Kentucky borrowers have a broad group of locally headquartered banks to consider for commercial property financing. BestCRE ranks 25 banks by total commercial real estate loans reported on FDIC Call Report schedule RC-C as of June 30, 2026. Together, the banks in the table hold $19.7 billion in CRE loans, including $3.8 billion in construction and land loans, $2.9 billion in multifamily loans, $5.4 billion in owner occupied loans, and $7.7 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. These balances show the size and composition of each bank’s existing portfolio, not the volume of new loans it originated during the period.
The ranking covers banks headquartered in Kentucky. The state has 120 headquartered banks with $26.1 billion in total CRE loans, up +7.3% year over year. The top five account for 41.5% of that total. Banks based outside Kentucky are excluded from the ranking even when they operate substantial local branch networks. That distinction matters because FDIC Call Reports present each institution’s nationwide loan portfolio rather than loans allocated to individual states. BestCRE uses the FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026 to identify out of state banks with Kentucky branches and deposits, giving borrowers a separate view of large institutions with a local presence.
Kentucky banks ranked by total CRE loans
| Rank | Bank | Headquarters | Total CRE loans ($M) | Construction and land ($M) | Multifamily ($M) | Owner occupied ($M) | Change, 1 year | CRE share of loans |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company | Louisville, KY | $4,115 | $771 | $547 | $1,275 | +14.0% | 52.1% |
| 2 | Republic Bank & Trust Company | Louisville, KY | $2,108 | $215 | $377 | $695 | +3.5% | 38.5% |
| 3 | Community Trust Bank, Inc. | Pikeville, KY | $1,886 | $318 | $233 | $378 | +10.7% | 36.8% |
| 4 | Central Bank & Trust Co. | Lexington, KY | $1,758 | $286 | $344 | $377 | +15.0% | 58.3% |
| 5 | Traditional Bank, Inc. | Mount Sterling, KY | $935 | $263 | $58.0 | $184 | +13.9% | 55.8% |
| 6 | South Central Bank, Inc. | Glasgow, KY | $919 | $170 | $118 | $244 | +10.7% | 51.5% |
| 7 | Independence Bank of Kentucky | Owensboro, KY | $851 | $119 | $104 | $289 | +2.1% | 40.0% |
| 8 | Planters Bank, Inc. | Hopkinsville, KY | $798 | $224 | $195 | $134 | -7.7% | 54.2% |
| 9 | Heritage Bank, Inc. | Burlington, KY | $796 | $167 | $78.1 | $214 | -0.1% | 64.3% |
| 10 | Whitaker Bank | Lexington, KY | $550 | $154 | $69.9 | $213 | +5.8% | 49.8% |
| 11 | Forcht Bank, N.A. | Lexington, KY | $492 | $35.5 | $138 | $120 | -2.9% | 43.5% |
| 12 | The Cecilian Bank | Cecilia, KY | $462 | $81.4 | $51.7 | $105 | +0.7% | 43.3% |
| 13 | American Bank & Trust Company, Inc. | Bowling Green, KY | $424 | $167 | $87.1 | $60.0 | +0.7% | 56.9% |
| 14 | Edmonton State Bank | Glasgow, KY | $405 | $107 | $92.2 | $113 | +9.2% | 43.6% |
| 15 | The Monticello Banking Company | Monticello, KY | $387 | $84.8 | $74.2 | $99.9 | -10.5% | 50.0% |
| 16 | The Paducah Bank and Trust Company | Paducah, KY | $377 | $79.9 | $21.4 | $120 | +10.3% | 46.5% |
| 17 | Franklin Bank & Trust Company | Franklin, KY | $359 | $90.6 | $51.0 | $96.8 | +13.3% | 52.1% |
| 18 | First Southern National Bank | Lancaster, KY | $312 | $36.6 | $38.0 | $96.3 | +10.6% | 39.4% |
| 19 | Cumberland Valley National Bank & Trust Company | London, KY | $300 | $56.1 | $35.8 | $92.6 | +1.1% | 53.6% |
| 20 | The Farmers National Bank of Danville | Danville, KY | $296 | $37.2 | $37.7 | $81.5 | -0.2% | 36.9% |
| 21 | Community Financial Services Bank | Benton, KY | $257 | $34.7 | $31.6 | $124 | -1.8% | 26.2% |
| 22 | Farmers Bank and Trust Company | Marion, KY | $250 | $75.0 | $35.7 | $62.3 | +11.0% | 37.8% |
| 23 | River City Bank, Inc. | Louisville, KY | $249 | $101 | $26.1 | $67.0 | -0.4% | 66.3% |
| 24 | Peoples Exchange Bank | Winchester, KY | $223 | $42.3 | $40.2 | $70.1 | +10.3% | 43.0% |
| 25 | Wilson & Muir Bank & Trust Company | Bardstown, KY | $218 | $64.0 | $6.3 | $48.4 | +9.6% | 39.7% |
Source: FDIC Call Reports as of June 30, 2026 (schedule RC-C). Dollar figures in millions. Change, 1 year compares total CRE loans with June 30, 2025. Bank names link to each bank’s FDIC record. Table shows the top 25 of 120 banks headquartered in Kentucky.
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company leads with $4.1 billion in CRE loans and +14.0% year over year growth. Its $1.5 billion investor nonfarm nonresidential book is the largest component, followed by $1.3 billion of owner occupied loans. Republic Bank & Trust Company ranks second at $2.1 billion, while Community Trust Bank, Inc. and Central Bank & Trust Co. report $1.9 billion and $1.8 billion, respectively. Central Bank & Trust Co. has the strongest growth among those leaders at +15.0%. Portfolio emphasis varies lower in the table. American Bank & Trust Company, Inc. holds $166.7 million in construction and land loans within a $423.9 million CRE book. Heritage Bank, Inc. reports CRE at 64.3% of total loans and investor CRE to equity of 4.04x, both high relative to many banks listed. Planters Bank, Inc. declined -7.7%, while Traditional Bank, Inc. grew +13.9%.
Out of state banks with branches in Kentucky
| Bank | Headquarters state | Branches in Kentucky | Deposits in Kentucky ($M) | Total CRE loans, all states ($M) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Bank, N.A. | Delaware | 67 | $11,594 | $47,133 |
| JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 45 | $10,629 | $179,847 |
| Fifth Third Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 68 | $8,354 | $33,581 |
| U.S. Bank, N.A. | Ohio | 69 | $6,584 | $50,718 |
| Truist Bank | North Carolina | 53 | $5,831 | $51,018 |
| WesBanco Bank, Inc. | West Virginia | 24 | $2,367 | $10,779 |
| German American Bank | Indiana | 29 | $1,638 | $3,034 |
| Peoples Bank | Ohio | 40 | $1,475 | $2,429 |
| Old National Bank | Indiana | 11 | $1,323 | $23,021 |
| City National Bank of West Virginia | West Virginia | 21 | $1,211 | $1,607 |
| The Huntington National Bank | Ohio | 10 | $1,001 | $37,932 |
| Bank of America, N.A. | North Carolina | 8 | $982 | $79,906 |
Source: FDIC Summary of Deposits 2026. Deposits and branches are for Kentucky only; CRE loans are bank wide.
The ranking provides a starting point for a loan search
A large CRE portfolio can indicate established appetite and greater capacity to hold commercial property loans, but size alone does not identify the right lender for a particular transaction. Borrowers can begin with total CRE loans, then compare the relevant property category, year over year change, CRE share of total loans, and investor CRE to equity. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company, for example, has $4.1 billion in total CRE loans, while River City Bank, Inc. has $249.4 million. Both may warrant consideration, but the reported portfolios place them at very different scales.
Growth helps identify banks that are adding CRE balances, while concentration may indicate that a bank will be selective about additional exposure. Bank lending also remains relationship driven and local, so borrowers should consider headquarters, branch access, existing relationships, property location, and transaction fit before making contact. The table is best used to create a focused call list rather than to predict approval. Comparing several banks allows a borrower to assess which institutions are actively considering the relevant property type and loan size under current credit conditions.
Get your deal in front of the right lenders in Kentucky
Tell BestCRE about the property, the loan amount and the timeline. We package the request and bring back term sheets from banks, debt funds, life companies, CMBS, agency and SBA lenders, so you compare more than the bank down the street.
Tell Us About Your DealHow BestCRE Capital WorksLoan mix reveals distinct areas of portfolio activity
The four loan categories show where each bank’s reported CRE exposure is concentrated. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company reports $771.1 million in construction and land, $547.1 million in multifamily, $1.3 billion in owner occupied property, and $1.5 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential property. Republic Bank & Trust Company has $820.0 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans and $694.8 million in owner occupied loans. By contrast, Planters Bank, Inc. reports $224.3 million in construction and land loans and $195.1 million in multifamily loans within its $797.8 million CRE portfolio.
Concentration measures add context to the dollar balances. CRE represents 66.3% of total loans at River City Bank, Inc., compared with 26.2% at Community Financial Services Bank. Investor CRE to equity is 4.32x at American Bank & Trust Company, Inc. and 1.17x at Community Financial Services Bank. A high ratio relative to other banks in the table signals more investor CRE exposure against equity capital and may coincide with greater selectivity. It does not establish the terms, availability, or likely outcome of any individual loan request.
Kentucky borrowers have additional bank and nonbank options
Several banks headquartered outside Kentucky maintain meaningful branch and deposit positions in the state. PNC Bank, N.A., headquartered in Delaware, has 67 Kentucky branches, $11.6 billion in state deposits, and $47.1 billion in CRE loans across all states. JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. has 45 branches, $10.6 billion in Kentucky deposits, and $179.8 billion in nationwide CRE loans. Fifth Third Bank, N.A. has 68 branches and $8.4 billion in state deposits, while U.S. Bank, N.A. has 69 branches and $6.6 billion. Their nationwide CRE balances are not directly attributable to Kentucky.
Borrowers can also compare banks with debt funds, life companies, CMBS lenders, agency lenders, and SBA lenders. These nonbank sources do not appear in bank Call Reports, and their availability will depend on the property, transaction, and applicable program rules. Comparing several sources is useful because lender type, portfolio exposure, local presence, and relationship requirements can differ. The ranked table identifies Kentucky headquartered banks with existing CRE portfolios, while the branch data broadens the bank set. Neither view represents every potential source of commercial real estate financing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kentucky bank has the largest commercial real estate loan portfolio?
Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company ranks first with $4.1 billion in total CRE loans as of June 30, 2026. The Louisville headquartered bank reports $771.1 million in construction and land loans, $547.1 million in multifamily loans, $1.3 billion in owner occupied loans, and $1.5 billion in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Its CRE portfolio increased +14.0% year over year and represents 52.1% of total loans. The bank ranks 119 nationally by total CRE loans among the 4,167 banks included in the broader FDIC based comparison.
Which Kentucky headquartered bank reported the fastest CRE growth?
Central Bank & Trust Co. reports +15.0% year over year CRE growth, the highest rate shown among the 25 ranked banks. Its total CRE portfolio was $1.8 billion as of June 30, 2026, placing it fourth in Kentucky and 258 nationally. The Lexington headquartered bank reports $285.8 million in construction and land loans, $343.6 million in multifamily loans, $377.2 million in owner occupied loans, and $751.3 million in investor nonfarm nonresidential loans. Growth describes the change in reported balances and does not indicate future lending activity or approval standards.
How does BestCRE define commercial real estate loans in this ranking?
BestCRE uses the CRE categories reported in FDIC Call Report schedule RC-C: construction and land development, loans secured by multifamily properties, loans secured by owner occupied nonfarm nonresidential properties, and loans secured by non owner occupied nonfarm nonresidential properties. The 25 banks in the table report $19.7 billion across those categories as of June 30, 2026. The measure is an outstanding loan balance reported at the bank level. It is not a count of transactions, an origination total, or a measure limited to properties located within Kentucky.
How large is Kentucky bank CRE lending compared with the national market?
The 120 banks headquartered in Kentucky report $26.1 billion in total CRE loans. Across the national comparison, 4,167 banks report $3.07 trillion. Stock Yards Bank & Trust Company is Kentucky’s highest ranked institution and places 119 nationally with $4.1 billion in CRE loans. Republic Bank & Trust Company ranks 216 nationally with $2.1 billion, while Community Trust Bank, Inc. ranks 245 with $1.9 billion. These comparisons reflect bankwide portfolios reported to the FDIC and do not measure the geographic location of every financed property.
What interest rate benchmarks were current when this page was published?
As of Oct 26, 2026, the Prime rate was 7.00%, SOFR was 3.89%, the 5 year Treasury was 4.78%, the 10 year Treasury was 4.96%, and Fed funds was 3.88%. These are market benchmarks, not quoted loan rates from the ranked banks. FDIC Call Reports do not disclose the pricing offered for a particular commercial real estate transaction. Borrowers should distinguish the June 30, 2026 portfolio date from the later benchmark rate date when interpreting the ranking and discussing current financing with potential lenders.
More BestCRE lender rankings
CRE lenders by state
BestCRE rankings are editorially independent and built only from public regulatory filings; no bank pays for placement. Call report figures describe loans held on each bank’s balance sheet and do not show loan terms, rates or current appetite. BestCRE is not a lender and does not make loans. Benchmark rates are informational, not quotes. See our Legal Disclaimer and Compensation Disclosure.