquisition experience.
- Franchise resales. 13% of acquisition loans in Arkansas involved a franchised brand; the most frequent is Quality Inn (3 loans).
Arkansas acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 26 | $24M | $731,050 | |
| FY2019 | 41 | $52.1M | $798,600 | |
| FY2020 | 45 | $44M | $698,000 | |
| FY2021 | 41 | $41.6M | $540,000 | |
| FY2022 | 33 | $40.6M | $787,000 | |
| FY2023 | 28 | $35.7M | $653,950 | |
| FY2024 | 26 | $32.4M | $1,119,550 | |
| FY2025 | 51 | $76.9M | $1,194,000 | |
| FY2026 | 43 | $68M | $1,195,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 153 Arkansas acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), 7 have been charged off by the SBA, a rate of 4.6% by loan count and 2.1% by dollars. 76 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, the charge-off rate across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort is 3.5%, so Arkansas is 30% higher than the acquisition-loan average. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
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Top industries in Arkansas
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production | 38 | 11.4% | $75.5M | |
| 2 | Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels | 21 | 6.3% | $40.7M | |
| 3 | Full-Service Restaurants | 13 | 3.9% | $5.6M | |
| 4 | Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | 11 | 3.3% | $18.5M | |
| 5 | Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores | 9 | 2.7% | $21.1M | |
| 6 | Child Care Services | 7 | 2.1% | $2.6M | |
| 7 | Veterinary Services | 6 | 1.8% | $8.6M | |
| 8 | Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units | 6 | 1.8% | $6.6M | |
| 9 | Chicken Egg Production | 6 | 1.8% | $6.5M | |
| 10 | Tire Dealers | 6 | 1.8% | $5.9M |
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Franchise brands bought in Arkansas
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quality Inn | 3 | 0.9% | $7.7M | |
| 2 | Days Inn | 3 | 0.9% | $4.2M | |
| 3 | Best Western | 2 | 0.6% | $5.2M | |
| 4 | The UPS Store | 2 | 0.6% | $341K | |
| 5 | Good Neighbor Pharmacy | 1 | 0.3% | $4.9M | |
| 6 | La Quinta | 1 | 0.3% | $4.4M | |
| 7 | Ace Hardware | 1 | 0.3% | $4.3M | |
| 8 | Comfort Suites | 1 | 0.3% | $3.4M | |
| 9 | Fairfield by Marriott | 1 | 0.3% | $3.4M | |
| 10 | Smartstyle | 1 | 0.3% | $3.1M | |
| 11 | SureStay | 1 | 0.3% | $2.3M | |
| 12 | Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More | 1 | 0.3% | $1.7M | |
| 13 | Super 8 | 1 | 0.3% | $1.5M | |
| 14 | Red Lion Hotels | 1 | 0.3% | $1.2M | |
| 15 | Club Pilates | 1 | 0.3% | $1.1M |
Acquisitions by industry in Arkansas
The 4 industries with the most acquisition loans in Arkansas (minimum ten). Charge-off rates appear where at least 20 loans are old enough to measure.
| Industry | Loans | Median loan | Charge-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production | 38 | $2,032,500 | n/a |
| Hotels and Motels | 21 | $1,731,000 | n/a |
| Full-Service Restaurants | 13 | $352,500 | n/a |
| Pharmacies and Drug Retailers | 11 | $1,100,000 | n/a |
Questions buyers ask
How much do buyers borrow to buy a business in Arkansas?
The median SBA 7(a) acquisition loan in Arkansas was $847,500 across 334 loans (FY2018 to FY2026), 31% higher than the $645,250 national median. The middle half of loans ran from $324,250 to $1,658,750. A loan is not the purchase price: it is net of the buyer's equity injection and usually includes some working capital.
Which banks make the most SBA acquisition loans in Arkansas?
First Financial Bank (44), Arvest Bank (35), Live Oak Banking Company (25), Simmons Bank (23), The Huntington National Bank (18). First Financial Bank alone accounts for 13% of Arkansas acquisition loans. See each lender page for industries and states served.
What kinds of businesses are bought with SBA loans in Arkansas?
Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production (38), Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels (21), Full-Service Restaurants (13), Pharmacies and Drug Retailers (11), Gasoline Stations with Convenience Stores (9). The top three industries make up 22% of the state's acquisition loans.
How often do SBA acquisition loans fail in Arkansas?
In the seasoned cohort (FY2018 to FY2021), among 153 Arkansas acquisition loans: 4.6% charged off, 30% higher than the 3.5% national acquisition average.
How does Arkansas compare with other states?
Arkansas ranks number 38 of 54 states and territories by acquisition loan count, with 0.7% of national volume (334 of 48,902 loans) and $415M approved. Browse the full state ranking.
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Related
- Broilers and Other Meat Type Chicken Production nationally
- Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels nationally
- Full-Service Restaurants nationally
- First Financial Bank
- Arvest Bank
- Live Oak Banking Company
- All states
- Buyer's guide to the data
State is the project state recorded by the lender (where the acquired business operates), not the borrower's mailing state.