SBA 7(a) loans in Tennessee
Source: U.S. Small Business Administration, 7(a) & 504 FOIA loan data [source] · File as of September 30, 2026 · Loans approved in federal fiscal years 2024–2026 (Oct 2023 – Sept 2026) · Imported November 4, 2026
2,252loans approved
$250,000median loan
$87K–$618Kmiddle half of loans
$1.4Btotal approved
10%median initial rate
10 yrsmedian term
The median Tennessee loan is 43% larger than the national median of $175,000.
Loan sizes
Top industries
| Industry (NAICS) | Loans | Median |
|---|---|---|
| Limited-Service Restaurants (722513) | 89 | $471,000 |
| Full-Service Restaurants (722511) | 89 | $300,000 |
| Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940) | 72 | $379,250 |
| Residential Remodelers (236118) | 62 | $65,000 |
| Snack and Nonalcoholic Beverage Bars (722515) | 58 | $445,000 |
| Other Personal Care Services (812199) | 48 | $410,250 |
| General Automotive Repair (811111) | 46 | $179,400 |
| Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210) | 42 | $300,000 |
| Janitorial Services (561720) | 41 | $150,000 |
| Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (238220) | 39 | $200,000 |
Most active lenders in Tennessee
| Lender | Loans | Median | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank, National Association | 278 | $40,000 | $60.5M |
| The Huntington National Bank | 214 | $261,000 | $102.5M |
| Newtek Bank, National Association | 177 | $150,000 | $64.7M |
| Readycap Lending, LLC | 126 | $50,000 | $21.1M |
| Northeast Bank | 112 | $125,000 | $17.3M |
| Pinnacle Bank | 101 | $890,700 | $128.5M |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 96 | $700,000 | $123.6M |
| United Midwest Savings Bank National Association | 80 | $150,000 | $25.0M |
| Bayfirst National Bank | 80 | $150,000 | $14.6M |
| Regions Bank | 55 | $250,000 | $31.7M |
SBA 504 loans in Tennessee
504 loans finance real estate and major equipment through a Certified Development Company (CDC). Approved FY2024–FY2026, file as of September 30, 2026 [source].
70504 loans approved
$1,167,500median CDC portion
$113.6Mtotal CDC portion
What these 504 amounts cover: only the SBA-backed CDC portion of each project (typically up to 40%). A bank first loan and the borrower's down payment make up the rest, so total project costs are larger.
Most active CDCs in Tennessee
| Lender | Loans | Median | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brightbridge, INC. | 45 | $1,190,000 | $70.1M |
| South Central Tennessee Business Development Corporation | 16 | $1,295,000 | $29.1M |
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What this data does — and doesn't — tell you
- Approvals, not applications. These are loans SBA approved. The data has no denials, so it cannot tell you your odds of approval.
- Loan size is not startup cost. 7(a) loans also pay for buying existing businesses, real estate, equipment, refinancing and working capital.
- Gross approval amount. Figures are the full approved loan, including the part SBA does not guarantee. Some approved loans are later reduced or never fully disbursed.
- Industry codes are assigned at approval (NAICS) and can be imprecise — a mobile detailer may be coded as a car wash, for example.
- Medians beat averages here: a few very large loans pull averages up. We show the median and the middle half (25th–75th percentile).
- No default rates. Most recent loans are still being repaid, so charge-off rates for these years would be misleading. We don't show them.
- Cancelled loans are excluded, and any group with fewer than 10 loans is hidden. We never publish borrower names.
- Lender counts aren't a quality rating. Big national lenders make many small loans; local lenders may know your market better. Talk to several, or use SBA Lender Match.