At a glance
From its website, read 2 Nov 2026First Southwest Bank is a bank or thrift based in Durango, Colorado. Its website describes farm loans, credit-builder loans, microloans and 2 other loan types. Where it lends: La Plata County and other rural Colorado counties (rental micro-loans). The business loan rate it states is 4%. It says it considers borrowers with low or no credit history. You can start an application online.
Each point is backed by a quote further down this page. Terms change: confirm with the lender.
How to reach them and apply
| Toll-free | (866) 641-3792 source |
|---|---|
| Apply online | Page with the application link |
| Website | www.fswb.com |
| Office (official list) | 600 E 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81303 |
What their website says about applying
The application is available on paper or online.
sourceYou will need to provide a detailed written description of your business that answers the following questions.
sourceLease agreement must be for a minimum of one year. Proof of lease must be provided.
source
Phone numbers and addresses are the ones on the lender's own site and the CDFI Fund list. CDFI Atlas does not take applications.
Rates and terms they state
Read 2 Nov 2026| Loan | Stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture / farm loans | Rate: 4% APR | 4% fixed interest rate (Annual Percentage Rate 4.17%). | source |
| Microloans | Rate: 4% APR | 4% Annual Percentage Rate* | source |
| Microloans | Term: up to 3 yr | *$5,000 loan amount @ 4% Annual Percentage Rate: 36 monthly payments of $147.62 | source |
As published on the lender's website on that date, not an offer or a quote. Your rate depends on the lender's review. A missing rate means the pages we read did not state one. For consumer loans we repeat a rate only when the lender states it as an APR (annual percentage rate, which includes fees); otherwise read the lender's own wording and ask for the APR.
Who qualifies, in their words
- Minimum credit score: 660
Minimum FICO score of 660 with no active collections.
source - Low or damaged credit considered
Good Credit Scores are not required in order to open a credit-builder loan.
source - Collateral flexible or not always required
Unsecured (no collateral required)
source - Income limit applies
Borrower must make 120% or less of Area Median Income (AMI) for La Plata County.
source - Business plan required
You will need to provide a detailed written description of your business that answers the following questions.
source
Only rules the lender's own pages state. Other requirements may apply.
Official record
CDFI Fund list, 21 Oct 2026| Institution type | Bank or thrift |
|---|---|
| Native CDFI | No |
| Date certified (as listed) | 18 Oct 2014 |
| RSSD ID | 3224302 |
| Address | 600 E 2nd Avenue, Durango, CO 81303 Directions (Google Maps) |
| Website | www.fswb.com |
Head officeBranch or officeApproximate (ZIP code area)
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, © OpenMapTiles, tiles OpenFreeMap. Head-office points: U.S. Census Bureau geocoder.
Loans and eligibility
Verified from lender site on 2 Nov 2026Read from 7 pages of the lender's website on 2 Nov 2026. Quotes are verbatim. Extracted with AI help from the pages listed below and checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a person. Confidence: high. Online applications are restricted by ZIP code; rental micro-loans cover La Plata County and other rural Colorado counties. Terms change — confirm with the lender before applying.
| Product | Amount stated | Text on the lender's site (verbatim, incl. menu labels) | Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agriculture / farm loans | up to $750,000 | Up to $750,000.* (*Higher limits can be considered with prior approval.) | source |
| Credit-builder loans | — | The Credit Builder Loan is a cash secured installment loan where 100% of loan proceeds are deposited and held in a savings account. | source |
| Microloans | up to $5,000 | The La Plata County Workforce Rental Assistance Program offers low-cost, fixed-rate micro-loans of up to $5,000 | source |
| Personal / consumer loans | — | Choose the best personal loan option for you. | source |
| Small-business loans | — | Apply for a business loan. | source |
Loan sizes
Service area
La Plata County and other rural Colorado counties (rental micro-loans)
for eligible renters in all other Colorado rural counties.
source
Counties this matches: La Plata County, CO
Borrower focus
Languages
- No non-English service found on the pages we read.
Online application
Yes — the site links to an application. The application is available on paper or online.
source
Pages read (7)
- https://www.fswb.bank/
- https://www.fswb.bank/personal/credit-builder-loan-program
- https://www.fswb.bank/about/workforce-rental-assistance-micro-loan-program
- https://www.fswb.bank/personal/rental-assistance-micro-loans
- https://www.fswb.bank/business/colorado-agricultural-future-loan-program-faqs
- https://www.fswb.bank/online-loan-applications
- https://www.fswb.bank/business/usda-farm-service-agency-fsa-loan-program
Questions to ask when you contact them
Based on what their website said when we read it on 2 Nov 2026, and what it left out. Something missing here does not mean they don't offer it: ask.
- What are the smallest and the largest loans you make?
No loan amounts are stated on their website. - What is the APR, including fees, on your credit-builder loans and personal loans?
Their website does not state an APR. The APR includes fees, so it is the number to compare. - Do you offer free coaching or help preparing my application?
CDFI certification requires development services, such as training or advice, alongside lending. - What documents will you need from me, and how long does a decision usually take?
Their website describes some application steps (above); ask for the full document list.
Write down the answers, who you spoke to and the date, and ask for the terms in writing before you sign.
CDFI Fund awards
CDFI Fund database, 3 Nov 2026$3.5 million in 8 awards from the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund, 2015–2023 (Bank Enterprise Award Program; CDFI Rapid Response Program).
| Round year | Program | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $367,900 |
| 2021 | CDFI Rapid Response Program | $1,826,265 |
| 2020 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $202,898 |
| 2019 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $245,547 |
| 2018 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $233,244 |
| 2017 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $233,389 |
| 2016 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $227,282 |
| 2015 | Bank Enterprise Award Program | $181,829 |
These are awards and investments made to the institution itself to build its capital and capacity. They are not loans to borrowers, and an award does not mean the lender has money available for a particular loan today.
Source: CDFI Fund Searchable Awards Database, all 12,628 award records (1996–2025), read 3 Nov 2026. Years are the award round as the database lists it. Matched to the official CDFI list by exact name and state; see the method on the About page.
Branches and size
FDIC, 30 Jun 2026On file with the FDIC as First Southwest Bank (FDIC cert 57741). Source: FDIC BankFind Suite (public data): total assets from the Call Report as of 30 Jun 2026; office list as of 30 Oct 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026.
| Total assets | $657.5 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
|---|---|
| Offices | 6 (as of 30 Oct 2026) |
Offices by state and county (6)
Colorado (6 offices)
- Alamosa County (1): 720 Main St, Alamosa 81101
- Archuleta County (1): 249 Navajo Trail Dr, Pagosa Springs 81147
- La Plata County (1): 600 E 2nd Ave, Durango 81301 (main office)
- Montezuma County (1): 1510 E Main St, Cortez 81321
- Rio Grande County (1): 2060 East Highway 112, Center 81125
- Saguache County (1): 400 4th St, Saguache 81149
An office shows where the lender has a branch, not where it lends or whom it lends to.
What the regulator filing shows
Call Report, 30 Jun 2026Figures from the Call Report filed by First Southwest Bank (RSSD 3224302, FDIC cert 57741). Source: FFIEC Central Data Repository, bulk Call Report data (public data), report date 30 Jun 2026; year-earlier figures from the 30 Jun 2025 report; downloaded 4 Nov 2026. Schedules RC-C Parts I and II, dollar amounts filed in thousands.
| Total loans and leases | $341.9 million (as of 30 Jun 2026, net of unearned income) |
|---|---|
| Change over the year | Up 8.7% from $314.6 million on 30 Jun 2025 |
| Total assets | $657.5 million (as of 30 Jun 2026) |
Loan mix (balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Loan category | Balance | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Home mortgages (1-4 family, closed-end) | $44.2 million | 12.9% |
| Home equity lines of credit | $12.7 million | 3.7% |
| Commercial real estate, construction and multifamily | $169.8 million | 49.5% |
| Commercial and industrial (business) loans | $34 million | 9.9% |
| Farmland and farm production loans | $73.2 million | 21.4% |
| Consumer loans (credit cards, auto, other) | $7.8 million | 2.3% |
| All other loans and leases | $1.2 million | 0.4% |
Within consumer loans: auto loans $2.5 million.
Small business loans (original amount $1 million or less, balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Original loan amount | Secured by business property | Commercial and industrial |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $100,000 | 12 loans $287,000 | 162 loans $4.1 million |
| $100,001 to $250,000 | 38 loans $4.7 million | 66 loans $6.3 million |
| $250,001 to $1 million | 89 loans $32.4 million | 32 loans $9.7 million |
| All small business loans | 139 loans $37.3 million | 260 loans $20 million |
Small farm loans (original amount $500,000 or less, balances on 30 Jun 2026)
| Original loan amount | Secured by farmland | Farm production |
|---|---|---|
| Up to $100,000 | 1 loan $15,000 | 63 loans $1.8 million |
| $100,001 to $250,000 | 13 loans $2.1 million | 36 loans $3.2 million |
| $250,001 to $500,000 | 20 loans $5.5 million | 14 loans $3.1 million |
| All small farm loans | 34 loans $7.6 million | 113 loans $8.1 million |
Balances are loans outstanding on the report date, not loans made during the year, and they include loans the bank bought. Shares are of gross loans and leases. The change over the year includes loans gained through mergers or bought from others. A category with no balance does not mean the bank never makes that kind of loan; ask the bank.
How it compares
Computed from public data| Measure | This lender | Compared with |
|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan it approved, FY2020–FY2026 | $148,000 (134 loans) | All 7(a) lenders in Colorado: $294,000. Larger than the median loan of 38% of the 97 other certified CDFIs with 10 or more 7(a) loans. |
| Variable-rate 7(a) loans: rate over prime at approval, FY2024–26 | median 1.5 pts, half between 1 pts and 2.19 pts (12 loans; 0% at the SBA maximum) | All lenders in Colorado: median 2.75 pts, 8% at the maximum (4,080 loans). |
| SBA approvals, FY2023–24 → FY2025–26 | 20 → 8 | Rank among the 3 certified CDFIs in Colorado with SBA approvals in either period: 2 → 2. |
| Total assets (Call Report, 30 Jun 2026) | $657.5 million | Larger than 72% of the 321 other certified banks and bank holding companies nationwide (median $381.4 million). |
| Loans as a share of assets | 52% | Median of the same 321 banks and bank holding companies: 68%. A higher share means more of its balance sheet is lent out. |
| Loans held, 30 Jun 2025 → 30 Jun 2026 | $314.6 million → $341.9 million (+9%) | Median change of 321 other certified banks and bank holding companies nationwide: +7%. Rank by loans held among these 322: 125 → 123. |
| Business loan rate its website stated (2 Nov 2026) | 4.00% | Prime rate that day: 7.00% (FRED DPRIME), so the lowest stated rate is 3 pts below prime. For an SBA 7(a) variable-rate loan the legal maximum is prime plus 3 to 6.5 points, by loan size. |
How these comparisons were worked out
| Measure | Peer group (this lender left out) | Peers | Where this lender sits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median SBA 7(a) loan | certified CDFIs with 10+ 7(a) loans, nationwide | 97 | larger than 38% |
| Rate over prime | all variable-rate 7(a) loans in Colorado, FY2024–26 | 4,080 | median 1.5 pts vs 2.75 pts |
| SBA approvals then vs now | certified CDFIs in Colorado with SBA approvals FY2023–2026 | 2 | rank 2 → 2 of 3 |
| Call Report total assets | other certified banks and bank holding companies nationwide | 321 | larger than 72% |
| Loans held then vs now | certified banks and bank holding companies nationwide reporting both dates | 321 | rank 125 → 123 of 322 |
“Larger than X%” = the share of the peer group with a smaller value. Ranks count from the largest. Peer groups use the lender's home state when it has at least 5 peers, otherwise the whole country. Full definitions: methodology.
For comparison, not an offer and not a rating. Past records show what this lender did, not what you would be offered; your rate depends on the loan and on the lender's review. Peer groups and sources: methodology. SBA 7(a) & 504 FOIA data as of 30 Sep 2026. Assets and loans: FFIEC and NCUA Call Reports (see the loan-mix section). Prime rate: FRED DPRIME.
SBA loans approved
SBA data as of 30 Sep 2026The SBA's public loan data lists 134 SBA-backed approvals for First Southwest Bank in fiscal years 2020–2026 (October 2019 to September 2026):
- 134 7(a) loans as the lender: $44.3M in total (gross amount approved), median $148,000
By fiscal year: FY2020 21 · FY2021 62 · FY2022 23 · FY2023 13 · FY2024 7 · FY2025 1 · FY2026 7.
What actually happened
- Size of its 7(a) loans: half were between $60,000 and $346,450, median $148,000 (134 loans)
- Term of its 7(a) loans: median 96 months (8 years) (134 loans)
- Fixed or variable: 47% of its 7(a) loans had a fixed rate (134 loans)
- Young businesses: 48% of its 7(a) loans went to a startup or a business two years old or less (134 loans with an answer)
Descriptive only: what the SBA file records for loans this lender approved in fiscal years 2020–2026. Each figure covers at least 10 loans; with fewer we show nothing. It is not an offer, not the rate or term you would get, and says nothing about your chance of approval.
By program
- 7(a) SBA Express (82, 61%)
- 7(a) standard (51, 38%)
- 7(a) working-capital and trade lines (1, 1%)
Borrower industries
NAICS sector, 3 or more loans.
- Transportation and warehousing (27)
- Construction (15)
- Real estate and rental and leasing (12)
- Manufacturing (12)
- Accommodation and food services (11)
Where borrowers are
County of the borrower's ZIP code, 3 or more loans.
- La Plata County, CO (40)
- Archuleta County, CO (17)
- Montezuma County, CO (15)
- Alamosa County, CO (13)
- San Juan County, NM (9)
- Rio Grande County, CO (8)
- Saguache County, CO (6)
- Conejos County, CO (5)
- Montrose County, CO (3)
How this lender was matched in the SBA files: FDIC cert 57741, found through the RSSD ID on the CDFI Fund list (SBA lists “First Southwest Bank”).
Approved is not the same as paid out: an approved loan can be reduced or never drawn. SBA lists the lender each loan is currently assigned to, which can differ after a merger or loan sale. First Southwest Bank may also make loans outside SBA programs, which are not counted here, and SBA Microloans are not in these files.
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data, files as of 30 Sep 2026, downloaded 3 Nov 2026. Our counts, cancelled approvals left out. How we match lenders.
Other certified CDFIs in Durango and Colorado
- HomesFundLoan fund · Durango, COOfficial list only
- B:Side FundLoan fund · Denver, COCommercial real estate loans, Equipment loans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Colorado Enterprise Fund, Inc.Loan fund · Denver, COChild-care facility financing, Microloans, SBA-backed loans (7(a)/504/Community Advantage), Small-business loansVerified
- Community Enterprise Development ServicesLoan fund · Aurora, COSmall-business loansVerified
- Energize Colorado Inc.Loan fund · Boulder, COAgriculture / farm loans, Equipment loans, Small-business loansVerified
- First SouthWest Bancorporation, Inc.Bank holding company · Alamosa, COAgriculture / farm loans, Credit-builder loans, Microloans, Personal / consumer loans…Verified
Work at First Southwest Bank? Link to this page
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CDFI Atlas is not a lender and does not give financial advice. Inclusion is not an endorsement, and lenders have not reviewed or approved these pages. Disclaimer.