Lenders › Paragon Bank
7(a) lenderMemphis, TennesseeFDIC-insured bank340th of 2,184 by approvals
Paragon Bank
SBA 7(a) loan approvals by fiscal year, where they went, how large they were, and how loans from earlier years turned out.
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.
Paragon Bank, based in Memphis, Tennessee, is an FDIC-insured bank in the SBA 7(a) program. SBA approved 89 of its 7(a) loans worth $104M in FY2021 to FY2025, which places it 340th of 2,184 active 7(a) lenders by number of approvals.
In FY2025, the latest complete fiscal year, it had 18 approvals totalling $22.3M, about level with FY2024 (19). FY2026 to 30 Jun 2026 adds 8 more.
The median approval was $865K, against $190K for the 7(a) program as a whole; 2.2% of its approvals were for $150,000 or less (program: 47.8%).
Its loans went to businesses in 25 states and territories and 59 counties, led by Georgia (38.2%), Tennessee (15.7%) and North Carolina (6.7%). The largest industry group was health care and social assistance at 19.1% of approvals, and 40.4% of approvals were to franchise businesses.
Of 258 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 15 as charged off (5.8%), 205 as paid in full and 38 still outstanding; the 7(a) program figure for the same approval years is 6.6%, so the rate here is close to it.
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. Loans appear under the lender they are assigned to today, so a lender's figures include loans it took over. Data through 30 Jun 2026.
Approvals by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Approvals | Dollars approved | Median approval | Average approval | Jobs supported, as reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2026* | 8 | $9.8M | $770K | $1.2M | 204 |
| FY2025 | 18 | $22.3M | $953K | $1.2M | 441 |
| FY2024 | 19 | $28.4M | $972K | $1.5M | 373 |
| FY2023 | 15 | $11.7M | $540K | $781K | 79 |
| FY2022 | 15 | $19.8M | $640K | $1.3M | 282 |
| FY2021 | 22 | $21.8M | $644K | $991K | 436 |
| FY2020 | 21 | $23.4M | $610K | $1.1M | 343 |
| FY2019 | 27 | $24.7M | $558K | $914K | 483 |
| FY2018 | 38 | $30.1M | $528K | $792K | 865 |
| FY2017 | 50 | $40.4M | $480K | $808K | 870 |
| FY2016 | 66 | $43.4M | $428K | $658K | 1,406 |
Approvals are counted in the year SBA approved them and include approvals later cancelled. In the five fiscal years before the current window (FY2016–FY2020) the lender had 202 approvals. First approval on file: FY2010.
How earlier loans turned out
Only loans approved at least five fiscal years ago (FY2010–FY2021) are counted, because newer loans have had little time to be paid in full or charged off. "Charged off" is SBA's status for a loan on which it has written off the remaining balance.
| Loans approved FY2010–FY2021 | This lender | Georgia | 7(a) program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approvals in these years | 295 | 17,911 | 639,905 |
| Cancelled or never disbursed | 37 | 2,110 | 79,313 |
| Disbursed loans | 258 | 15,801 | 560,592 |
| Paid in full | 205 | 11,453 | 435,813 |
| Charged off | 15 | 1,077 | 36,891 |
| Still outstanding (status exempt from disclosure) | 38 | 3,271 | 87,888 |
| Charged off, share of disbursed loans | 5.8% | 6.8% | 6.6% |
| Dollars charged off, share of disbursed dollars | 3.3% | 2.0% | 2.5% |
| Dollars charged off | $6.7M | $230M | $5.70bn |
By approval year
| Approved in | Disbursed | Paid in full | Charged off | Charged off, share | 7(a) program, same year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2021 | 17 | 9 | 1 | — | 2.8% |
| FY2020 | 17 | 9 | 1 | — | 4.0% |
| FY2019 | 24 | 15 | 0 | — | 6.7% |
| FY2018 | 37 | 33 | 0 | 0.0% | 7.9% |
| FY2017 | 40 | 34 | 1 | 2.5% | 7.7% |
| FY2016 | 57 | 47 | 6 | 10.5% | 7.2% |
| FY2015 | 53 | 46 | 5 | 9.4% | 6.9% |
| FY2014 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6.4% |
| FY2013 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 6.0% |
| FY2012 | 6 | 6 | 0 | — | 6.3% |
| FY2011 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — | 6.9% |
| FY2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 9.2% |
A share is shown only where at least 30 loans from that year were disbursed.
Against the 7(a) program
| FY2021–FY2025 | This lender | 7(a) program |
|---|---|---|
| Median approval | $865K | $190K |
| Average approval | $1.2M | $518K |
| Approvals of $150,000 or less | 2.2% | 47.8% |
| Approvals to startups and businesses 2 years old or less | 60.7% | 34.3% |
| Approvals to franchise businesses | 40.4% | 11.5% |
| Jobs supported per approval, as reported | 18.1 | 10.5 |
| Charged off, loans approved FY2010–FY2021 | 5.8% | 6.6% |
States served
| # | State of the business (25 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Georgia | 34 | $38.4M | 38.2% | |
| 2 | Tennessee | 14 | $20.0M | 15.7% | |
| 3 | North Carolina | 6 | $9.0M | 6.7% | |
| 4 | Ohio | 4 | $8.2M | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Pennsylvania | 3 | $2.1M | 3.4% | |
| 6 | Utah | 3 | $1.6M | 3.4% | |
| 7 | Texas | 3 | $1.3M | 3.4% | |
| 8 | Florida | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 9 | Colorado | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Alabama | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 11 | Indiana | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 12 | Puerto Rico | 1 | — | 1.1% |
In Georgia the lender accounts for 0.4% of all 7(a) approvals in FY2021–FY2025.
Counties served
| # | County of the business (59 in all) | Approvals | Dollars | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shelby County, TN | 11 | $13.6M | 12.4% | |
| 2 | Fulton County, GA | 6 | $5.4M | 6.7% | |
| 3 | Cobb County, GA | 5 | $8.4M | 5.6% | |
| 4 | Gwinnett County, GA | 4 | $1.9M | 4.5% | |
| 5 | Forsyth County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 6 | Lumpkin County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 7 | St. Johns County, FL | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 8 | Gilmer County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 9 | Gordon County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 10 | Cherokee County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 11 | Salt Lake County, UT | 2 | — | 2.2% | |
| 12 | DeKalb County, GA | 2 | — | 2.2% |
Industry mix
| # | NAICS sector | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Health Care and Social Assistance | 17 | 19.1% | |
| 2 | Other Services (except Public Administration) | 16 | 18.0% | |
| 3 | Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting | 12 | 13.5% | |
| 4 | Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation | 11 | 12.4% | |
| 5 | Accommodation and Food Services | 9 | 10.1% | |
| 6 | Manufacturing | 6 | 6.7% | |
| 7 | Transportation and Warehousing | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | 3 | 3.4% |
| # | Industry group | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Poultry and Egg ProductionNAICS 1123 | 11 | 12.4% | |
| 2 | Other Amusement and Recreation IndustriesNAICS 7139 | 11 | 12.4% | |
| 3 | Child Day Care ServicesNAICS 6244 | 7 | 7.9% | |
| 4 | Personal Care ServicesNAICS 8121 | 7 | 7.9% | |
| 5 | Restaurants and Other Eating PlacesNAICS 7225 | 6 | 6.7% | |
| 6 | Offices of Other Health PractitionersNAICS 6213 | 5 | 5.6% | |
| 7 | Bakeries and Tortilla ManufacturingNAICS 3118 | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 8 | Other Personal ServicesNAICS 8129 | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 9 | Personal and Household Goods Repair and MaintenanceNAICS 8114 | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 10 | Traveler AccommodationNAICS 7211 | 2 | 2.2% |
Approval sizes
- $50,001 to $150,0002.2%2
- $150,001 to $350,0009.0%8
- $350,001 to $1 million50.6%45
- $1 million to $2 million27.0%24
- Over $2 million11.2%10
Loan terms
- Over 5 to 10 years37.1%33
- Over 10 to 20 years38.2%34
- Over 20 years24.7%22
Age of the businesses
- Existing, more than 2 years old20.2%18
- New business, 2 years or less19.1%17
- Startup, loan funds will open the business41.6%37
- Change of ownership19.1%17
SBA processing method
| # | Method | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Preferred Lenders Program | 74 | 83.1% | |
| 2 | 7a General | 15 | 16.9% |
Franchise share
36 of 89 approvals in FY2021–FY2025 (40.4%) carried an SBA franchise code; across the 7(a) program the share is 11.5%.
| # | Franchise brand | Approvals | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hotworx | 8 | 9.0% | |
| 2 | Primrose Schools | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 3 | iCRYO Franchise System LLC | 4 | 4.5% | |
| 4 | Nothing Bundt Cakes | 3 | 3.4% | |
| 5 | Legacy Academy For Children | 2 | 2.2% | |
| 6 | Woodhouse Day Spa | 2 | 2.2% | |
| 7 | Dogtopia | 2 | 2.2% | |
| 8 | The Lash Lounge | 2 | 2.2% |
Questions and answers
How many SBA loans does Paragon Bank make?
SBA approved 18 7(a) loans through Paragon Bank in FY2025, worth $22.3M, and 89 over FY2021 to FY2025. That ranks 340th of 2,184 active 7(a) lenders by number of approvals.
How large are Paragon Bank's typical SBA loans?
The median 7(a) approval in FY2021 to FY2025 was $865K and the average $1.2M. The program-wide median was $190K.
What is Paragon Bank's charge-off rate?
Of 258 disbursed loans approved in FY2010 to FY2021, SBA records 15 as charged off (5.8%), 205 as paid in full and 38 still outstanding; the 7(a) program figure for the same approval years is 6.6%, so the rate here is close to it. Loans are listed under the lender that holds them today, so the figure includes loans taken over from other lenders. Status is as recorded by SBA on 30 Jun 2026.
Which industries does Paragon Bank lend to most?
By number of approvals in FY2021 to FY2025: poultry and egg production (11); other amusement and recreation industries (11); child day care services (7); personal care services (7).
Where does Paragon Bank make SBA loans?
In 25 states and territories. Georgia 34, Tennessee 14, North Carolina 6, Ohio 4, Pennsylvania 3. In Georgia it accounts for 0.4% of all 7(a) approvals.
Is Paragon Bank's SBA lending rising?
Approvals in the three latest complete fiscal years total 52, against 58 in the three before: falling (-10%).
Where does this data come from?
From the Small Business Administration's 7(a) and 504 FOIA loan files, as of 30 Jun 2026. Borrower names and addresses in those files are discarded when the files are read and appear nowhere on this site.
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. Dollar figures behind fewer than three approvals are not shown, and no borrower is named anywhere on this site.Methodology · Report an error