Tennessee SBA lending, from federal loan records
SBA Lenders Actively Funding Businesses in Tennessee
Since FY2020, 257 lenders have funded 4,152 SBA loans worth $2.8B for businesses in Tennessee. Borrowers reported 48,855 jobs supported by those loans. Below is who actually writes them, how big they run, and which Tennessee businesses get funded.
Most active SBA lenders in Tennessee
Ranked by loans funded for Tennessee projects since FY2020, not by advertising budget. A lender headquartered elsewhere that funds heavily in Tennessee beats a local name that rarely writes SBA loans.
504 loans are written by Certified Development Companies alongside a bank first mortgage. The 504 file reports no interest rate, so CDC rows show none.
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Start your funding profile →How big Tennessee SBA loans run
Share of Tennessee 7(a) loans by approval size, next to the national split. If your ask sits in a common band, it is the kind of loan lenders here fund every week.
| 7(a) loan size | TN | US |
|---|---|---|
| Under $150K | 31.7% | 40.4% |
| $150K to $500K | 35.6% | 31.9% |
| $500K to $1M | 15.1% | 12.9% |
| $1M and up | 17.7% | 14.9% |
Who gets funded in Tennessee
Business age on Tennessee 7(a) loans. 11.9% funded a change of ownership, against 11.1% nationally. Buying a business? See the acquisition lender shortlist. Starting one? See startup-friendly lenders.
| Business stage | TN | US |
|---|---|---|
| Established, more than 2 years | 44.4% | 55.2% |
| New, 2 years or less | 17.2% | 16.9% |
| Startup, loan opens the business | 26.5% | 16.8% |
| Change of ownership (buying a business) | 11.9% | 11.1% |
Industries Tennessee SBA lenders fund most
Share of all Tennessee SBA loans by industry, and how that compares with the national mix.
| Industry | TN loans | Share | Compared with US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restaurants and hotels | 641 | 15.4% | 1.2x the national share |
| Construction | 497 | 12% | in line with national |
| Retail | 481 | 11.6% | in line with national |
| Personal and repair services | 447 | 10.8% | in line with national |
| Professional services | 341 | 8.2% | in line with national |
| Healthcare | 332 | 8% | 0.8x the national share |
| Business support services | 294 | 7.1% | 1.3x the national share |
| Recreation and fitness | 223 | 5.4% | 1.5x the national share |
The most common specific business types funded in Tennessee: limited-service restaurants (184), full-service restaurants (174), fitness and recreational sports centers (132), hotels (except casino hotels) and motels (114), snack and nonalcoholic beverage bars (93), residential remodelers (91).
Where in Tennessee the loans go
| County | SBA loans since FY2020 | Share of state |
|---|---|---|
| Davidson | 750 | 18% |
| Shelby | 497 | 12% |
| Williamson | 403 | 10% |
| Knox | 402 | 10% |
| Hamilton | 258 | 6% |
| Rutherford | 228 | 5% |
| Montgomery | 159 | 4% |
| Sumner | 157 | 4% |
7(a) or 504 in Tennessee
4% of Tennessee SBA loans are 504 loans, against 12% nationally. A 504 loan funds owner-occupied real estate or major equipment, with a median of $1.1M here. A 7(a) loan covers almost anything else, including working capital and buying a business. The busiest 504 lenders in Tennessee:
- Brightbridge, Inc.: 100 504 loans, median $894K
- South Central Tennessee Business Development Corporation: 29 504 loans, median $1.0M
Tennessee SBA lending by year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) loans | 504 loans | Dollars |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | 351 | 18 | $258M |
| FY2021 | 512 | 34 | $513M |
| FY2022 | 495 | 15 | $351M |
| FY2023 | 594 | 18 | $366M |
| FY2024 | 715 | 23 | $421M |
| FY2025 | 829 | 25 | $522M |
| FY2026 (through June 30, 2026) | 505 | 18 | $334M |
The SBA fiscal year runs October through September.
Common questions
Who is the most active SBA lender in Tennessee?
By funded loans since FY2020, U.S. Bank, National Association leads Tennessee with 504 loans.
How big is a typical SBA loan in Tennessee?
The median 7(a) loan in Tennessee is $263K, and the middle half runs from $100K to $688K. The median 504 loan is $1.1M. Nationally the 7(a) median is $200K.
What interest rate do Tennessee SBA borrowers get?
The median starting rate on Tennessee 7(a) loans since FY2020 is 9.25%, against 9.25% nationally. 84% of those loans carry a variable rate, which moves with the prime rate.
Can a startup get an SBA loan in Tennessee?
Yes. 44% of Tennessee 7(a) loans with a reported business age went to startups or businesses two years old or younger, against 34% nationally. Lenders still expect a solid plan, owner equity and usually collateral.
Sources and limits. Derived from U.S. Small Business Administration 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan-level records, FY2020 through June 30, 2026, for projects located in Tennessee. Cancelled approvals are excluded. Jobs supported are as reported by borrowers. Figures describe past lending activity only and are not offers, quotes, or qualification decisions. Big Brain Funding is not a lender and is not affiliated with any lender listed.