SBA loans by state
SBA loans in Louisiana: 439 approvals in FY 2026, median $272,000
Express was used for only 17% of loans. 14% of variable loans were priced at the SBA maximum.
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Louisiana: 7(a) loans approved last year
439
| Your rate vs. last year’s loans of this size, all states | about the median for this size |
| Louisiana: median rate at approval, $250,001 to $350,000 | 9.75% |
| Louisiana: median 7(a) loan last year | $272,000 |
| Payment over 10 years, SBA fee added to the loan | $3,637/mo |
Last year’s loans: the 7(a) loans SBA approved from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026 (fiscal year 2026), in SBA’s public loan file of September 30, 2026. Rates at approval were set when prime was 6.75% or 7.00%; today: prime rate 7.00% on November 2, 2026. Your rate is compared on its margin over prime, so the change in prime since last year does not count against you.
Louisiana, FY 2026: 439 SBA 7(a) approvals for $264.1 million (32nd of the 50 states and DC, SBA file of September 30, 2026). Express was used for only 17% of loans. 14% of variable loans were priced at the SBA maximum. Credit lines were only 13% of approvals. Only 9% of loans went to businesses under two years old. 504 lending was light, 20 approvals. The state stood out for loans to clothing and clothing accessories retailers. 22% of loans went to businesses not yet open. The median loan, $272,000, was the 11th largest of the 50 states and DC. Variable rates dominated: only 8% of loans were fixed. Lending was spread out; East Baton Rouge County led with 14%. Today’s cap on a $272,000 variable loan: 11.50%.
Fee notices read and loan file counted by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
| Lender | FY 2026 loans | Median loan | Median variable rate | Lender’s home state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newtek Bank | 71 | $150,000 | 9.75% | Florida |
| Northeast Bank | 34 | $97,100 | 9.75% | Maine |
| American Bank | 30 | $645,250 | 9.50% | Louisiana (in-state) |
| Hancock Whitney Bank | 30 | $327,500 | 9.25% | Mississippi |
| Live Oak Banking | 22 | $525,000 | 9.12% | North Carolina |
Express is rarely used
SBA Express made up only 17% of Louisiana’s approvals, 3rd lowest among the 50 states and DC. Preferred Lenders took 74% and loans processed by SBA itself 8%, so most borrowers here get the full 85% or 75% guaranty.
Many loans priced at the ceiling
14% of Louisiana’s variable loans were at the maximum SBA allows for their size, against 11% nationally. Almost all of those are loans of $50,000 or less, where the cap is prime plus 6.5 points; in that band 64% of Louisiana’s loans were at the cap.
Credit lines are scarce
Only 13% of Louisiana’s SBA approvals were revolving lines, 5th lowest among the 50 states and DC. Term loans with a fixed repayment schedule make up the rest.
Seasoned borrowers
Firms under two years old took only 9% of Louisiana’s approvals, the lowest among the 50 states and DC; the market here is built on businesses with several years of tax returns.
| Loan size | Loans | Median variable rate, FY 2026 | SBA maximum today |
|---|---|---|---|
| $50,000 or less | 67 | 13.25% | 13.50% |
| $50,001 to $250,000 | 146 | 9.75% | 13.00% |
| $250,001 to $350,000 | 66 | 9.75% | 11.50% |
| over $350,000 | 160 | 9.00% | 10.00% |
504 lending is light
Louisiana had 20 504 approvals ($28.0 million), 4.6 for every 100 7(a) loans against 10.8 nationally. The busiest certified development companies were Louisiana Capital Certified Development Company, Inc. (9), New Orleans Regional Business Development Loan Corporation (5) and Community Certified Development Corporation (3).
More common here than nationally: clothing and clothing accessories retailers
10 Louisiana loans went to clothing and clothing accessories retailers, 3.2 times the national share for that trade. The most frequent trades overall were limited-service restaurants, full-service restaurants and all other amusement and recreation industries. Shops and service outlets are often bought as going concerns or franchise units, with loans small enough that the variable cap may reach prime plus 6 points.
A start-up state
With 22% of loans going to businesses not yet open, Louisiana ranks 8th highest among the 50 states and DC for start-up lending. Every one of those borrowers had to put in at least 10% of the project cost, under SOP 50 10 8.1.
Larger loans than most states
The median Louisiana approval was $272,000, 11th of the 50 states and DC ($220,000 nationally). At that size the variable cap is prime plus 4.5 points, 11.50% today, and the FY 2027 guaranty fee on the median loan is $6,120.
Counties with the most approvals: East Baton Rouge (63), Jefferson (52) and Saint Tammany (46). Trades: limited-service restaurants (23), full-service restaurants (15), all other amusement and recreation industries (14), beauty salons (11) and insurance agencies and brokerages (11).
All states compared.