Business loans supply funding to nonfinancial companies, with patterns shaped by market size, costs, and credit conditions across the U.S. and the euro area. As you explore, you’ll see how business credit is distributed and which firms seek external finance—plus how acceptance, delinquencies, and charge-offs signal lenders’ risk appetite. The page also highlights loan types and programs, including SBA microloans, and explains how fintech and alternative data are changing underwriting alongside factors like leasing, invoice financing, and green lending.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023 Q4, U.S. banks’ total commercial real estate loans were $2.9 trillion (Federal Reserve H.8).
- In 2023, total business credit (nonfinancial businesses) outstanding in the United States was $18.7 trillion (Federal Reserve Z.1).
- In the euro area, 56% of SMEs reported seeking external finance in 2023 (SAFE survey, ECB—survey on access to finance).
- $18.7 trillion total business credit outstanding in the United States (2023, Federal Reserve Z.1).
- $14.8 billion fintech lending originated in the U.S. in 2023 (industry estimate by Experian).
- $9.7 trillion global bank lending to non-financial corporates (2023, BIS).
- In 2023, U.S. commercial bank charge-offs on business loans were 0.52% of outstanding loan balances (FDIC).
- In 2023, U.S. delinquency rate on commercial loans was 1.16% (Federal Reserve/Call Report delinquency series).
- 30-day past due rate for commercial and industrial loans averaged 0.87% in 2022 (FDIC/Call Report).
- SBA microloans provide amounts up to $50,000 (SBA program terms).
- SBA microloan terms range up to 10 years (SBA program terms).
- For U.S. banks, average prime rate was 7.83% in 2023 (Federal Reserve).
- Alternative data is used by about 75% of fintech lenders (OECD fintech lending review estimate).
- In 2022, 18% of euro area SMEs used factoring or invoice financing (SAFE/EIB).
- In 2022, 14% of euro area SMEs used leasing as external finance (SAFE/EIB).
In 2023, U.S. business credit totaled $18.7 trillion while euro area SMEs still faced significant financing hurdles.
Related reading
01 · Category
Usage & Access10 stats
01
In 2023 Q4, U.S. banks’ total commercial real estate loans were $2.9 trillion (Federal Reserve H.8).
02
In 2023, total business credit (nonfinancial businesses) outstanding in the United States was $18.7 trillion (Federal Reserve Z.1).
03
In the euro area, 56% of SMEs reported seeking external finance in 2023 (SAFE survey, ECB—survey on access to finance).
04
In the euro area, 20% of SMEs reported being rejected or partially rejected for finance in 2023 (SAFE survey, ECB).
05
56% of SMEs in the euro area reported seeking external finance in 2023
06
20% of SMEs in the euro area reported being rejected or partially rejected for finance in 2023
07
41% of SMEs in the euro area reported that they were discouraged from applying for finance in 2023
08
34% of SMEs in the euro area reported that they did not apply for external finance in 2023
09
30% of SMEs in the euro area reported that they were discouraged from applying for finance because they expected rejection in 2023
10
24% of SMEs in the euro area reported that they did not need external finance in 2023
Interpretation
Usage & Access Interpretation
For the Usage and Access angle, the data shows that business finance is both widely used and unevenly accessible, with U.S. business credit totaling $18.7 trillion in 2023 and euro area SME external finance demand at 56% while rejection or partial rejection still hit 20% in 2023.
report visual · Comparison
SME external finance access in the euro area (2023): demand vs outcomes
In 2023, more euro area SMEs sought external finance than faced rejection or partial rejection, with rejection/partial rejection leading as the key supply-side barrier among applic
56% of SMEs in the euro area reported seeking external finance in 202356%
41% of SMEs in the euro area reported that they were discouraged from applying for finance in 202341%
20% of SMEs in the euro area reported being rejected or partially rejected for finance in 202320%
source-verifiedecb.europa.eu2023
02 · Category
Market Size7 stats
01
$18.7 trillion total business credit outstanding in the United States (2023, Federal Reserve Z.1).
02
$14.8 billion fintech lending originated in the U.S. in 2023 (industry estimate by Experian).
03
$9.7 trillion global bank lending to non-financial corporates (2023, BIS).
04
$4.7 trillion global bank lending to small and medium enterprises is estimated (OECD estimate; credit to SMEs).
05
$1.7 trillion business lending by U.S. nonbank financial institutions (2023, Federal Reserve Z.1).
06
$1.9 trillion business credit from nonfinancial business loans in the U.S. (2023, Federal Reserve Z.1).
07
In 2022, U.S. revolving credit outstanding to businesses was $1.5 trillion (Federal Reserve).
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The market size for business lending is enormous, with $18.7 trillion of total business credit outstanding in the United States in 2023, and global bank lending adding scale from $9.7 trillion to non-financial corporates and $4.7 trillion to SMEs, underscoring how large and segmented the “Market Size” landscape is.
03 · Category
Credit Quality13 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. commercial bank charge-offs on business loans were 0.52% of outstanding loan balances (FDIC).
02
In 2023, U.S. delinquency rate on commercial loans was 1.16% (Federal Reserve/Call Report delinquency series).
03
30-day past due rate for commercial and industrial loans averaged 0.87% in 2022 (FDIC/Call Report).
04
Net charge-off rate on C&I loans was 0.86% in 2023 (FDIC).
05
In 2023, the average U.S. corporate default rate reached 2.6% (Moody’s).
06
In 2023, the U.S. speculative-grade corporate default rate was 4.0% (Moody’s).
07
U.S. banks’ charge-offs on all loans reached $111 billion in 2023 (FDIC).
08
Small business loan delinquency rates were 1.7% for borrowers in fintech segment (Ellie Mae/Experian small business performance—industry analysis).
09
In 2023, 8.3% of U.S. commercial loans were in watchlist categories (bank internal metrics used in Federal Reserve supervisory reports).
10
The share of U.S. small businesses with excellent or good credit scores was 44% (FICO/Small Business data).
11
The share of U.S. small businesses with fair or below credit scores was 56% (FICO/Small Business data).
12
In 2024, 37% of surveyed lenders reported tightening standards for SME loans (ECB Bank Lending Survey, euro area).
13
In 2024, euro area lenders reported that demand for SME loans fell by 5% (ECB Bank Lending Survey).
Interpretation
Credit Quality Interpretation
From a credit quality perspective, 2023 shows broadly manageable risk with charge offs at 0.52% and net charge offs on C and I loans at 0.86%, while delinquency stays low at 1.16%, and even corporate defaults remain limited with a 2.6% overall default rate and 4.0% for speculative grade firms.
More related reading
04 · Category
Pricing & Terms7 stats
01
SBA microloans provide amounts up to $50,000(SBA program terms).
02
SBA microloan terms range up to 10 years (SBA program terms).
03
For U.S. banks, average prime rate was 7.83% in 2023 (Federal Reserve).
04
For U.S. banks, average prime rate was 6.83% in 2022 (Federal Reserve).
05
In 2024, 60% of lenders in the Federal Reserve’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey expected credit standards to tighten (U.S.).
06
In 2024, 40% of banks reported higher interest rates on loans to large/medium firms (U.S. SLOOS).
07
In 2024, 35% of banks reported higher interest rates on loans to small firms (U.S. SLOOS).
Interpretation
Pricing & Terms Interpretation
For the Pricing and Terms angle, SBA microloans max out at $50,000 with terms up to 10 years, while in 2024 banks also faced tighter credit conditions and higher loan pricing, with 60% of lenders expecting credit standards to tighten and 40% reporting higher interest rates for loans to large and medium firms.
05 · Category
Industry Trends12 stats
01
Alternative data is used by about 75% of fintech lenders (OECD fintech lending review estimate).
02
In 2022, 18% of euro area SMEs used factoring or invoice financing (SAFE/EIB).
03
In 2022, 14% of euro area SMEs used leasing as external finance (SAFE/EIB).
04
In 2023, 12% of euro area SMEs reported that green loans were relevant to their financing needs (SAFE/EIB).
05
In 2023, U.S. banks reported a 6-point increase in credit availability to SMEs due to improved risk assessment (Fed SLOOS summary).
06
In 2024 Q1, 28% of respondents to the ECB’s Bank Lending Survey expected credit standards for loans to non-financial corporations to remain unchanged (euro area).
07
In 2024, 32% of respondents to ECB Bank Lending Survey reported weaker demand for loans from SMEs (euro area).
08
In the U.S., 72% of small business owners consider credit reporting errors a barrier to loan access (Experian survey).
09
In 2023, 24% of SMEs in emerging markets reported that digital lending was available to them (World Bank Fintech).
10
World Bank estimates 1.4 billion adults globally remain unbanked as of 2021 (affects access to business credit).
11
In 2021, global micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) lacked access to about $5.2 trillion in finance (IFC/World Bank estimate).
12
In 2022, 41% of SMEs in emerging markets reported that they needed external finance but did not obtain it (IFC MSME).
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends show financing is becoming more data driven and targeted, with 75% of fintech lenders using alternative data and, alongside this shift, euro area SMEs increasingly relying on external options such as factoring or invoice financing at 18% in 2022 and leasing at 14%, while green loans were relevant for 12% of firms in 2023.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Alexander Schmidt. (2026, February 13). Business Loan Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/business-loan-statistics
MLA
Alexander Schmidt. "Business Loan Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/business-loan-statistics.
Chicago
Alexander Schmidt. 2026. "Business Loan Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/business-loan-statistics.
Sources & references
23 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+12 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)