Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Kern County?
346 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Kern County recently, at a median of $275,650. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
346 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Kern County in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $275,650. The most active lender was U.S. Bank, with 38 loans.
SBA lending in Kern County, by the numbers
Every figure here is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30 — loans that were actually approved to businesses in this county, not advertised ranges.
| Measure | Kern County | California | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 346 | 24,947 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $275,650 | $205,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $78,750 - $814,175 | $75,000 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.24% | 10.35% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 28.0% | 25.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 8.2% | 6.9% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 3,471 | 250,791 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Kern County. The median, startup share and rate columns describe each lender's own loans in this county, not its national averages.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 38 | $50,000 | 40% | 9.87% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 31 | $451,300 | 26% | 10.00% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 23 | $15,000 | 96% | 14.00% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 18 | $150,000 | 11% | 12.10% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 18 | $139,300 | 17% | 11.25% |
| Lendistry SBLC, LLC | 18 | $236,350 | 0% | 12.00% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 12 | $755,000 | 33% | 9.25% |
| Mission Bank | 12 | $550,000 | 42% | 11.12% |
| Commonwealth Business Bank | 11 | $665,000 | 27% | 9.75% |
| Harvest Small Business Finance, LLC | 10 | $444,300 | 10% | 10.00% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $275,650 is 84% 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 about average, at 28% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 27% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
Who borrows in Kern County
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by retail.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Retail | 81 | 23.4% |
| Restaurants and Hotels | 42 | 12.1% |
| Construction | 41 | 11.8% |
| Trucking | 39 | 11.3% |
| Personal Services | 32 | 9.2% |
| Healthcare | 26 | 7.5% |
| Professional Services | 23 | 6.6% |
| Admin Services | 15 | 4.3% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan in this county is close to what you need. Size match matters more than brand.
- 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 your cash flow supports.
- Follow your sector link in the table above for lender data specific to your industry across California.
Other counties in California
- Nearby markets with published data: Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Diego County, Riverside County, San Bernardino County, Sacramento County, Santa Clara County, Alameda County