Lending data
Who actually lends to personal service and repair businesses in Kentucky?
187 SBA 7(a) loans went to personal service and repair businesses in Kentucky recently, at a median of $169,900. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
187 SBA 7(a) loans went to personal service and repair businesses in Kentucky in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $169,900 over 10 years. The most active lender was U.S. Bank, with 27 loans.
What lending to personal service and repair businesses in Kentucky 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 | Personal and repair services, Kentucky | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 187 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $169,900 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $497,900 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 39.0% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 9.7% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to personal service and repair businesses in Kentucky. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 27 | $30,000 | 26% | 8.99% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 20 | $172,450 | 60% | 7.38% |
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 18 | $518,800 | 44% | 7.62% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 14 | $99,600 | 43% | 10.12% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 13 | $126,500 | 31% | 8.50% |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 10 | $100,000 | 10% | 12.62% |
| Newtek Bank | 6 | $60,000 | 67% | 10.75% |
| Northeast Bank | 5 | $50,000 | 0% | 11.25% |
| WesBanco Bank, Inc | 4 | $108,500 | 25% | 10.00% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 4 | $955,000 | 75% | 9.43% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $169,900 is 13% 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 39% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 35% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.50% is 0.75 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 9.7% 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, 39.0% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 12 | $172,450 | 60% | 7.38% |
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 8 | $518,800 | 44% | 7.62% |
| U.S. Bank | 7 | $30,000 | 26% | 8.99% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 6 | $99,600 | 43% | 10.12% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 4 | $126,500 | 31% | 8.50% |
| Newtek Bank | 4 | $60,000 | 67% | 10.75% |
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 Kentucky: construction, restaurants and hotels, retail, healthcare, professional services, manufacturing
- Personal Services in comparable states: New Hampshire, Idaho, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Iowa, Alabama