Republic Bank & Trust Company logo

Republic Bank & Trust Company

Louisville SBA Preferred Lender: 7(a) and 504 loans up to $5M, Express to $500K, 7.75% median starting rate, startups OK, weeks to close. Best for KY, TN, OH and IN owners.

SBA & Government-Backed Loans:
SBA 7(a) LoansSBA Express Loans
Tags:
#Working Capital#Secured#Buying A Business

Rates & Cost

What the financing costs, normalized so lenders can be compared.

Estimated APR:
~8.27% APR on a $350K 10-yr SBA 7(a) at the 7.75% median rate incl. 3% guaranty fee (Lender List est.); SBA variable caps at 7% Prime: 10% to 13.5%
Pricing (as quoted by lender):
"Rates are fixed or variable plus low down payments" — no rates published; SBA 7(a) FOIA data (as of Jun 30, 2026): 7.75% median starting rate last 12 months (6.25% to 9.00%)
Cost to borrow $100K for 6 months:
≈$5,521 (6 months' interest at 7.75% on a 10-yr SBA 7(a), $3,821, plus $1,700 SBA guaranty fee; bank fees not published)
Fees:
SBA guaranty fee (2% of guaranteed portion ≤$150K; 3% on $150,001 to $700,000; 3.5% to 3.75% above); bank closing fees not published
Early payoff:
Allowed; SBA prepayment fee only on 15+-year terms when ≥25% is prepaid in years 1 to 3 (5%/3%/1%)
Pricing transparency (0-3):
0

Repayment Terms

How and how fast you pay it back, and how flexible it is.

Term:
7(a): 7 years working capital, 10 years equipment or acquisitions, 25 years real estate; 504: 10 to 25 years; 10 years most common (median 120 months)
Repayment schedule:
Monthly amortizing payments; fixed or variable (39 of 60 recent 7(a) loans fixed)
Flexibility in slow months:
Low — fixed monthly amortizing payments; 10- to 25-year terms keep them small

Eligibility & Access

Who qualifies and what you have to put on the line.

Funding amount:
SBA 7(a) and 504 up to $5,000,000; SBA Express up to $500,000 (last 12 months to Jun 30, 2026: $15,000 to $2,681,300; median $266,800; SBA 7(a) FOIA data)
Minimum revenue:
Lender does not publish; must meet SBA size standards
Minimum time in business:
None — startups accepted (20 of 60 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026); 10% equity injection for startups and acquisitions
Credit check:
Lender does not publish a minimum score; full credit underwriting (SBA: SBSS 165+ for expedited loans ≤$350K)
Personal guarantee:
Required from owners of 20% or more (SBA rule)
Collateral & lien:
Secured — collateral on all 60 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026

Speed & Service

How fast you get funded and how the lender treats you.

Time to funding:
Lender does not publish; SBA 7(a) typically 30 to 90 days application to funding (PLP approval in-house skips the 5 to 10 business-day SBA review)
Lender status:
Active SBA lender (60 SBA 7(a) approvals in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026)

Company Verification

Who actually stands behind the lender: legal entity, registration, and how long the business and its website have existed. Checked against public registries.

Legal entity:
Republic Bank & Trust Company
Registered in:
Kentucky (FDIC cert #23627)
Company formed:
Chartered 1982
Website domain registered:
Feb 1999
Follow:
Share on:

Best for: Kentucky, southern Indiana, Cincinnati and Nashville owners wanting a local SBA loan for a startup, purchase or expansion.

Not for: Borrowers outside those markets or needing funds in days.

Lender List verdict: Republic Bank & Trust is a 44-year-old Louisville bank with a 7.75% median SBA 7(a) starting rate (12 months to June 2026) and frequent startup loans. Rates are not posted; closing takes weeks.

Republic Bank & Trust at a glance

Republic Bank & Trust Company
Lender typeFDIC-insured bank (cert 23627); SBA Preferred Lender
Founded / HQ1982 / Louisville, Kentucky
ProductsSBA 7(a), 504 and Express loans
Amounts7(a) and 504 up to $5,000,000; Express up to $500,000
Cost7.75% median starting rate
StatusActive

What is Republic Bank & Trust Company?

Republic Bank & Trust Company is a Louisville, Kentucky bank founded in 1982, with about $7.08 billion in assets at September 30, 2026 and 47 branches across Kentucky, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida.

Republic Bank's SBA programs

Republic Bank approved 60 SBA 7(a) loans worth $27.1 million in the 12 months to June 30, 2026 (average $451,327), after 50 in FY2025 and 45 in FY2026 through June.

  • 7(a): up to $5,000,000; 7 years working capital, 10 years equipment or acquisitions, 25 years real estate
  • 504: fixed-asset loans up to $5,000,000
  • Express: up to $500,000

Source: SBA 7(a) FOIA data, as of June 30, 2026 (data.sba.gov).

Republic Bank SBA rates and fees

Republic Bank's 7(a) loans had a 7.75% median starting rate over the last 12 months, roughly Prime + 0.25% to Prime + 1%, well under the SBA cap of Prime + 3% (10% at today's 7% Prime) for loans over $350,000.

  • Charged: interest, the SBA guaranty fee and unpublished closing costs
  • Not charged: prepayment fees on terms under 15 years

Worked example: a $350,000, 10-year loan at 7.75% costs $4,200.37 a month, or $504,044.65 in total ($154,044.65 interest). The $7,875 guaranty fee (3% of the 75% guaranteed share) lifts the APR to about 8.27%.

Republic Bank requirements

Republic Bank publishes no credit, revenue or time-in-business minimum.

RequirementRepublic Bank minimum
Credit scoreLender does not publish
Time in businessNone; startups accepted
Equity injectionAt least 10% for startups and purchases
Size standardMust meet SBA size standards
Collateral / guaranteeCollateral on all 60 recent loans; guarantee from 20%+ owners

Frequently asked questions about Republic Bank & Trust

Republic Bank & Trust is a legitimate SBA Preferred Lender that closes 7(a) loans in about 30 to 90 days and funds startups.

Is Republic Bank & Trust Company Legit? Yes. Republic Bank & Trust was chartered in 1982, is FDIC-insured, is owned by Nasdaq-listed Republic Bancorp and is an SBA Preferred Lender with zero charge-offs among 328 7(a) loans since FY2020. Its 2025–2026 SEC filings show no merger or enforcement disclosures.

How Long Does Republic Bank Take to Close an SBA Loan? Plan on roughly 30 to 90 days from application to funding; the bank does not publish its own timeline. As a Preferred Lender it approves 7(a) loans in-house, skipping the SBA's 5 to 10 business-day review, though appraisals and closing still take weeks.

Does Republic Bank Lend to Startups? Yes. Twenty of its 60 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to June 2026 funded businesses that had not yet opened. Expect a 10% equity injection, collateral on the loan and a personal guarantee from every owner holding 20% or more.

Does Republic Bank Offer SBA 504 Loans? Yes. Republic Bank lists 504 loans up to $5,000,000 for real estate over 25 years and equipment over 10 years. A 504 loan pairs the bank with a certified development company, so these loans are not in the 7(a) figures above.

Compare Busey Bank, the nearest Midwest SBA lender listed, or browse SBA 7(a) loans.

Last verified 2026-10-27. Pricing and terms are provider-stated or third-party-reported and vary by offer; confirm with the lender before applying.

Related listings

Ren logo

4 Pillar Funding

Saratoga Springs, NY private credit advisory arranging $50K–$20M working capital: lines of credit, term loans, ABL, equi...

Estimated APR:
Lender does not publish
Repayment schedule:
Depends on product: installments (loans/LOC), on customer payment (factoring), daily/weekly debits (MCA)
Funding amount:
$50K–$20M facilities
Time to funding:
Preliminary recommendation in ~48 hours (site); sales email claims most clients funded in 24–48 hours
Ren logo

Plumas Bank

SBA Preferred Lender bank: SBA 7(a) up to $5M plus SBA 504, 8.0% median fixed rate (last 12 months), collateral required...

Estimated APR:
~8.53% APR on a $350K 10-yr SBA 7(a) at the 8.0% median fixed rate incl. 3% guaranty fee (Lender List est.); FY2026 rates 7.50% to 8.75% fixed
Term:
Up to 25 years; 10 years most common (working capital up to 7 years, acquisitions up to 10, real estate up to 25)
Repayment schedule:
Monthly fully amortizing payments; SBA page describes 7(a) rates as variable, but all 52 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026 were fixed
Funding amount:
SBA 7(a) up to $5,000,000; SBA 504 projects up to $12.5 million (lender). FY2026 7(a) loans through June: $167,000 to $5,000,000, median $576,000 (SBA 7(a) FOIA data as of Jun 30, 2026)
Time to funding:
Prequalification in 48 to 72 hours (lender); SBA loans typically take 30 to 90 days from application to funding; Preferred Lenders like Plumas skip the 5 to 10 business-day SBA review
Ren logo

Bangor Savings Bank

SBA Preferred Lender in ME and NH: SBA 7(a) and Express up to $1.75M, 7.75% median rate (last 12 months), collateral req...

Estimated APR:
~8.27% APR on a $350K 10-yr SBA 7(a) at the 7.75% median rate incl. 3% guaranty fee (Lender List est.); last-12-month rates 6.55% to 9.75%
Term:
10 years on many SBA loans (120 months on 14 of 34 in the last 12 months; 84 months on 9; 48 to 126 months on the rest)
Repayment schedule:
Monthly payments; 13 of 34 recent SBA loans were revolving lines; 23 fixed-rate, 11 variable
Funding amount:
SBA 7(a) up to $5,000,000 (SBA program max; largest since FY2020 $1,840,000). Last 12 months to Jun 30, 2026: $25,000 to $1,750,000, median $202,500; SBA Express $25,000 to $500,000 (SBA 7(a) FOIA data)
Time to funding:
About 30 days to close for SBA Express; standard SBA 7(a) often 60 to 90 days to funding (NerdWallet); PLP approval in-house skips SBA review. Bank publishes no timeline
Ren logo

Frandsen Bank and Trust

SBA Preferred Lender for MN, WI and ND owners: 7(a), 504, Express and CAPLine to $5M, median 9.25% variable, ~10-yr term...

Estimated APR:
Median 9.25% initial rate on SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026 (SBA FOIA, n=49); ~9.8% APR incl. 3% guaranty fee on a $350K 10-yr example
Term:
Median term 120 months (SBA FOIA); SBA allows up to 10 years, 25 with real estate
Repayment schedule:
Monthly; variable rate tied to Prime (94.1% of loans variable since FY2020); CAPLine revolving lines also offered
Funding amount:
$15,000 to $5M (SBA FOIA, loans since FY2020; median $339,500); lender does not publish amounts
Time to funding:
Lender does not publish; says many SBA loans close faster than the national average; standard SBA 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days (third-party)
Ren logo

Emprise Bank

SBA Preferred Lender in Wichita, KS: SBA 7(a) and Express loans $10,000 to $5M for KS, NE and MO businesses, 7.38% media...

Estimated APR:
6.25% to 8.67% starting rates, median 7.38%, on 53 SBA 7(a) loans in the 12 months to Jun 30, 2026 (SBA FOIA); ~7.90% APR incl. 3% guaranty fee on a $350K 10-yr example
Term:
24 to 300 months on the last 53 SBA 7(a) loans (29 at 120 months, 8 at 240 months) (SBA FOIA)
Repayment schedule:
Monthly, amortizing; 41 of 53 recent loans fixed-rate, 12 variable (tied to Prime); 15 revolving lines
Funding amount:
$10,000 to $5M (SBA FOIA, FY2020–present); last 12 months $10,000 to $2,814,000, median $325,000 (SBA FOIA, as of Jun 30, 2026)
Time to funding:
Lender does not publish; standard SBA 7(a) loans often take 60 to 90 days (third-party); PLP/Express in-house approval skips 5 to 10 business days of SBA review
Ren logo

Liberty Bank

SBA Preferred Lender bank in CT: SBA 7(a) and Express up to $5M, 9.75% median rate (last 12 months), collateral required...

Estimated APR:
~10.29% APR on a $350K 10-yr SBA 7(a) at the 9.75% median rate incl. 3% guaranty fee (Lender List est.); last-12-month rates 6.43% to 12.00%
Term:
10 years on most SBA loans (120 months on 39 of 48 in the last 12 months; 84 months on 7)
Repayment schedule:
Monthly amortizing payments; 30 of 48 recent SBA loans variable-rate, 18 fixed
Funding amount:
SBA loans up to $5,000,000 (lender). Last 12 months to Jun 30, 2026: $20,000 to $4,300,000, median $100,000; SBA Express $20,000 to $400,000 (SBA 7(a) FOIA data)
Time to funding:
About 30 days to close for SBA Express; standard SBA 7(a) often 60 to 90 days to funding (NerdWallet); PLP approval in-house skips SBA review. Non-SBA business loans: 24 to 48 hour turnaround target, closing in as few as 5 business days (lender)