SBA Lenders in Tennessee
29 active SBA lenders · 3,104 loans approved · $2.7B total volume
All SBA Lenders in Tennessee
| Lender | City | Loans | Total Volume | Avg Loan | Preferred |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citizens Bank | ELIZABETHTON | 1,568 | $1.1B | $733K | ⭐ |
| Pinnacle Bank | Nashville | 883 | $970.3M | $1.1M | ⭐ |
| First Horizon Bank | MEMPHIS | 210 | $249.6M | $1.2M | ⭐ |
| Paragon Bank | Memphis | 111 | $130.2M | $1.2M | ⭐ |
| FirstBank | Nashville | 63 | $40.7M | $646K | ⭐ |
| Builtwell Bank | Chattanooga | 46 | $31.4M | $684K | ⭐ |
| Brightbridge, Inc. | Chattanooga | 44 | $9.5M | $216K | ⭐ |
| First Farmers and Merchants Bank | Columbia | 30 | $8.4M | $280K | — |
| Wilson Bank & Trust | Lebanon | 16 | $14.3M | $893K | — |
| Commercial Bank | HARROGATE | 14 | $4.1M | $291K | — |
| Decatur County Bank | Decaturville | 13 | $7.0M | $538K | — |
| Studio Bank | Nashville | 12 | $12.6M | $1.0M | — |
| Millennium Bank | OOLTEWAH | 11 | $16.2M | $1.5M | — |
| Bank of Bartlett | BARTLETT | 11 | $8.4M | $765K | — |
| Mountain Commerce Bank | KNOXVILLE | 11 | $1.0M | $94K | — |
| Bank3 | Memphis | 11 | $10.4M | $943K | — |
| Sonata Bank | Brentwood | 9 | $5.4M | $603K | — |
| Apex Bank | CAMDEN | 6 | $5.0M | $835K | — |
| First National Bank of Pulaski | Pulaski | 5 | $1.2M | $232K | — |
| Centennial Bank | TREZEVANT | 5 | $814K | $163K | — |
| Wayne County Bank | WAYNESBORO | 4 | $885K | $221K | — |
| Volunteer Bank | Nashville | 4 | $911K | $228K | — |
| First Vision Bank of Tennessee | TULLAHOMA | 4 | $973K | $243K | — |
| SmartBank | PIGEON FORGE | 4 | $4.9M | $1.2M | — |
| McKenzie Banking Company, A Division of Foundation Bank | McKenzie | 3 | $1.4M | $454K | — |
| Bank of Tennessee | KINGSPORT | 3 | $537K | $179K | — |
| The Bank of Jackson | JACKSON | 1 | $3.2M | $3.2M | — |
| Legends Bank | Clarksville | 1 | $754K | $754K | — |
| Tower Community Bank | JASPER | 1 | $141K | $141K | — |
Finding an SBA Lender in Tennessee
There are currently 29 SBA-approved lenders headquartered in Tennessee, ranging from national banks to local community lenders. Together they have approved 3,104 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $2.7B since 2020.
Of these, 7 are SBA Preferred Lenders — meaning they have delegated authority to approve SBA loans without prior SBA review, resulting in faster processing and funding.
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SBA Lender Questions for Tennessee
How many SBA lenders are in Tennessee?
There are currently 29 SBA-approved lenders headquartered in Tennessee. Together they have approved 3,104 SBA 7(a) loans totaling $2.7B since 2020. Of these, 7 hold SBA Preferred Lender status, allowing them to approve loans without prior SBA review.
What is an SBA Preferred Lender in Tennessee?
An SBA Preferred Lender (PLP) in Tennessee is a bank or financial institution that has earned delegated authority from the SBA to approve loans independently — without waiting for SBA review. This results in faster approvals (often 7–10 business days vs. 4–6 weeks) and a more streamlined process. Tennessee currently has 7 Preferred Lenders.
How do I choose the best SBA lender in Tennessee?
When choosing an SBA lender in Tennessee, consider three factors: (1) Preferred Lender status — these lenders close loans faster; (2) loan volume — lenders with higher approval counts have more SBA experience; (3) average loan size — find a lender whose typical deal size matches your needs. Our directory shows real SBA loan data for all 29 Tennessee lenders so you can compare objectively.
How long does SBA loan approval take in Tennessee?
With an SBA Preferred Lender in Tennessee, approval typically takes 7–10 business days. Non-preferred lenders require SBA review, adding 2–4 weeks. After approval, funding usually takes an additional 2–4 weeks, so total time from application to funding is typically 30–90 days depending on the lender and loan complexity.