Louisiana SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Louisiana
Since FY2020, 178 lenders have funded 2,642 SBA loans worth $1.8B for businesses in Louisiana. Borrowers reported 32,305 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Louisiana businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Louisiana
Ranked by loans funded for Louisiana projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Louisiana beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
| Lender | Program | LA loans since FY2020 | Since FY2025 | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Bank | 7(a) | 196 | 38 | $300K | 10% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 7(a) | 137 | 47 | $300K | 9.75% |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 137 | 82 | $150K | 11% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7(a) | 130 | 30 | $300K | 10.25% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association | 7(a) | 113 | 24 | $120K | 10.95% |
| b1BANK | 7(a) | 112 | 26 | $302K | 9.75% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 7(a) | 101 | 40 | $50K | 14% |
| Fidelity Bank | 7(a) | 94 | 19 | $125K | 7.22% |
| Gulf Coast Bank | 7(a) | 85 | 14 | $350K | 7% |
| Northeast Bank | 7(a) | 84 | 47 | $61K | 10.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 7(a) | 82 | 14 | $150K | 12% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 7(a) | 81 | 33 | $1.2M | 8.35% |
| Louisiana Capital Certified Development Company, Inc. | 504 (CDC) | 63 | 10 | $407K | n/a |
| First Financial Bank | 7(a) | 55 | 10 | $1.1M | 8.15% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 7(a) | 53 | 10 | $150K | 9.75% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 7(a) | 52 | 22 | $150K | 9.88% |
| Newtek Small Business Finance, Inc. | 7(a) | 40 | 0 | $420K | 7.5% |
| Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company | 7(a) | 38 | 16 | $556K | 8.75% |
| Community Certified Development Corporation | 504 (CDC) | 38 | 9 | $624K | n/a |
| Essential Credit Union | 7(a) | 35 | 4 | $30K | 6.25% |
| Citizens Bank | 7(a) | 34 | 4 | $585K | 8% |
| First Horizon Bank | 7(a) | 32 | 9 | $455K | 7% |
| BankFirst Financial Services | 7(a) | 31 | 0 | $190K | 7.5% |
| Regions Bank | 7(a) | 29 | 6 | $400K | 8.5% |
| Red River Bank | 7(a) | 29 | 1 | $172K | 5.75% |
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 Louisiana SBA loans run
Share of Louisiana 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 | LA | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 31.6% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 36.4% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 13.4% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 18.6% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Louisiana
Business age on Louisiana 7(a) loans. 13.4% 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 | LA | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 50% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 13.2% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 23.4% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 13.4% | 11.1% |
Industries Louisiana SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Louisiana SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | LA loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 428 | 16.2% | 1.3x the national share |
| Construction | 309 | 11.7% | in line with national |
| Retail | 305 | 11.5% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 290 | 11% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 243 | 9.2% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 217 | 8.2% | in line with national |
| Business support services | 139 | 5.3% | in line with national |
| Manufacturing | 127 | 4.8% | 0.7x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in Louisiana: full-service restaurants (140), limited-service restaurants (96), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (95), insurance agencies and brokerages (56), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (45), fitness and recreational sports centers (43).
Where in Louisiana the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| East Baton Rouge | 314 | 12% |
| Jefferson | 294 | 11% |
| Lafayette | 285 | 11% |
| Orleans | 280 | 11% |
| Saint Tammany | 268 | 10% |
| Caddo | 130 | 5% |
| Calcasieu | 116 | 4% |
| Ascension | 107 | 4% |
7(a) or 504 in Louisiana
6% of Louisiana SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $604K here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Louisiana:
- Louisiana Capital Certified Development Company, Inc.: 63 504 loans, median $407K
- Community Certified Development Corporation: 38 504 loans, median $624K
- JEDCO Development Corporation: 26 504 loans, median $944K
- New Orleans Regional Business Development Loan Corporation: 16 504 loans, median $738K
Louisiana SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 254 | 25 | $188M |
| FY2021 | 318 | 35 | $278M |
| FY2022 | 308 | 26 | $284M |
| FY2023 | 379 | 15 | $215M |
| FY2024 | 511 | 17 | $321M |
| FY2025 | 475 | 18 | $314M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 245 | 16 | $165M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Louisiana?
By funded loans since FY2020, American Bank leads Louisiana with 196 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Louisiana?
The median 7(a) loan in Louisiana is $250K, and the middle half runs from $100K to $700K. The median 504 loan is $604K. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Louisiana SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Louisiana 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.5%, against 9.25% nationally. 85% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Louisiana?
Yes. 37% of Louisiana 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 Louisiana. 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.