SBA lending by state
SBA Lending in Tennessee
In Tennessee, SBA lenders funded 9,845 7(a) and 504 loans since FY2010, totaling $5.8B, an average of $587K per loan. The most active lender is U.S. Bank, National Association, and the most-funded industry is Accommodation and Food Services.
By Mario Bailey · Source: SBA FOIA data, FY2010–2026 (as of 2026-03-31)
Top SBA lenders in Tennessee
Ranked by SBA loans funded in Tennessee since FY2010. Each lender's figures, including its 7(a) charge-off rate, cover its Tennessee loans only. Charge-off is reported on 7(a) loans, never on 504 loans, so a lender without a reliable 7(a) sample in Tennessee shows “not reported,” never 0%.
See the full Tennessee ranking : up to 25 lenders, with the 7(a) vs 504 leaders and industry context.
| # | Lender | Loans | Total funded | Average loan | 7(a) charge-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank, National Association | 1,249 | $247.6M | $198K | 3.12% |
| 2 | Pinnacle Bank | 511 | $490.9M | $961K | 2.35% |
| 3 | The Huntington National Bank | 510 | $208.7M | $409K | 1.57% |
| 4 | Brightbridge, Inc. | 390 | $365.1M | $936K | 5.00% |
| 5 | VelocitySBA, LLC | 366 | $6.9M | $19K | 9.29% |
| 6 | Live Oak Banking Company | 329 | $444.5M | $1.4M | 2.13% |
| 7 | Truist Bank | 292 | $145.5M | $498K | 2.74% |
| 8 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 270 | $90.8M | $336K | 7.78% |
| 9 | Northeast Bank | 252 | $34.0M | $135K | 1.98% |
| 10 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 250 | $96.1M | $385K | 0.00% |
SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, FY2010–2026, as of 2026-03-31, from the SBA's public record.
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504 lenders (CDCs) in Tennessee
An SBA 504 project in Tennessee pairs two lenders: a bank or credit union funds roughly half the cost as a first mortgage, and a Certified Development Company (CDC) funds about 40% through an SBA-backed debenture, with the borrower putting down around 10%. Below are the CDCs most active on 504 loans in Tennessee, ranked by 504 loans funded in the state since FY2010. Figures are 504-only; charge-off is reported on 7(a) loans only and does not apply to CDCs.
| CDC | 504 loans | 504 volume |
|---|---|---|
| Brightbridge, Inc. | 330 | $353.4M |
| Mid-Cumberland Area Development Corporation | 75 | $52.9M |
| South Central Tennessee Business Development Corporation | 68 | $73.8M |
| Six Bridges Capital Corporation | 12 | $8.7M |
| Tennessee Business Development Corporation | 11 | $11.7M |
| Florida Business Development Corporation | 6 | $7.0M |
| Capital Partners Certified Development Company | 4 | $5.3M |
| Southern Development Council | 4 | $4.0M |
| Birmingham Citywide Local Development Company | 4 | $3.1M |
| Georgia Certified Development Corporation | 3 | $5.9M |
Showing the 10 CDCs most active on 504 loans in Tennessee; the full directory lists every CDC.
All Certified Development Companies · Current 504 loan rates · How 504 loans work
Top industries funded in Tennessee
| Industry | Loans | Total volume |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation and Food Services | 1,492 | $1.3B |
| Retail Trade | 1,307 | $668.9M |
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 874 | $631.8M |
| Other Services | 1,004 | $498.9M |
| Manufacturing | 616 | $486.2M |
| Professional and Technical Services | 812 | $376.5M |
| Construction | 1,030 | $306.6M |
| Arts, Entertainment, Recreation | 480 | $277.8M |
Top cities for SBA loans in Tennessee
Where SBA 7(a) and 504 borrowers in Tennessee are located, by funded volume.
| City | Loans | Total volume |
|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 1,323 | $788.4M |
| Memphis | 801 | $498.7M |
| Knoxville | 869 | $468.0M |
| Chattanooga | 537 | $382.9M |
| Franklin | 468 | $268.5M |
| Murfreesboro | 307 | $179.2M |
| Clarksville | 369 | $144.5M |
| Brentwood | 219 | $142.6M |
SBA lending by metro area in Tennessee
Which lenders fund each Tennessee market, with local loan sizes and industries.
- SBA lenders in Nashville-Davidson, TN 3,943 loans
- SBA lenders in Memphis, TN 1,716 loans
- SBA lenders in Knoxville, TN 1,380 loans
- SBA lenders in Chattanooga, TN 961 loans
- SBA lenders in Clarksville, TN 485 loans
- SBA lenders in Kingsport, TN 331 loans
- SBA lenders in Jackson, TN 186 loans
- SBA lenders in Sevierville, TN 181 loans
- SBA lenders in Johnson City, TN 184 loans
- SBA lenders in Cleveland, TN 132 loans
- SBA lenders in Cookeville, TN 131 loans
- SBA lenders in Morristown, TN 127 loans
- SBA lenders in Tullahoma, TN 72 loans
- SBA lenders in Shelbyville, TN 49 loans
- SBA lenders in Martin, TN 49 loans
- SBA lenders in Athens, TN 47 loans
- SBA lenders in Fayetteville, TN 42 loans
- SBA lenders in Greeneville, TN 41 loans
- SBA lenders in Lewisburg, TN 47 loans
- SBA lenders in Winchester, TN 32 loans
- SBA lenders in Crossville, TN 49 loans
SBA lending in Tennessee by year
Funded SBA volume by approval fiscal year (FY2010–2026).
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total volume |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 628 | $171.8M |
| 2011 | 584 | $283.8M |
| 2012 | 397 | $254.5M |
| 2013 | 435 | $247.2M |
| 2014 | 430 | $244.8M |
| 2015 | 623 | $359.0M |
| 2016 | 558 | $331.2M |
| 2017 | 520 | $288.7M |
| 2018 | 572 | $318.1M |
| 2019 | 493 | $312.8M |
| 2020 | 442 | $314.6M |
| 2021 | 625 | $567.2M |
| 2022 | 578 | $387.7M |
| 2023 | 681 | $403.2M |
| 2024 | 842 | $460.5M |
| 2025 | 1,047 | $593.5M |
| 2026 | 390 | $241.4M |
SBA lending in Tennessee: frequently asked questions
How much SBA lending is there in Tennessee?
SBA lenders funded 9,845 7(a) and 504 loans totaling $5.8B in Tennessee in the public SBA data (as of 2026-03-31), an average of $587K per loan.
Who is the most active SBA lender in Tennessee?
U.S. Bank, National Association is the most active SBA lender in Tennessee in the public data, by loans funded.
What industries get the most SBA loans in Tennessee?
The most-funded industry for SBA loans in Tennessee is Accommodation and Food Services.
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