Field notes
Recent posts on real Q2 2026 bank data and lender selection.
Field notes · Q2 2026
The 50 US banks with the highest NIM, Q2 2026
A real ranking from FFIEC data. Why Utah industrial banks dominate the top of the list, and what it means for the median community bank.
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Borrower playbook
Which Texas banks will fund a $5M SBA 7(a) loan?
Six named TX-headquartered banks for a $5M SBA 7(a) scenario, plus the four signals we use to rank lenders for a borrower.
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Field notes · Q2 2026
Texas Capital vs Frost vs Prosperity: peer benchmarks for Q2 2026
Side-by-side comparison of three Texas commercial banks. One bank wins each category. None of them wins all of them.
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Borrower playbook
How to find the bank most likely to fund your loan
There are 4,296 US banks and they do not lend alike. The seven data signals that decide whether a bank funds your kind of deal, for any loan type or state.
Read more →Calculators
Free tools, no email, nothing saved. Run the numbers before you call a bank.
Borrower tools
SBA loan calculator
Monthly payment, total interest, the SBA guarantee fee, and a full amortization schedule for any loan amount, term, and rate.
Use the calculator →
Borrower tools
DSCR calculator
Debt service coverage ratio from your income and debt payment, plus the lender acceptance band your number falls in.
Use the calculator →Industry guides
Which banks actually fund your kind of business, with real Q2 2026 call report numbers.
Borrower playbook
Best SBA 7(a) lenders for restaurants in 2026
Six banks active in food-service lending, the underwriting hurdles unique to restaurants, and how to get a faster yes.
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Borrower playbook
Best SBA 7(a) lenders for dental practices in 2026
The banks that compete hardest for dental practice loans, what underwriters check on an acquisition, and how to get to yes.
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Borrower playbook
Best SBA 7(a) lenders for gas stations and c-stores in 2026
The banks that fund fuel and convenience deals, why environmental risk drives the whole thing, and how to get a faster yes.
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Borrower playbook
Best SBA 7(a) lenders for hotels and motels in 2026
Where hospitality deals get funded, why PIP reserves and flag agreements drive approval, and how to get a faster yes.
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Borrower playbook
Best SBA 7(a) lenders for medical clinics in 2026
The banks that compete for clinic and outpatient practice loans, what underwriters check, and how to get to yes faster.
Read the guide →Our writing
Original guides written by BankingLENS for analysts and operators.
Guide · For analysts
How to read a UBPR in 5 minutes
A non-examiner's walkthrough of the Uniform Bank Performance Report. Which pages to read, which to skip, and what to do with what you find.
Read guide →Guide · For borrowers
How to find banks that lend to your industry
Most borrowers spray applications at random banks. Here's how to figure out which banks actually lend in your category before you apply.
Read guide →Explainers
Short, plain-English answers to the questions analysts and operators actually ask. One concept per page.
Explainer
What is a UBPR?
Definition of the Uniform Bank Performance Report. What's on it, how it differs from a call report, where to download one.
Read explainer →Explainer
How do FFIEC peer groups work?
38 asset-band peer groups, what percentile rank actually means, and why a $400M bank isn't compared to JPMorgan.
Read explainer →Explainer
What is a bank's efficiency ratio?
Formula, benchmarks, what a good number looks like, and the trends that actually matter.
Read explainer →Explainer
What is Tier 1 capital?
Plain-English definition, the formula, regulatory thresholds, and how Tier 1 differs from CET1.
Read explainer →Explainer
What is Net Interest Margin (NIM)?
Definition, formula, what a good NIM is, and how it behaves through a Fed rate cycle.
Read explainer →Worth reading elsewhere
Curated external references from the FFIEC, SBA, Federal Reserve, and industry analysts.
External · SBA.gov
SBA Preferred Lender Program (PLP) explained
The SBA's own page on its 7(a) loan programs, including PLP. The cleanest official source on what preferred-lender status actually changes.
Open on sba.govExternal · Federal Reserve
Large bank capital requirements (Tier 1 explained)
The Federal Reserve's official page on capital requirements. How Tier 1, CET1, and the leverage ratio fit together, plus current thresholds.
Open on federalreserve.govExternal · FFIEC
FFIEC peer group average report
How the FFIEC defines and computes peer groups in the UBPR. Useful reference for anyone trying to understand percentile rankings.
Open on ffiec.govExternal · Klaros Group
How (and why) to read a bank's call report
A solid third-party walkthrough of the call report schedules and what to look for. Written by Klaros, a banking consulting firm.
Open on klaros.comWant new posts in your inbox? Email hello@bankinglens.com and we'll add you to the list.