Lending data
Who actually lends to schools and training businesses in Louisiana?
24 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Louisiana recently, at a median of $119,700. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
24 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Louisiana in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $119,700 over 10 years. The most active lender was American Bank, with 3 loans.
What lending to schools and training 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 | Educational services, Louisiana | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 24 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $119,700 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $82,700 - $243,050 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.38% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 50.0% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 15.2% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to schools and training 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 | 3 | $45,000 | 67% | 10.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $135,000 | 67% | 11.00% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 2 | $71,750 | 0% | 12.75% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $522,600 | 50% | 8.18% |
| Northeast Bank | 2 | $113,900 | 0% | 10.50% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $135,000 | 100% | 10.25% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run smaller than average. The median of $119,700 is 20% below the $150,000 national median. Smaller loans price higher under the SBA spread caps, so budget for a rate above the headline range.
- New businesses do well here. 50% 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 33% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 15.2% 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.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 50.0% 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 | 2 | $45,000 | 67% | 10.50% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 2 | $135,000 | 67% | 11.00% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $135,000 | 100% | 10.25% |
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
- Education in comparable states: Alabama, New Hampshire, Kansas, South Carolina, Indiana, Connecticut