Lending data
Who actually lends to schools and training businesses in Tennessee?
49 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Tennessee recently, at a median of $150,000. Here are the lenders that made them, ranked.
49 SBA 7(a) loans went to schools and training businesses in Tennessee in the most recent fiscal years. The median was $150,000 over 10 years. The most active lender was U.S. Bank, with 7 loans.
What lending to schools and training businesses in Tennessee actually looks like
Every figure on this page is computed from SBA 7(a) loan-level FOIA data released 2026-06-30. It reflects loans that were actually approved, not rate cards or advertised ranges.
| Measure | Educational services, Tennessee | All 7(a) borrowers |
|---|---|---|
| Loans approved | 49 | 214,102 |
| Median loan | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 25th - 75th percentile | $50,000 - $326,200 | $50,000 - $500,000 |
| Median term | 10 years | 10 years |
| Median initial rate | 10.50% | 10.25% |
| Share to startups | 38.8% | 33.6% |
| Charge-off rate, FY2010-19 cohort | 12.0% | 7.1% |
Which lenders actually funded them
Ranked by loans approved to schools and training businesses in Tennessee. This is the list worth working from, because a lender that has funded dozens of businesses like yours in your state has seen your file before.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank | 7 | $22,400 | 14% | 10.74% |
| The Huntington National Bank | 6 | $122,500 | 67% | 10.75% |
| Newtek Bank | 5 | $100,000 | 20% | 11.00% |
| National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union | 3 | $50,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| Celtic Bank Corporation | 3 | $150,000 | 0% | 10.25% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $150,000 | 100% | 10.62% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $298,150 | 100% | 10.90% |
| Live Oak Banking Company | 2 | $118,000 | 0% | 9.62% |
| Old National Bank | 2 | $329,000 | 0% | 8.47% |
| Pinnacle Bank | 2 | $2,117,750 | 0% | 9.38% |
What stands out in this market
Reading the figures above against the national picture:
- Loan sizes are typical. The median of $150,000 is within a few percent of the $150,000 national median across all 7(a) borrowers, so nothing about this market is unusual on size.
- Startup share is about average, at 39% against 34% nationally.
- No single lender dominates, but the top three made 37% of these loans, so the shortlist below covers most of the active market.
- Lenders have been burned here before. 12.0% of loans to this market from the FY2010-2019 cohorts were charged off, against 7.1% overall. That history is why underwriting in this sector is tighter than the numbers alone would suggest — it is not personal.
Which of them lend to new businesses
Of those loans, 38.8% went to businesses the SBA classes as startups — new, under two years old, or opening with the proceeds. These are the lenders in this market that actually wrote them.
| Lender | Loans | Median loan | Startup share | Median rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Huntington National Bank | 4 | $122,500 | 67% | 10.75% |
| National Institutes of Health Federal Credit Union | 3 | $50,000 | 100% | 11.00% |
| United Midwest Savings Bank | 2 | $150,000 | 100% | 10.62% |
| Wells Fargo Bank | 2 | $298,150 | 100% | 10.90% |
How to use this
- Shortlist three lenders from the table whose median loan is close to what you need.
- Ask each whether they are a Preferred Lender and how many 7(a) loans they closed last year. See choosing an SBA lender.
- Check your coverage first with the affordability calculator so you ask for a number the cash flow supports.
- Assemble the package before you call. The document checklist is the single biggest thing you control.
Compare other markets
- Other sectors in Tennessee: restaurants and hotels, construction, personal services, retail, professional services, admin services
- Education in comparable states: Missouri, Nevada, Wisconsin, Oregon, Idaho, Connecticut