Local lending data
Who lends to businesses in Orleans Parish?
182 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Orleans Parish recently, at a median of $190,000. The lenders that made them, ranked, with local rates and startup share.
182 SBA 7(a) loans went to businesses in Orleans Parish in the most recent fiscal years, at a median of $190,000. The most active lender was Newtek Bank, with 39 loans.
SBA lending in Orleans Parish, 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 | Orleans Parish | Louisiana | National |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 182 | 1,610 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $190,000 | $200,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $90,750 - $416,250 | $100,000 - $568,250 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 40.7% | 34.3% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 | 9.1% | 8.7% | 7.1% |
| Jobs supported | 1,809 | 18,478 | 2,142,602 |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to businesses in Orleans Parish. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtek Bank | 39 | $140,000 | 18% | 11.50% |
| American Bank | 18 | $212,250 | 89% | 10.00% |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 13 | $500,000 | 62% | 11.00% |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank | 12 | $150,000 | 17% | 13.28% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 11 | $40,000 | 9% | 14.00% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 10 | $825,000 | 40% | 9.50% |
| Northeast Bank | 8 | $113,250 | 0% | 10.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 7 | $294,000 | 57% | 10.50% |
| Fidelity Bank | 6 | $42,500 | 50% | 9.62% |
| Gulf Coast Bank and Trust Company | 6 | $880,150 | 83% | 10.00% |
What stands out here
Reading these figures against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $190,000 is 27% 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 41% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 38% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.1% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Who borrows in Orleans Parish
The mix of industries taking SBA loans here, led by restaurants and hotels.
| Sector | Loans | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and Hotels | 40 | 22.0% |
| Professional Services | 31 | 17.0% |
| Retail | 26 | 14.3% |
| Personal Services | 14 | 7.7% |
| Healthcare | 14 | 7.7% |
| Manufacturing | 13 | 7.1% |
| Construction | 10 | 5.5% |
| Media | 7 | 3.8% |
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 Louisiana.
Other counties in Louisiana
- Nearby markets with published data: Jefferson Parish, East Baton Rouge Parish, Saint Tammany Parish, Lafayette Parish