SHANE PIERSON · SBA DATA
SBA by City · Knoxville, TN

SBA Lending in Knoxville, Tennessee

The SBA FOIA record lists 1,408 7(a) approvals worth $482M for businesses in Knoxville, TN, and annual volume has grown 23% versus the prior decade.

1,408
7(a) loans
$482M
Approved dollars
$342,039
Average loan size
#3
Rank in Tennessee
+23%
Annualized vs prior decade
5.1%
Active-status distress

Knoxville is the #3 SBA 7(a) market in Tennessee and #116 in the country. Since 1991 the FOIA record lists 1,408 approvals here worth $482M, averaging $342,039 each. Annual approval volume has grown 23% between FY2013-2019 and FY2020-2026. Among 274 active-status loans, 5.1% are delinquent, past due, or in liquidation. The local business type with the most listed records is limited-service restaurants.

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7(a) loans only, approved and not cancelled, gross basis, grouped by the borrower's city as filed. Active-status distress counts DELINQ, PSTDUE, or LIQUID loans as a share of CURR, DELINQ, PSTDUE, LIQUID, or DEFERD loans. Approval is not funding. FOIA record as of March 31, 2026. Methodology.

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