Lending data
Who actually lends to arts and recreation businesses in Louisiana?
58 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Louisiana recently, at a median of $210,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
58 SBA 7(a) loans went to arts and recreation businesses in Louisiana in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $210,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was American Bank, with 6 loans.
What lending to arts and recreation businesses in Louisiana actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Arts, entertainment, and recreation, Louisiana | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 58 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $210,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $69,250 - $587,750 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.88% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 55.2% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 6.2% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to arts and recreation businesses in Louisiana. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Bank | 6 | $833,800 | 83% | 11.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 5 | $250,000 | 100% | 10.25% |
| Fidelity Bank | 4 | $29,000 | 0% | 11.00% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 4 | $215,500 | 100% | 9.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 4 | $50,000 | 0% | 13.88% |
| Citizens Bank | 4 | $486,950 | 75% | 10.75% |
| Newtek Bank | 3 | $50,000 | 0% | 15.00% |
| b1BANK | 2 | $450,000 | 50% | 11.00% |
| Home Bank | 2 | $950,850 | 50% | 11.12% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 2 | $2,186,000 | 100% | 10.00% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $210,000 is 40% 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.
- New businesses do well here. 55% of these loans went to startups or businesses under two years old, against 34% nationally — an unusually open market if you have no trading history.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 26% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run higher here. The median initial rate of 10.88% is 0.63 points above the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 55.2% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Bank | 5 | $833,800 | 83% | 11.00% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 5 | $250,000 | 100% | 10.25% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 4 | $215,500 | 100% | 9.50% |
| Citizens Bank | 3 | $486,950 | 75% | 10.75% |
| First Bank of the Lake | 2 | $2,186,000 | 100% | 10.00% |
| Renasant Bank | 2 | $936,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Louisiana: construction, restaurants and hotels, retail, healthcare, personal services, professional services
- Arts and Recreation in comparable states: New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Kansas, Kentucky, Nebraska, Alabama