State lending data
SBA lending in Kentucky
1,656 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Kentucky recently, at a median of $150,000. The lenders that made them, what they charged, and how the state is trending.
1,656 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Kentucky in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $150,000. The most active lender in the state was The Huntington National Bank, with 190 loans. Approvals are down 11.5% on the year.
SBA lending in Kentucky, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans actually approved to businesses in Kentucky, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Kentucky | National |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 1,656 | 214,102 |
| Total approved | $779.2 million | $104.1 billion |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th – 75th percentile | $50,000 – $465,975 | $50,000 – $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 35.5% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010–19 | 7.4% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 17,215 | 2,142,602 |
| Counties with recorded lending | 97 | — |
| Lenders active in the state | 119 | — |
Is SBA lending in Kentucky growing or shrinking?
Fewer, larger loans. The number of approvals fell while the total dollars approved rose, so what shrank in Kentucky is small-loan lending. Comparing December 2025 to June 2026 with December 2024 to June 2025, the same months a year earlier, 7(a) approvals to businesses in Kentucky went from 305 to 270 loans, down 11.5% — while the dollars approved went from $140.8 million to $151.4 million, up 7.5%. The average approval rose from $461,775 to $560,878, so the change is weighted toward larger loans.
Kentucky is holding up better than most of the country: 7th of 51 for year-on-year change, against a national decline of 21.0%.
| Fiscal year | Loans in Kentucky | Loans nationally | State share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 403 | 51,747 | 0.8% |
| FY2024 | 469 | 62,618 | 0.7% |
| FY2025 | 486 | 64,096 | 0.8% |
| FY2026 (part year) | 298 | 35,641 | 0.8% |
Which lenders actually fund businesses in Kentucky
Ranked by loans approved inside Kentucky. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own Kentucky loans, not its national averages — the same bank often writes very different business from one state to the next.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 190 | $100,000 | 44% | 10.25% |
| U.S. Bank | 175 | $42,800 | 37% | 9.24% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 167 | $105,200 | 29% | 8.25% |
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 137 | $300,000 | 34% | 7.75% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 108 | $281,700 | 45% | 8.12% |
| Newtek Bank | 68 | $150,000 | 25% | 10.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 64 | $80,000 | 9% | 11.12% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 57 | $50,000 | 18% | 13.25% |
| PNC Bank | 44 | $35,000 | 54% | 11.28% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 43 | $790,000 | 21% | 9.75% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 39 | $150,000 | 3% | 13.25% |
| Fifth Third Bank | 38 | $89,000 | 32% | 10.85% |
What stands out about Kentucky
Reading the state's own figures against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- Startup share is close to average, at 35.5% against 33.6% nationally.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.50% is 0.75 points below the 10.25% national median. Most 7(a) lending is variable-rate, so treat this as a comparison between markets, not a quote.
Who borrows in Kentucky
The industry mix of SBA borrowers here, led by construction.
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | To startups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 269 | 16.2% | $125,000 | 34% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 244 | 14.7% | $306,000 | 47% |
| Retail | 192 | 11.6% | $150,000 | 38% |
| Personal Services | 187 | 11.3% | $169,900 | 39% |
| Healthcare | 156 | 9.4% | $163,600 | 27% |
| Professional Services | 125 | 7.5% | $150,000 | 25% |
| Manufacturing | 101 | 6.1% | $250,000 | 44% |
| Admin Services | 91 | 5.5% | $150,000 | 36% |
| Trucking | 77 | 4.6% | $77,000 | 21% |
| Arts and Recreation | 67 | 4.0% | $150,000 | 55% |
| Wholesale | 36 | 2.2% | $176,500 | 31% |
| Finance | 32 | 1.9% | $213,900 | 16% |
Where the money goes in Kentucky
SBA lending is more concentrated than state totals suggest, and Jefferson County alone accounts for 27% of the state's loans.
| County | Loans | Median loan | Total approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County | 452 | $173,750 | $218.0 million |
| Fayette County | 163 | $200,000 | $76.6 million |
| Kenton County | 136 | $110,750 | $48.4 million |
| Boone County | 69 | $150,000 | $26.3 million |
| Warren County | 51 | $150,000 | $21.2 million |
| Daviess County | 50 | $260,200 | $27.9 million |
| Campbell County | 45 | $150,000 | $20.4 million |
| Madison County | 42 | $150,000 | $18.8 million |
| Shelby County | 42 | $200,000 | $22.4 million |
| Oldham County | 40 | $282,500 | $30.9 million |
| Pike County | 35 | $50,000 | $3.5 million |
| McCracken County | 29 | $250,000 | $20.6 million |
SBA 504 in Kentucky
7(a) is the general-purpose program. 504 is the one for buying the building or the heavy equipment, at a long fixed rate — a different program with its own lenders, called Certified Development Companies.
| Measure | Kentucky 504 | National 504 |
|---|---|---|
| Projects approved | 75 | 22,192 |
| Median CDC share | $509,000 | $730,000 |
| Median total project | $1,130,000 | $1,642,000 |
| Median term | 25 years | 25 years |
- Which CDCs operate here, and on what terms: SBA 504 in Kentucky
- How the two programs differ: SBA 504 loans and SBA 7(a) loans
How to use this page
- Start from the lender table, not a search engine. Shortlist three whose median loan in Kentucky is near what you need. Size match beats brand.
- Follow your industry link in the sector table for the lenders that fund your kind of business in this state specifically.
- Then your county, if it is listed, for the local picture.
- Check the payment before you apply with the affordability calculator — lenders decline on cash flow more than on anything else.
- Filter the whole lender file yourself in the lender finder if you want to combine state, industry, loan size and business age at once.
Other states
- States of comparable lending volume: New Hampshire, Louisiana, Idaho, Oklahoma, Nevada, Alabama, California, Florida
Questions people actually ask
How many SBA loans are approved in Kentucky each year?
1,656 SBA 7(a) loans were approved to businesses in Kentucky across fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026, worth $779.2 million in total. Over the most recent comparable months the number of approvals ran down 11.5% year on year, while the dollars approved ran up 7.5%.
Which bank approves the most SBA loans in Kentucky?
The Huntington National Bank, with 190 loans approved to businesses in the state and a median loan of $100,000. That makes it the most active, not necessarily the best fit — a lender whose median is far from your number is usually the wrong call.
Do I have to use a lender based in Kentucky?
No. SBA lenders routinely lend across state lines and several of the largest are non-bank lenders with no branches at all. What the state data tells you is which institutions are already comfortable with businesses like yours here.