Top SBA 7(a) Lenders in Kentucky for 2025
Kentucky small businesses secured 495 SBA 7(a) loan approvals totaling $229,692,900. The average loan size stood at $464,026, reflecting a balanced lending market supporting both operational needs and large-scale investments across the state.
Lender activity in Kentucky featured a strong mix of nationally recognized SBA lenders and several regional and community banks headquartered in the state. Loan sizes ranged from under $200,000 to $5 million, underscoring the diversity in borrower profiles—from small businesses seeking working capital to high-growth enterprises acquiring real estate or equipment.
Leading Lenders by Approval Volume
- Live Oak Banking Company (North Carolina) led the state by total loan volume, disbursing $28,948,000 through 18 approvals. With an average loan size exceeding $1.6 million, the lender continued its strategic focus on high-capital SBA transactions, such as franchise development and multi-unit expansions.
- Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company (Kentucky) followed with $23,477,600 across 32 loans, maintaining a strong local presence. Its average loan size of $733,675 reflected mid-market financing typical of Kentucky’s established commercial base.
- Newtek Bank (Florida) issued $12,381,000 across 29 approvals, with an average of $426,931 per loan. The Huntington National Bank (Ohio) and Northeast Bank (Maine) followed with $12,174,900 and $11,604,500, respectively, both serving small business borrowers through volume-driven SBA lending strategies.
- The remaining top 10 included Community Trust Bank and Republic Bank, both headquartered in Kentucky, as well as out-of-state institutions such as Heritage Bank (Illinois) and Truliant FCU (North Carolina). Notably, the highest average loan size was recorded by South Central Bank at over $2 million per transaction.
Top SBA 7(a) Lenders in Kentucky – 2025 YTD
(U.S. Small Business Administration, data as of July 22, 2025)
| Rank | Lender Name & Location | Approval Count | Approval Amount | Avg. Loan Size |
| 1 | Live Oak Banking Co. (NC) | 18 | $28,948,000 | $1,608,222 |
| 2 | Stock Yards Bank & Trust Co. (KY) | 32 | $23,477,600 | $733,675 |
| 3 | Newtek Bank, N.A. (FL) | 29 | $12,381,000 | $426,931 |
| 4 | The Huntington National Bank (OH) | 40 | $12,174,900 | $304,373 |
| 5 | Northeast Bank (ME) | 68 | $11,604,500 | $170,654 |
| 6 | Community Trust Bank, Inc. (KY) | 51 | $9,803,500 | $192,225 |
| 7 | Republic Bank & Trust Co. (KY) | 25 | $8,715,800 | $348,632 |
| 8 | Heritage Bank, Inc. (KY) | 5 | $8,552,000 | $1,710,400 |
| 9 | South Central Bank, Inc. (KY) | 4 | $8,094,000 | $2,023,500 |
| 10 | U.S. Bank, N.A. (OH) | 59 | $7,442,400 | $126,142 |
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 2025 data
Lending Trends and Market Observations
Kentucky’s SBA market showed meaningful participation from in-state lenders, with four of the top 10 banks headquartered locally. These institutions, including Stock Yards Bank, Community Trust Bank, Republic Bank, and South Central Bank, played key roles in sustaining local commercial lending with flexible SBA terms.
Average loan sizes varied significantly. South Central Bank and Heritage Bank recorded some of the highest loan amounts per approval, while volume lenders like U.S. Bank and Northeast Bank focused on broader outreach through smaller-ticket loans.
The presence of national fintech lenders such as Newtek and traditional SBA heavyweights like Live Oak and The Huntington National Bank confirms that small businesses in Kentucky are leveraging digital and out-of-state lending platforms to meet growing capital needs.
Economic Insight for Kentucky Small Businesses
With nearly $230 million in SBA loan approvals by midyear 2025, Kentucky’s business community is continuing to invest in growth, modernization, and resiliency. The SBA 7(a) program has provided a flexible and scalable funding source for businesses pursuing real estate, refinancing, or expansion strategies in an evolving economic landscape.
The breadth of participating lenders and the wide range of loan sizes show that access to capital is healthy across rural and urban markets. As federal interest rate policy stabilizes and borrower demand remains steady, SBA 7(a) lending is expected to play a central role in Kentucky’s economic development through the remainder of 2025.
