USDA launches Lender Lens Dashboard to promote data transparency

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Stephen Vaden unveiled the Lender Lens on the Rural Data Gateway.

This dashboard will make Rural Development’s entire commercial guaranteed loan portfolio available to the public, guaranteed borrowers and commercial lending stakeholders.

Lender Lens will give communities a clear view into where federal investments are being made by introducing a series of intuitive data visualizations that allow users to monitor performance, spot trends and proactively manage their Rural Development loan guarantee portfolio. The dashboard showcases key metrics, including total loan volume, average loan size, loan distribution by sector, geographic spread, and delinquency rates, allowing an at-a-glance look at activity nationwide. Data is refreshed monthly and can easily be downloaded down to the individual loan, giving users timely, flexible access to the information they need.

“The Trump Administration knows that the American public values the importance of government data transparency,” said Vaden. “The Lender Lens will highlight where USDA has expanded access to capital for businesses and rural communities who need it most and demonstrate how Rural Development funds are being used across rural America. It will help rural stakeholders see where investments are being made to expand or improve access to health care, save and create jobs and provide safe drinking water in their communities.”

The Rural Data Gateway was developed in 2023 to help USDA better target resources for the people who need them most in rural America. It has enabled USDA to be a stronger partner to rural residents, entrepreneurs, government officials and other stakeholders. The Rural Data Gateway showcases Rural Development’s investments that have helped rural Americans increase access to capital for their business, rehabilitate water and wastewater infrastructure and construct essential public services.

The Rural Data Gateway includes investment dashboards that show how Rural Development has supported local and regional economies over the last decade through 80 different programs. The dashboards are easy-to-use tools that highlight critical Rural Development investments for people in rural America and help them access the resources they need. The data will help users analyze trends across different states, counties and congressional districts.