States › Tennessee › Putnam County
County15th of 89 in Tennessee by approvalsFIPS 47141
SBA loans in Putnam County, Tennessee
7(a) and 504 approvals to businesses located in the county, set against the number of businesses there and against the state.
SBA approvals by fiscal year. The federal fiscal year runs 1 October to 30 September, so FY2025 is 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025. *FY2026 is open: approvals to 30 Jun 2026 only.
SBA approved 44 loans to businesses in Putnam County, Tennessee, in FY2021 to FY2025, worth $38.8M: 42 under 7(a) and 2 under 504.
That is 22.1 approvals per 1,000 business establishments (1,988 establishments in 2023), close to the Tennessee figure of 25.1 and below the national 41.0.
It ranks 15th of 89 Tennessee counties with approvals. In FY2025 there were 17, up 42% on FY2024.
25 lenders had approvals here; the most active were U.S. Bank, National Association (9), The Huntington National Bank (4) and Live Oak Banking Company (3). The most common industry was other amusement and recreation industries.
Loan status is as recorded by SBA at the data date; charge-off rates are computed on loans approved at least five fiscal years ago. Jobs supported are self-reported estimates from the SBA loan application, which SBA does not review, audit or validate. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Lenders most active in Putnam County
By number of approvals to businesses in the county, FY2021–FY2025; 25 lenders had at least one.
| # | Lender | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | U.S. Bank, National AssociationCincinnati, OH | 9 | $2.1M | 20.5% | |
| 2 | The Huntington National BankColumbus, OH | 4 | $909K | 9.1% | |
| 3 | Live Oak Banking CompanyWilmington, NC | 3 | $5.3M | 6.8% | |
| 4 | Newtek Bank, National AssociationMiami, FL | 3 | $4.2M | 6.8% | |
| 5 | Brightbridge, Inc.Chattanooga, TN | 3 | $792K | 6.8% | |
| 6 | United Midwest Savings Bank National AssociationDe Graff, OH | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 7 | TowneBankPortsmouth, VA | 2 | — | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Port 51 Lending LLCNew York, NY | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 9 | Milestone BankSalt Lake City, UT | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 10 | Apex BankCamden, TN | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 11 | First BankSouthern Pines, NC | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 12 | First Financial BankEl Dorado, AR | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 13 | Brightbridge, Inc.Chattanooga, TN · CDC | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 14 | South Central Tennessee Business Development CorporationMt. Pleasant, TN · CDC | 1 | — | 2.3% | |
| 15 | Pinnacle BankNashville, TN | 1 | — | 2.3% |
Industries
| # | Industry group (NAICS 4-digit) | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 5 | 11.4% | |
| 2 | Offices of PhysiciansNAICS 6211 | 3 | 6.8% | |
| 3 | Other Chemical Product and Preparation ManufacturingNAICS 3259 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 4 | Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt ManufacturingNAICS 3327 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll ServicesNAICS 5412 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 6 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 7 | Direct Selling EstablishmentsNAICS 4543 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Residential Building ConstructionNAICS 2361 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Building Equipment ContractorsNAICS 2382 | 2 | 4.5% | |
| 10 | Grocery StoresNAICS 4451 | 2 | 4.5% |
Sectors
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail Trade | 9 | 20.5% | |
| 2 | Manufacturing | 7 | 15.9% | |
| 3 | Construction | 6 | 13.6% | |
| 4 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 5 | 11.4% | |
| 5 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 4 | 9.1% | |
| 6 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 4 | 9.1% | |
| 7 | Accommodation and Food Services | 3 | 6.8% | |
| 8 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 6.8% |
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | 7(a) approvals | 7(a) dollars | Median 7(a) | 504 approvals | 504 dollars | All approvals | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 6 | $8.6M | $642K | 1 | — | 7 | 94 |
| FY2025 | 16 | $11.7M | $266K | 1 | — | 17 | 193 |
| FY2024 | 12 | $10.9M | $228K | 0 | — | 12 | 61 |
| FY2023 | 5 | $2.3M | $307K | 0 | — | 5 | 45 |
| FY2022 | 2 | — | — | 0 | — | 2 | 18 |
| FY2021 | 7 | $8.6M | $500K | 1 | — | 8 | 119 |
| FY2020 | 7 | $5.9M | $345K | 0 | — | 7 | 210 |
| FY2019 | 5 | $1.7M | $290K | 0 | — | 5 | 23 |
| FY2018 | 4 | $620K | $130K | 0 | — | 4 | 16 |
| FY2017 | 3 | $2.3M | $300K | 0 | — | 3 | 70 |
| FY2016 | 1 | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | 28 |
In FY2016–FY2020, the five fiscal years before the current window, the county had 21 approvals.
Against Tennessee and the country
| FY2021–FY2025 | Putnam County | Tennessee | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals | 44 | 3,767 | 342,825 |
| Approvals per 1,000 establishments | 22.1 | 25.1 | 41.0 |
| Median 7(a) approval | $284K | $250K | $190K |
| Median 504 approval | — | $1.1M | $657K |
| Average approval | $881K | $640K | $573K |
| 504 share of approvals | 4.5% | 3.5% | 11.0% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 9.9 | 11.5 | 10.5 |
| Share of state approvals | 1.2% | 100.0% | — |
Approval sizes
- $50,000 or less25.0%11
- $50,001 to $150,00013.6%6
- $150,001 to $350,00011.4%5
- $350,001 to $1 million22.7%10
- $1 million to $2 million13.6%6
- Over $2 million13.6%6
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old45.5%20
- New business, 2 years or less13.6%6
- Startup, loan funds will open the business18.2%8
- Change of ownership22.7%10
Questions and answers
Which lenders make the most SBA loans in Putnam County?
By approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: U.S. Bank, National Association (9), The Huntington National Bank (4), Live Oak Banking Company (3), Newtek Bank, National Association (3), Brightbridge, Inc. (3). Volume says how active a lender is, nothing about terms or service.
How large are typical SBA loans in Putnam County?
The median 7(a) approval was $284K; the Tennessee 7(a) median was $250K.
Which industries get the most SBA loans in Putnam County?
Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (5); Offices of Physicians (3); Other Chemical Product and Preparation Manufacturing (2); Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (2); Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services (2).
Is SBA lending in Putnam County rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 34, against 17 in the three before: rising (+100%).
How does Putnam County compare with the rest of Tennessee?
22.1 approvals per 1,000 establishments against 25.1 statewide, and 44 of the state's 3,767 approvals.
About these figures
Figures are totals of the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, data through 30 Jun 2026. SBA updates the files quarterly. Counts are loan approvals, including approvals later cancelled; the five-year window is FY2021–FY2025, the five latest complete fiscal years. Charge-off rates use only loans approved in FY2010–FY2021, at least five fiscal years ago, and count disbursed loans SBA records as charged off. Loans are listed under the lender they are assigned to today. Establishment counts are from the Census Bureau's County Business Patterns 2023, which leaves out most farms, government and businesses without employees. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error