First Horizon Bank: SBA business acquisition lending record
First Horizon Bank (home state TN) approved 78 SBA 7(a) loans to buy existing businesses since FY2018, totaling $116M. The median loan was $1,156,500. It ranks number 124 of 280 lenders by count and made 0.2% of all SBA acquisition loans nationally.
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
Submit Transaction DetailsSBA-financed deals. All 50 states.
What this tells a borrower
- Deal size it funds. Half of its acquisition loans fell between $522,625 and $1,954,000. If your deal sits well outside that band, this lender may be less practiced at it.
- Geographic reach. Tennessee is the largest state (29% of loans). Loans appear in only 10 states, which points to a regional lender.
- Industry concentration. Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors is 6% of its acquisition loans. The mix is spread across several industries.
- Overall 7(a) volume. 223 SBA 7(a) loans of any purpose since FY2020, totaling $248M. 88% of its acquisition loans were processed under the Preferred Lenders Program.
- Franchise share. 12% of its acquisition loans involved a franchise brand, against 18% for all lenders.
- Seasoned performance. Of its loans from FY2018 to FY2021: none charged off, against the 3.5% national average.
First Horizon Bank acquisition loans by year
| Fiscal year | Loans | Total approved | Median loan | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2018 | 6 | $8.2M | $1,094,500 | |
| FY2019 | 14 | $19.1M | $771,800 | |
| FY2020 | 11 | $13.9M | $931,000 | |
| FY2021 | 13 | $21.1M | $1,609,800 | |
| FY2022 | 15 | $20.7M | $1,076,500 | |
| FY2023 | 4 | $2.9M | $659,100 | |
| FY2024 | 3 | $6.4M | $1,948,000 | |
| FY2025 | 5 | $10.2M | $2,604,700 | |
| FY2026 | 7 | $13.3M | $1,173,000 |
How often do these acquisition loans fail?
Of the 44 First Horizon Bank acquisition loans approved from FY2018 to FY2021 (the seasoned cohort, every loan at least about five years old), none have been charged off by the SBA. 22 have already been paid in full.
For comparison, First Horizon Bank has none charged off, against the 3.5% average across all SBA 7(a) acquisition loans in the same cohort. Non-acquisition 7(a) loans (every other stated purpose) approved FY2018 to FY2021 charged off at 6.2%.
"Charged off" is the SBA's final loss action on a defaulted loan after collection efforts. It lags default by a year or more, which is why only older cohorts are measured. It is not the same as a delinquency rate, and loans still outstanding can still fail. See charge-off in the glossary.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
States served
| # | State | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tennessee | 23 | 29.5% | $37.1M | |
| 2 | Florida | 14 | 17.9% | $18.6M | |
| 3 | Louisiana | 12 | 15.4% | $14.2M | |
| 4 | North Carolina | 10 | 12.8% | $12.3M | |
| 5 | Georgia | 8 | 10.3% | $12.5M | |
| 6 | Texas | 5 | 6.4% | $7.1M | |
| 7 | New York | 2 | 2.6% | $8.7M | |
| 8 | South Carolina | 2 | 2.6% | $2M | |
| 9 | Kansas | 1 | 1.3% | $1.7M | |
| 10 | Alabama | 1 | 1.3% | $1.5M |
Industries financed
| # | Industry | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors | 5 | 6.4% | $9.3M | |
| 2 | Employment Placement Agencies | 3 | 3.8% | $5.3M | |
| 3 | All Other Specialty Trade Contractors | 3 | 3.8% | $5M | |
| 4 | Offices of Certified Public Accountants | 3 | 3.8% | $3.9M | |
| 5 | Limited-Service Restaurants | 3 | 3.8% | $2.7M | |
| 6 | Commercial Printing (except Screen and Books) | 3 | 3.8% | $959K | |
| 7 | Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) | 2 | 2.6% | $6.9M | |
| 8 | Professional and Management Development Training | 2 | 2.6% | $5.5M | |
| 9 | General Automotive Repair | 2 | 2.6% | $4.9M | |
| 10 | Fabricated Structural Metal Manufacturing | 2 | 2.6% | $4.1M |
Seller note standby terms and third-party consents are reviewed before closing.
Submit Transaction DetailsSBA-financed deals. All 50 states.
Franchise brands financed
| # | Franchise | Loans | Share | Dollars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The UPS Store | 2 | 2.6% | $904K | |
| 2 | Express Employment Professionals | 1 | 1.3% | $2M | |
| 3 | Health Mart Pharmacy | 1 | 1.3% | $1.7M | |
| 4 | Right at Home | 1 | 1.3% | $1.5M | |
| 5 | Subway | 1 | 1.3% | $363K | |
| 6 | Allegra | 1 | 1.3% | $362K |
Questions buyers ask
Does First Horizon Bank make SBA acquisition loans?
Yes. First Horizon Bank approved 78 SBA 7(a) loans to buy existing businesses from FY2018 to FY2026, ranking number 124 of 280 lenders with 25 or more such loans. The SBA file shows past approvals only; it cannot tell you whether the lender will approve a particular buyer or deal.
How large are First Horizon Bank's acquisition loans?
The median was $1,156,500, with the middle half between $522,625 and $1,954,000. The national median is $645,250, so this lender's typical loan is 79% higher than the national figure.
Which states does First Horizon Bank lend in?
Tennessee (23), Florida (14), Louisiana (12), North Carolina (10), Georgia (8), Texas (5). Its loans appear in 10 states, so it is closer to a regional lender.
Which industries does First Horizon Bank finance?
Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors (5), Employment Placement Agencies (3), All Other Specialty Trade Contractors (3), Offices of Certified Public Accountants (3), Limited-Service Restaurants (3). The top industry is 6% of its acquisition loans.
How have First Horizon Bank's acquisition loans performed?
Of 44 loans approved FY2018 to FY2021: none charged off, against the 3.5% national acquisition average. Charge-offs reflect the borrowers and industries a lender serves as well as its underwriting.
Terms signed in the LOI shape the purchase agreement that follows.
Request Engagement AssessmentAlex Lubyansky leads every engagement.
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Related
- Tennessee acquisitions
- Florida acquisitions
- Louisiana acquisitions
- Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors
- Employment Placement Agencies
- All Other Specialty Trade Contractors
- All lenders
Figures are aggregates of public SBA data. This page is not provided or endorsed by First Horizon Bank.