Lending data
Who actually lends to wholesale businesses in Kentucky?
36 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in Kentucky recently, at a median of $176,500. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
36 SBA 7(a) loans went to wholesale businesses in Kentucky in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $176,500 over 10 years. The most active lender was Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, with 4 loans.
What lending to wholesale 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 | Wholesale trade, Kentucky | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 36 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $176,500 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $80,875 - $500,000 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 9.62% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 30.6% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 4.9% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to wholesale 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | 4 | $1,700,750 | 25% | 8.12% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 3 | $74,500 | 100% | 10.00% |
| Republic Bank & Trust Company | 3 | $500,000 | 0% | 7.65% |
| U.S. Bank | 3 | $50,000 | 33% | 10.02% |
| Community Trust Bank, Inc | 2 | $131,000 | 0% | 7.62% |
| PNC Bank | 2 | $119,500 | 50% | 9.95% |
| BayFirst National Bank | 2 | $100,000 | 0% | 13.25% |
| Northeast Bank | 2 | $46,100 | 0% | 11.25% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 2 | $2,497,500 | 0% | 9.12% |
| First Harrison Bank | 2 | $250,000 | 100% | 9.50% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loans here run larger than average. The median of $176,500 is 18% 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 31% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 28% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Rates run lower here. The median initial rate of 9.62% is 0.63 points below the 10.25% national median, which usually tracks loan size and perceived sector risk rather than geography.
- This market has performed well. Its FY2010-2019 charge-off rate of 4.9% is below the 7.1% overall figure, which is part of why lenders compete for it.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 30.6% 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 | 3 | $74,500 | 100% | 10.00% |
| First Harrison Bank | 2 | $250,000 | 100% | 9.50% |
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, restaurants and hotels, retail, personal services, healthcare, professional services
- Wholesale in comparable states: Kansas, Nebraska, Rhode Island, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii