by | Nov 27, 2024 | Loans & Lending

Last Updated: December 4, 2024

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Are you looking for Arkansas’s best business loans and startup financing companies? For your small business in the Natural State, many banks, credit unions, and unconventional lenders are offering different loan types. In 2022, over 264,000 small businesses operated in Arkansas. That is why many lenders offer different loan types here with flexible terms and competitive rates.

Understand the unique features and benefits of different loan types to empower your business. That’s how you choose the best lender for your business. Also, look into no-credit equipment financing options if you can’t get a business loan via traditional means.

Consider these 12 business loans & startup financing options in Arkansas to get started. Check our reviews of these lenders to decide which one’s the best option for you:

1. Swoop Funding

Swoop Funding is every Arkansas-based small company’s top startup financing option. It will offer entrepreneurs a range of funding solutions to meet their needs. You can access many loan types, including traditional term loans and innovative financing options with a simplified funding process. Even if it’s been 6 months since you started this business, Swoop will consider your loan application!

2. Armstrong Bank

At the Armstrong Bank, Arkansas-based businesses can tap into different lending opportunities, such as the following:

  • 7(a) Standard and Small Loan
  • SBA Express
  • Export Express
  • Export Working Capital
  • International Trade
  • Veterans Advantage
  • CAPLines

3. Bank of Little Rock

If you need ample funding and financial support for your Arkansas-based business, then get in touch with the Bank of Little Rock. Some of the key features of this lender include competitive rates, flexible terms & conditions, local decision-making, and personal services. Owning a small business in central Arkansas will maximize your chances of getting a loan from this lender.

4. Arvest

We’re mentioning Arvest again in this blog. That’s because this prestigious lender helps startups and local businesses with multiple loan options. So, you can take out a loan amount of up to $500 thousand to $5.5 million with Arvest.

It’s also helpful to learn about hazard insurance companies if you want to prevent your business from collapsing due to unforeseen risks.

5. First Financial Bank

This bank has its roots in Ohio, established as the Bank of Hamilton in the 1860s. However, it also offers financial lending services to clients in Indiana, Kentucky, and Arkansas. The average interest rate here is 5.19% while the average loan size is $986,000. So, get in touch with the First Financial Bank to support your Kansas-based business monetarily.

6. Union Bank

This lender helps businesses in West Central Arkansas and the River Valley. Union Bank is like a locally community-funded lender that helps entrepreneurs based in the Natural State get the much-needed financial support to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. As an SBA Lender, they offer qualified companies our best rates & extended terms for a variety of business needs.

Just like most lenders, Union Bank gives you up to $5 million and $5.5 million if you apply for 7(a) and 504 loans via this lender.

7. First National Bank of NWA

Based in Fort Smith, AR, this lender helps Arkansas-based startups get the money they need to stay thriving. You can open an asset-based line of credit or simply apply for commercial loans. A normal line of credit is also possible here. Moreover, you may apply for equipment and vehicle financing assistance. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg; the First National Bank opens doors to multiple loan types, including commercial real estate loans, mini-perm loans, development loans (business-related), and various other lending categories.

8. Bank OZK

This lender went by the Bank of Ozark in the early 20th century. Now, it has 240 offices across 8 different states with $26 billion in assets. The loan amounts here range from $50k to $5.5 million (the average payout amount being over $550k). So, get in touch with this Arkansas-based firm to get started with your unique business idea.

9. Arkansas Federal Credit Union

At the Arkansas Federal Credit Union, you can tap into different loan types that help keep your business afloat. SBA 7(a) and 504 loans go up to $5 million and $5.5 million respectively at this Natural State FCU. You can also open a line of credit to get funded for 5 to 10 years, receiving up to $5 million for business expenses.

10. Relyance Bank

This is yet another lender that specializes in helping Arkansas-based startups with SBA loans. Here are some amazing features of this lender, as advertised on their webpage:

  • Available to small and upcoming businesses
  • Government-assisted help for businesses that might otherwise have difficulty getting approved
  • Special financing for qualifying businesses
  • Generally lower down payments and extended terms
  • Competitive rates for a wide range of business needs
  • Flexible terms, suited to your situation
  • Helpful, personalized service from start to finish

11. Southern Bancorp

This lender has been operating in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi for the last 30 years. You can utilize the loans provided by this lender to buy business equipment, working capital, or some other reason. That’s why the average interest rent here is 4.95%. Keep in mind that $1.12 million is the average payout amount given by Southern Bancorp.

12. FOCUS Bank

At FOCUS Bank, you can get ample loans to keep your business running & thriving. So, keep in mind that this lender specializes in commercial real estate and construction loans. They provide financial support to establishments in Arkansas and Missouri.

Arkansas Government Resources

Check out these government resources about business grants/funding and startup financing options in Arkansas:

Top Cities in Arkansas for Business Loans

Curious to know which cities, townships, municipalities, or census-designated places (CDPs) in the state of Arkansas are the best for business loans & startup financing? If you live in any of these 30 cities, then you can easily access SBA loans or other nontraditional financing means to embark on your entrepreneurial journey:

  1. Little Rock
  2. Fort Smith
  3. Fayetteville
  4. Springdale
  5. Jonesboro
  6. North Little Rock
  7. Conway
  8. Rogers
  9. Bentonville
  10. Pine Bluff
  11. Hot Springs
  12. Texarkana
  13. El Dorado
  14. West Memphis
  15. Searcy
  16. Benton
  17. Cabot
  18. Sherwood
  19. Russellville
  20. Mountain Home
  21. Bryant
  22. Jacksonville
  23. Harrison
  24. Malvern
  25. Hope
  26. Nashville
  27. Mena
  28. Greenwood
  29. Cabot
  30. Stuttgart

Conclusion

Whether you’re a startup owner or founded a well-established business years ago, you have to choose the right financing partner and lender. That’s how you keep your business vessel afloat and key commercial operations running in Arkansas in this economy.

Now, choose a lender that offers you flexible loan terms and interest rates. So, check their online reputation, customer service, interest rates, and other factors. If nothing makes sense, get in touch with Sophisticated Investor to understand how to get your entrepreneurial dreams funded quickly. That’s how you can take your business to new heights of success.

Brandi Marcene

Brandi is a financial writer and entrepreneur with decades of expertise covering U.S. business and financial topics. Her work has been featured on Consumer Affairs, ASBN Small Business Network, Koho and many other top financial publications.