Kentucky SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Kentucky
Since FY2020, 162 lenders have funded 2,909 SBA loans worth $1.4B for businesses in Kentucky. Borrowers reported 30,298 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Kentucky businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Kentucky
Ranked by loans funded for Kentucky projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Kentucky beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | KY loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 375 | 62 | $96K | 8% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc. | 7(a) | 345 | 77 | $100K | 6.5% |
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 304 | 93 | $37K | 8.49% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 7(a) | 201 | 54 | $255K | 6.5% |
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 7(a) | 193 | 66 | $300K | 7.5% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 71 | 24 | $850K | 8.25% |
| PNC Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 68 | 13 | $50K | 9.33% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 68 | 49 | $150K | 10.5% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 64 | 40 | $80K | 11.12% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 62 | 29 | $50K | 12.25% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 54 | 7 | $150K | 12.25% |
| Fifth Third Bank | 7(a) | 50 | 21 | $100K | 9.34% |
| Old National Bank | 7(a) | 49 | 10 | $302K | 7.75% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 47 | 12 | $150K | 9.75% |
| Community Ventures Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 44 | 6 | $479K | n/a |
| Alloy Development Co., Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 44 | 8 | $415K | n/a |
| Capital Access Corporation - Kentucky | 504 (CDC) | 39 | 3 | $516K | n/a |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 38 | 13 | $153K | 12.03% |
| First Financial Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 32 | 1 | $200K | 5.25% |
| Peoples Bank | 7(a) | 32 | 5 | $325K | 8.38% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 27 | 16 | $150K | 10.25% |
| First Financial Bank | 7(a) | 27 | 4 | $405K | 6.75% |
| First Commonwealth Bank | 7(a) | 26 | 4 | $365K | 6.38% |
| South Central Bank, Inc. | 7(a) | 25 | 3 | $250K | 7.5% |
| Heritage Bank Inc | 7(a) | 25 | 10 | $340K | 9.5% |
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big Kentucky SBA loans run
Share of Kentucky 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | KY | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 45.2% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 30.5% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 11.5% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 12.8% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Kentucky
Business age on Kentucky 7(a) loans. 13.2% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | KY | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 51.2% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 15% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 20.6% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 13.2% | 11.1% |
Industries Kentucky SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Kentucky SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | KY loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 432 | 14.9% | 1.2x the national share |
| Restaurants and hotels | 422 | 14.5% | in line with national |
| Retail | 344 | 11.8% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 315 | 10.8% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 279 | 9.6% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 210 | 7.2% | 0.8x the national share |
| Manufacturing | 184 | 6.3% | in line with national |
| Transportation and trucking | 176 | 6.1% | in line with national |
The most common specific business types funded in Kentucky: full-service restaurants (127), limited-service restaurants (109), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (72), plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning contractors (71), all other specialty trade contractors (67), general freight trucking, long-distance, truckload (62).
Where in Kentucky the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson | 773 | 27% |
| Fayette | 284 | 10% |
| Kenton | 230 | 8% |
| Boone | 172 | 6% |
| Campbell | 89 | 3% |
| Warren | 86 | 3% |
| Daviess | 76 | 3% |
| Shelby | 65 | 2% |
7(a) or 504 in Kentucky
6% of Kentucky SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $462K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Kentucky:
- Community Ventures Corporation: 44 504 loans, median $479K
- Alloy Development Co., Inc.: 44 504 loans, median $415K
- Capital Access Corporation - Kentucky: 39 504 loans, median $516K
- Premier Capital Corporation: 23 504 loans, median $246K
- Purchase Area Development District: 11 504 loans, median $217K
Kentucky SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 317 | 25 | $143M |
| FY2021 | 406 | 39 | $249M |
| FY2022 | 360 | 31 | $190M |
| FY2023 | 403 | 18 | $200M |
| FY2024 | 469 | 28 | $220M |
| FY2025 | 486 | 18 | $258M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 298 | 11 | $175M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Kentucky?
By funded loans since FY2020, The Huntington National Bank leads Kentucky with 375 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Kentucky?
The median 7(a) loan in Kentucky is $150K, and the middle half runs from $50K to $482K. The median 504 loan is $462K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Kentucky SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Kentucky 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 8%, against 9.25% nationally. 70% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Kentucky?
Yes. 36% of Kentucky 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in Kentucky. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.