Arvest Bank in Fayetteville was the top U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in Arkansas in the fiscal year 2020. The ranking is based on 7(a) loan production for the SBA fiscal year ending Sept. 30. -Talk Business & Politics

• The bank has led Arkansas in both total number (84) and total volume ($14.1 million) of 7(a) loans for the last seven years. The 7(a) loan program is the primary program of the SBA for providing financial aid to small businesses.
• Mark Ryan, Executive VP and loan manager at Arvest, said that while it is always gratifying to help small businesses, 2020 seemed more rewarding due to the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.