First Financial Bank SBA 7(a) Lending Program

First Financial Bank ranked #32 nationally among SBA 7(a) lenders in 2025, approving $218.4M across 189 SBA loans. While not the largest SBA lender by volume, First Financial Bank’s SBA program supported 2,347 jobs and serves borrowers looking for a larger-deal lender handling substantial acquisitions and commercial real estate.

First Financial Bank’s SBA borrowers benefit from rates well below the market average. At 8.72%, their average SBA 7(a) rate is 1.6% lower than the national average of 10.32%, suggesting competitive pricing — particularly for well-qualified borrowers with strong credit and collateral.

Their SBA lending is concentrated in Texas, Ohio, Arkansas, with notable SBA loan volume in industries like Broilers and Other Meat Type, Pet Care (except Veterinary) Services, General Freight Trucking, Local. The data below is sourced entirely from official SBA FOIA records and covers First Financial Bank’s SBA 7(a) lending activity for calendar year 2025 — not their conventional lending or other banking products.

First Financial Bank SBA Loan Reviews

First Financial Bank is a Midwest SBA lender with presence in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Their community banking approach to SBA lending emphasizes personalized service.

Reviews sourced from Trustpilot, BBB, and other public review platforms. Individual experiences may vary. GoSBA Loans is not affiliated with First Financial Bank.

First Financial Bank SBA Loans by Business Type

Not all SBA lenders fund the same types of deals. Some focus their SBA programs on established businesses with years of cash flow history, while others actively seek out startup financing or business acquisition deals. Understanding First Financial Bank’s SBA loan mix helps you assess whether their program aligns with your specific situation. Here’s how their $218.4M in 2025 SBA 7(a) approvals breaks down:

First Financial Bank stands out as one of the more startup-friendly SBA lenders, with 31% of their SBA portfolio going to brand-new businesses (61 startup loans totaling $67.7M). Most SBA lenders allocate less than 15% of their volume to startups, so First Financial Bank’s appetite for new ventures is notably above average. If you’re launching a business and need SBA financing, First Financial Bank should be on your shortlist.

Business acquisitions (change of ownership) account for a significant 44% of First Financial Bank’s SBA lending (71 deals totaling $96.2M). This tells us First Financial Bank’s SBA team has deep experience underwriting acquisition deals — evaluating seller financials, business valuations, and transition plans. If you’re buying a business with an SBA loan, First Financial Bank is well-equipped to handle the complexity.

Existing business SBA loans represent the largest category at 19% of First Financial Bank’s SBA portfolio ($42.2M across 42 loans). These are businesses with 2+ years of operating history, and they typically receive the fastest SBA approvals and most competitive rates because lenders can evaluate actual financial performance rather than projections. New businesses (under 2 years old) account for 6% ($12.4M, 15 SBA loans).

First Financial Bank vs. National Average

How does First Financial Bank compare to the average SBA 7(a) lender in 2025? The SBA 7(a) program funded 78078 loans totaling $478K in average loan size at a 10.32% average rate. Here’s how First Financial Bank stacks up:

Understanding how First Financial Bank compares to national benchmarks helps you evaluate whether their terms are competitive. A rate lower than the national average of 10.32% can translate to significant savings over the life of a 10-25 year SBA loan. However, individual rates depend on your credit profile, deal structure, and the specific lender relationship — which is why comparing multiple offers is critical.

Variable vs. Fixed Rate Breakdown

SBA 7(a) loans can carry either variable or fixed interest rates. Variable rates are tied to the Prime Rate and adjust quarterly, while fixed rates remain constant for the life of the loan. Here’s how First Financial Bank’s portfolio breaks down:

Variable rate loans made up 60.8% of First Financial Bank’s SBA portfolio at an average rate of 9.02%. Fixed rate loans accounted for 39.2% at 8.25%. The SBA caps variable rates at Prime + 2.75% for most loans, so your actual rate depends on the spread each lender charges. Fixed rate loans offer rate certainty but are less common in the SBA 7(a) program.

Loan Term Breakdown

SBA 7(a) loan terms typically range from 7 to 25 years depending on the use of proceeds. Loans for commercial real estate qualify for 25-year terms, while working capital and business acquisition loans typically max out at 10 years. Here’s how First Financial Bank’s portfolio splits:

Long-term loans (typically for commercial real estate purchases) carry significantly lower rates averaging 8.34% compared to 9.05% for shorter-term working capital and business acquisition loans. The average long-term loan is also larger at $1.4M vs $958K for short-term loans. If your deal involves real estate, you’ll generally qualify for longer terms and lower rates.

Top States for First Financial Bank SBA Loans

Geographic presence matters in SBA lending. Lenders who are active in your state often have relationships with local SBA district offices, understand regional real estate markets, and may have branch locations that can facilitate closings. The table below shows every state where First Financial Bank funded SBA 7(a) loans in 2025, ranked by total dollar volume:

First Financial Bank funded SBA loans across 15 states in 2025, with the heaviest concentration in Texas, Ohio, Arkansas. If your business is located in one of these high-volume states, First Financial Bank likely has loan officers who understand your local market conditions — commercial real estate values, industry mix, and economic dynamics. This familiarity can translate to faster underwriting and more competitive terms.

That said, many borrowers benefit from working with lenders outside their immediate geography. National SBA lenders may offer better rates or more experience with your specific industry. An SBA loan broker can identify the best match regardless of location.

Top Industries Funded by First Financial Bank

Industry specialization is one of the most underrated factors in SBA lending. A lender who has funded 50 dental practices understands the economics of that business model far better than one processing their first dental deal. The table below shows which industries First Financial Bank funded most actively in 2025:

If your business falls within one of First Financial Bank’s top-funded industries, you may benefit from their underwriting familiarity. Lenders with deep industry experience understand the typical revenue patterns, seasonal cash flow fluctuations, margin structures, and collateral values specific to your sector. This expertise typically translates into three tangible advantages: faster processing (they know exactly what documentation to request), higher approval rates (they can accurately assess risk without conservative assumptions), and more competitive terms (they price the loan based on actual industry data rather than generalized risk models).

Conversely, if your industry doesn’t appear in First Financial Bank’s top list, that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t fund your deal — but you may want to prioritize lenders who have more experience with your business type. An SBA loan broker can identify which lenders have the deepest expertise in your specific industry.

How to Get an SBA Loan Through First Financial Bank

There are two primary ways to access First Financial Bank for an SBA 7(a) loan, and the path you choose can significantly impact your rate, terms, and timeline:

Option 1: Apply directly to First Financial Bank. You can contact First Financial Bank’s commercial lending team and submit an SBA 7(a) application. This approach is straightforward — you work with one bank, one loan officer, and receive a single offer. The advantage is simplicity. The disadvantage is that you have no way to know whether First Financial Bank’s terms are competitive without a reference point. You’re essentially accepting whatever rate and terms they offer.

Option 2: Use an SBA loan broker (recommended). An SBA loan broker like GoSBA Loans submits your application to First Financial Bank and 50+ other SBA lenders simultaneously. Instead of one quote, you receive 3-5 competing term sheets. This fundamentally changes the negotiation dynamic — lenders know they’re competing for your business, which drives rates down and speeds up processing. The broker’s service is completely free to borrowers because lenders pay the broker origination fee.

What to prepare: Regardless of which path you choose, First Financial Bank will typically require 2-3 years of business and personal tax returns, a 10% equity injection, a personal financial statement (SBA Form 413), and details about the business or property you’re acquiring. For acquisitions, you’ll also need the seller’s financial records and a signed Letter of Intent.

Frequently Asked Questions

First Financial Bank SBA Alternatives

While First Financial Bank is a strong SBA lender ranked #32 nationally, many borrowers benefit from comparing offers across multiple banks. Each SBA lender has different rate spreads, industry preferences, geographic focus areas, and appetite for startups vs. existing businesses. The lenders below represent the top SBA 7(a) lenders in the country by total loan volume — any of them could be a viable alternative depending on your specific deal:

• #1 Live Oak Banking Company — $2.85B funded across 2280 loans
• #2 The Huntington National Bank — $2.09B funded across 6998 loans
• #3 Newtek Bank, National Association — $2.03B funded across 4828 loans
• #4 Northeast Bank — $1.32B funded across 7815 loans
• #5 Readycap Lending, LLC — $1.17B funded across 3137 loans
• #6 U.S. Bank, National Association — $871.2M funded across 3453 loans
• #7 First Internet Bank of Indiana — $712.3M funded across 487 loans
• #8 Celtic Bank Corporation — $592.9M funded across 1482 loans
• #9 JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association — $590.5M funded across 1914 loans
• #10 Byline Bank — $561.1M funded across 505 loans

The best way to determine which lender is the right fit for your deal is to submit a single application through an SBA loan broker like GoSBA and let multiple lenders compete for your business. This way you see actual term sheets from First Financial Bank and its competitors — side by side — before making a decision.

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Data sourced from official SBA 7(a) FOIA loan approval records for Calendar Year 2025, published by the U.S. Small Business Administration. For official SBA program information, visit sba.gov.