Lending data
Who actually lends to restaurants, bars, and hotels in Kentucky?
244 SBA 7(a) loans went to restaurants, bars, and hotels in Kentucky recently, at a median of $306,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
244 SBA 7(a) loans went to restaurants, bars, and hotels in Kentucky in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $306,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with 26 loans.
What lending to restaurants, bars, and hotels 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 | Restaurants, bars, and hotels, Kentucky | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 244 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $306,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $71,250 - $818,225 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.25% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 46.7% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 8.6% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to restaurants, bars, and hotels 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 26 | $116,000 | 54% | 8.37% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 24 | $162,500 | 75% | 9.75% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 21 | $150,000 | 38% | 8.00% |
| U.S. Bank | 14 | $42,500 | 29% | 9.49% |
| Old National Bank | 12 | $163,350 | 50% | 9.50% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 11 | $328,000 | 46% | 7.75% |
| Peoples Bank | 9 | $488,200 | 44% | 10.00% |
| Fifth Third Bank | 9 | $70,000 | 22% | 11.35% |
| GBank | 8 | $3,167,000 | 38% | 8.38% |
| Newtek Bank | 8 | $140,000 | 38% | 10.50% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $306,000 is 104% 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. 47% 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 29% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.25% is 1.00 points below 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, 46.7% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 18 | $162,500 | 75% | 9.75% |
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 14 | $116,000 | 54% | 8.37% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 8 | $150,000 | 38% | 8.00% |
| Old National Bank | 6 | $163,350 | 50% | 9.50% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 5 | $328,000 | 46% | 7.75% |
| German American Bank | 4 | $796,750 | 100% | 8.50% |
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, retail, personal services, healthcare, professional services, manufacturing
- Restaurants and Hotels in comparable states: Alabama, Louisiana, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, Connecticut