State lending data
SBA lending in Missouri
3,361 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Missouri recently, at a median of $213,600. The lenders that made them, what they charged, and how the state is trending.
3,361 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Missouri in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $213,600. The most active lender in the state was U.S. Bank, with 389 loans. Approvals are down 16.9% on the year.
SBA lending in Missouri, 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 Missouri, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Missouri | National |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 3,361 | 214,102 |
| Total approved | $1.9 billion | $104.1 billion |
| Median loan | $213,600 | $150,000 |
| 25th – 75th percentile | $82,600 – $580,000 | $50,000 – $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.75% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 37.0% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010–19 | 8.3% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 35,489 | 2,142,602 |
| Counties with recorded lending | 101 | — |
| Lenders active in the state | 229 | — |
Is SBA lending in Missouri growing or shrinking?
Shrinking, along with almost every other state. Comparing December 2025 to June 2026 with December 2024 to June 2025, the same months a year earlier, 7(a) approvals to businesses in Missouri went from 602 to 500 loans, down 16.9% — while the dollars approved went from $358.6 million to $321.7 million, down 10.3%. The average approval rose from $595,689 to $643,496, so the change is weighted toward larger loans.
That puts Missouri mid-table — 20th of 51 for year-on-year change, against a national decline of 21.0%.
| Fiscal year | Loans in Missouri | Loans nationally | State share |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | 821 | 51,747 | 1.6% |
| FY2024 | 953 | 62,618 | 1.5% |
| FY2025 | 1,016 | 64,096 | 1.6% |
| FY2026 (part year) | 571 | 35,641 | 1.6% |
Which lenders actually fund businesses in Missouri
Ranked by loans approved inside Missouri. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own Missouri 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 389 | $40,000 | 34% | 9.49% |
| OakStar Bank | 308 | $350,000 | 39% | 10.25% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 150 | $250,000 | 67% | 10.25% |
| The Central Trust Bank | 130 | $100,000 | 41% | 9.75% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 101 | $825,000 | 41% | 9.00% |
| Commerce Bank | 98 | $153,650 | 34% | 8.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 90 | $50,000 | 11% | 14.00% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 89 | $150,000 | 1% | 13.25% |
| Newtek Bank | 80 | $150,000 | 9% | 10.50% |
| OMB Bank | 77 | $250,000 | 29% | 10.00% |
| Northeast Bank | 72 | $88,800 | 3% | 10.75% |
| Regent Bank | 69 | $349,900 | 36% | 10.00% |
What stands out about Missouri
Reading the state's own figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $213,600 is 42% above the $150,000 national median. Expect lenders in this market to be geared toward bigger deals, and expect a small request to get less attention.
- Startup share is close to average, at 37.0% against 33.6% nationally.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.75% is 0.50 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 Missouri
The industry mix of SBA borrowers here, led by construction.
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | To startups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 489 | 14.5% | $150,000 | 32% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 423 | 12.6% | $365,000 | 51% |
| Personal Services | 378 | 11.2% | $178,500 | 33% |
| Retail | 340 | 10.1% | $226,850 | 37% |
| Healthcare | 308 | 9.2% | $187,350 | 42% |
| Professional Services | 262 | 7.8% | $179,000 | 18% |
| Manufacturing | 218 | 6.5% | $345,000 | 30% |
| Arts and Recreation | 177 | 5.3% | $211,000 | 56% |
| Admin Services | 171 | 5.1% | $175,000 | 40% |
| Trucking | 153 | 4.6% | $150,000 | 31% |
| Wholesale | 134 | 4.0% | $350,000 | 28% |
| Agriculture | 84 | 2.5% | $829,250 | 61% |
Where the money goes in Missouri
SBA lending is more concentrated than state totals suggest, and Saint Louis County alone accounts for 17% of the state's loans.
| County | Loans | Median loan | Total approved |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Louis County | 561 | $250,000 | $368.7 million |
| Jackson County | 451 | $250,000 | $259.1 million |
| Greene County | 319 | $250,000 | $197.7 million |
| Saint Charles County | 214 | $189,750 | $100.8 million |
| Boone County | 151 | $150,000 | $45.9 million |
| Saint Louis City | 136 | $259,150 | $75.0 million |
| Clay County | 136 | $197,500 | $61.2 million |
| Jasper County | 128 | $189,650 | $67.2 million |
| Christian County | 83 | $200,000 | $31.2 million |
| Jefferson County | 72 | $150,000 | $31.1 million |
| Franklin County | 68 | $300,000 | $33.9 million |
| Taney County | 66 | $309,000 | $40.3 million |
SBA 504 in Missouri
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 | Missouri 504 | National 504 |
|---|---|---|
| Projects approved | 276 | 22,192 |
| Median CDC share | $676,000 | $730,000 |
| Median total project | $1,527,270 | $1,642,000 |
| Median term | 25 years | 25 years |
- Which CDCs operate here, and on what terms: SBA 504 in Missouri
- 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 Missouri 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: Oregon, Connecticut, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Utah, South Carolina, California, Florida
Questions people actually ask
How many SBA loans are approved in Missouri each year?
3,361 SBA 7(a) loans were approved to businesses in Missouri across fiscal years 2023 to 2026, using data released June 2026, worth $1.9 billion in total. Over the most recent comparable months the number of approvals ran down 16.9% year on year, while the dollars approved ran down 10.3%.
Which bank approves the most SBA loans in Missouri?
U.S. Bank, with 389 loans approved to businesses in the state and a median loan of $40,000. 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 Missouri?
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.