Lenders approved 863 SBA 7(a) loans worth $423M for Nebraska businesses in fiscal years 2024 through 2026, net of cancellations. That ranks 39th of 52 by number of loans and 38th by dollars. The median loan was $195K at a median starting rate of 8.90%. In FY2026 alone, lenders approved 281 Nebraska loans for $148M before cancellations.
What stands out in Nebraska
Lower rates than average
The median starting rate on Nebraska 7(a) loans was 8.90%, against 10.25% nationally, and 24.0% of loans carried a fixed rate (13.6% nationally). SBA caps the spread a lender can charge over the base rate, and smaller loans are allowed higher spreads, so a state's loan-size mix moves its median rate.
Lots of business purchases
16.9% of Nebraska 7(a) loans financed a change of ownership, that is, buying an existing business, against 10.9% nationally. If you are planning an acquisition, Nebraska lenders see this kind of deal often.
A milder FY2026 drop than the country
Nebraska approvals went from 330 in FY2025 to 281 in FY2026 (−14.8%), against −28.1% nationally. Dollar volume went from $160M to $148M (−7.6%).
One lender dominates
Union Bank and Trust Company approved 175 of Nebraska's 863 SBA 7(a) loans in FY2024 to FY2026, a 20.3% share. The top three lenders together made 32.2%. For comparison, the largest 7(a) lender nationally, The Huntington National Bank, holds 10.3% of all loans. When one bank makes this many of a state's loans, its pricing and credit appetite set the tone, so a second quote is worth getting.
Lending clusters in one county
Douglas County alone accounted for 37.1% of Nebraska's 7(a) loans (320 loans), and Omaha was the most frequent borrower city with 283. The next county, Lancaster, had 20.7%.
More startup lending
Loans to open a new business made up 20.7% of Nebraska's 7(a) loans, against 16.1% nationally; counting businesses two years old or younger, the share is 38.4%.
What a typical Nebraska SBA loan looks like
| FY2024-FY2026, not cancelled | Nebraska | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Median loan | $195K | $175K |
| Average loan | $490K | $508K |
| Median starting rate | 8.90% | 10.25% |
| Variable-rate loans | 76.0% | 86.4% |
| Median term | 120 months | 120 months |
| Loans of $150K or less | 47.0% | 49.0% |
| Loans of $500K or less | 77.8% | 76.9% |
| Loans of $1M or more | 11.7% | 13.6% |
| Startups (loan opens the business) | 20.7% | 16.1% |
| Startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 38.4% | 32.0% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 16.9% | 10.9% |
| Franchise businesses | 13.3% | 11.0% |
| SBA Express loans | 36.4% | 35.8% |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 8,999 | 1,733,816 |
Nebraska SBA 7(a) loans by fiscal year
SBA fiscal years run October to September, so FY2026 covers October 2025 through September 2026. "Approved" counts every loan SBA guaranteed, the basis of SBA's own published totals; "not cancelled" drops loans that were later cancelled before or after funding. FY2026 loans are recent, so some of them may still be cancelled.
| FY2024 | FY2025 | FY2026 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 368 | 330 | 281 |
| Dollars approved | $161M | $160M | $148M |
| Loans not cancelled | 342 | 287 | 234 |
| Median loan | $198K | $175K | $200K |
| Median rate | 9.25% | 8.75% | 8.25% |
| Loans of $150K or less | 46.8% | 49.5% | 44.4% |
| SBA Express share | 36.5% | 36.9% | 35.5% |
FY2026 approvals in Nebraska changed by −14.8% from FY2025; nationally the change was −28.1%. See why SBA lending fell in FY2026.
Top SBA 7(a) lenders in Nebraska
| Lender | Loans | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Union Bank and Trust Company | 175 | 20.3% |
| 2. U.S. Bank, National Association | 57 | 6.6% |
| 3. First State Bank Nebraska | 46 | 5.3% |
| 4. Emprise Bank | 38 | 4.4% |
| 5. The Huntington National Bank | 37 | 4.3% |
| 6. Associated Bank National Association | 32 | 3.7% |
| 7. Readycap Lending, LLC | 30 | 3.5% |
| 8. Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 21 | 2.4% |
| 9. BayFirst National Bank | 21 | 2.4% |
| 10. Northeast Bank | 21 | 2.4% |
Industries that borrow most in Nebraska
| Sector | Loans | Share | Median loan | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 149 | 17.3% | $200K | 9.00% |
| Restaurants and hotels | 98 | 11.4% | $391K | 8.50% |
| Other services (repair, personal care) | 97 | 11.2% | $125K | 8.75% |
| Health care | 94 | 10.9% | $250K | 8.78% |
| Retail | 89 | 10.3% | $150K | 8.50% |
| Administrative and support services | 66 | 7.6% | $201K | 9.05% |
| Professional services | 64 | 7.4% | $150K | 8.50% |
| Manufacturing | 44 | 5.1% | $335K | 8.50% |
Where in Nebraska the loans go
| County | Loans |
|---|---|
| Douglas | 320 |
| Lancaster | 179 |
| Sarpy | 103 |
| Lincoln | 23 |
| Buffalo | 18 |
| Cass | 16 |
| Hall | 15 |
| York | 15 |
| City | Loans |
|---|---|
| Omaha | 283 |
| Lincoln | 166 |
| Papillion | 35 |
| Elkhorn | 33 |
| North Platte | 23 |
| Bellevue | 22 |
| Grand Island | 15 |
| Kearney | 14 |
Counts only, and only places with at least 10 loans. No individual businesses are listed.
SBA 504 loans in Nebraska
The SBA 504 program finances owner-occupied real estate and long-life equipment. A certified development company (CDC) lends up to 40% of the project with an SBA-backed debenture, a bank typically lends about 50%, and the business puts in the rest. The amounts below are the CDC portion.
| Nebraska | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| 504 loans, FY2024-FY2026 (not cancelled) | 77 | 18,076 |
| 504 dollars | $98.6M | $20.82B |
| Median 504 loan | $847K | $742K |
| Jobs supported (reported at approval) | 1,566 | 190,338 |
| Most active CDCs | 504 loans |
|---|---|
| Nebraska Economic Development Corporation | 73 |
SBA district office for Nebraska
Nebraska loans are overseen by the SBA Nebraska District Office. District offices do not make loans; they support lenders and borrowers and point businesses to local resource partners. Contact details are on SBA's local assistance page.
Comparing SBA and other funding in Nebraska
An SBA loan is often the cheapest long-term money a small business can get, but approval takes weeks and the 2025 and 2026 rule changes narrowed who qualifies. FSE (Funding Solutions Experts) is an independent commercial finance brokerage. We are not an SBA lender and are not affiliated with the U.S. Small Business Administration; one application lets us compare SBA and non-SBA options from our funding partners side by side.
- No fee to your business: we are paid a commission by the funding partner.
- No credit check to apply.
- To be considered, a business generally needs at least 1 year in business and $10,000 or more in monthly revenue.
Read what an SBA loan is and how the programs work or our SBA and term loans guide.
Frequently asked questions
How many SBA loans were made in Nebraska?
Lenders approved 368 SBA 7(a) loans for Nebraska businesses in FY2024, 330 in FY2025 and 281 in FY2026, before cancellations. Net of cancelled loans, the three years total 863 loans worth $423M, plus 77 SBA 504 loans worth $98.6M.
Which banks make the most SBA loans in Nebraska?
In FY2024 to FY2026 the most active 7(a) lenders in Nebraska were Union Bank and Trust Company (175 loans, 20.3%), U.S. Bank, National Association (57 loans, 6.6%), First State Bank Nebraska (46 loans, 5.3%).
What is the typical SBA loan size and rate in Nebraska?
The median 7(a) loan in Nebraska was $195K and the average was $490K. The median starting interest rate was 8.90%, 76.0% of loans had a variable rate, and the median term was 120 months.
Source and method
Figures come from the U.S. Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files (as of September 30, 2026), aggregated by FSE. Loans are assigned to Nebraska by project state. Profile figures cover FY2024-FY2026 loans that were not cancelled. We publish aggregates only: no borrower names or addresses, and no figure based on fewer than 10 loans. Full details are in the methodology, and every state's figures can be downloaded as CSV.
Compare nearby states by volume: Maine, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, or see all states.