What SouthEast Bank does

SouthEast Bank is a privately held, FDIC-insured community bank headquartered in Farragut, Tennessee, operating 14+ branches across Middle and East Tennessee including Athens, Chattanooga, Cookeville (two locations), Cleveland, Dayton, Decatur, the Knoxville area (Bearden, Fountain City, Hardin Valley), Lenoir City, Ooltewah, and Spring City. Founded in 1995, the bank serves individual consumers, small to mid-size businesses, and a national student loan customer base through its ELFI division. Core offerings span personal banking (Rewards, Bonus Rate, Premium Interest, Thrive, and Students' Rewards checking accounts; Consumer Statement, Bonus Rate, Premium Money Market, and HSA savings accounts; certificates of deposit; personal loans; HELOCs; home equity, construction, conventional, ARM, Senior Benefit, and ITIN Home Mortgage Access loans), business banking (Core, Core Plus, and Premium Interest business checking; business savings and money market; business credit cards; equipment financing; construction and development loans; commercial real estate and SBA 504 loans; lines of credit; treasury management; merchant services via Banc Card; Autobooks invoicing), retirement accounts (Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP), and digital banking (iOS/Android app, online banking, SouthEast Verifi fraud monitoring, Accelerate early direct deposit, debit card controls).

Revenue is generated primarily through net interest income from the spread between loans (mortgages, personal, commercial, student loans) and deposits, supplemented by deposit account fees, credit and debit card interchange, treasury management and merchant services fees, and ELFI's national student loan origination, refinancing, and the new EdMed medical/healthcare student loan program. Distribution is hybrid: physical branches with extended hours (7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays, Saturday morning) combined with online account opening, mobile banking, appointment scheduling with relationship managers, and 55,000+ fee-free AllPoint ATMs. Technology partnerships include Elan Financial Services (credit card issuance), Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, QuickBooks, Quicken, Mint, Autobooks, FINSYNC, and Mastercard Easy Savings, with an exclusive AAMC partnership supporting EdMed distribution. Certifications include FDIC insurance, USA Patriot Act compliance, Equal Housing Lender status, GDPR/CCPA privacy compliance via TrustArc. The bank's competitive positioning emphasizes local decision-making, personalized service, and competitive deposit yields (up to 3.30% APY on Bonus Rate Checking, 4.00% on a 6-month CD special).

Name

SouthEast Bank

Legal name

SouthEast Bank

Website

https://southeastbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SouthEast Bank is a privately held, FDIC-insured Tennessee community bank operating 14+ branches across Middle and East Tennessee, offering consumer, small-business, and national student loan (ELFI) banking products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Banking

NAICS

Commercial Banking (52211), Commercial Banking (522110)

SIC

State Commercial Banks (6022)

akta.pro primary industry

Mass-Market Consumer Deposit Banking (Checking/Savings) (FSABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retail Lending (Personal Loans, Auto, Credit Lines) (FSABAAAB), SME Deposits & Business Accounts (Operating, Savings, CDs) (FSABABAC), Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC), Financial Inclusion & Basic Banking (Unbanked/Underbanked, Low-Fee Accounts) (FSABAAAL)

Keywords

• Community banking services
• Consumer deposit accounts
• Commercial lending products
• Private student lending
• Mortgage and home equity

Headquarters

HQ city

Farragut

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income: Traditional banking revenue from interest rate spreads between loans made to customers (mortgages, personal loans, business loans, student loans) and interest paid on deposits (checking, savings, CDs).
2. Deposit Account Fees: Various account-related fees including monthly service charges (waived with minimum balances), paper statement fees, overdraft fees, and mobile deposit fees exceeding free limits.
3. Credit Card Interchange: Transaction fees earned on credit and debit card purchases processed through the bank's card network.
4. ELFI Student Loan Operations: Revenue from private student loans, parent loans, and student loan refinancing offered through ELFI division, including competitive rates and flexible repayment options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

SouthEast Bank is a Tennessee-based community bank offering deposit accounts (checking, savings, money market, CDs), consumer and commercial loans (mortgages, HELOCs, personal loans, business loans, equipment financing, commercial real estate), credit cards, retirement accounts, and treasury management services. It distributes these products through 14+ branches across Middle and East Tennessee and via online/mobile banking channels, and operates the ELFI division for nationwide private student lending.

Product overview

SouthEast Bank offers a comprehensive suite of banking products organized into personal banking, business banking, student lending (through ELFI division), and digital banking services. Personal banking includes multiple checking account options (Rewards, Bonus Rate, Premium Interest, Thrive, and Students' Rewards), savings accounts (Consumer Statement, Bonus Rate, Premium Money Market, and Health Savings Accounts), certificates of deposit, personal loans, home construction loans, HELOCs, home equity loans, credit cards, mortgages (conventional, ARM, and Senior Benefit programs), and ITIN Home Mortgage Access Loans. Business banking encompasses checking and savings accounts, business credit cards, equipment financing, construction and development loans, commercial real estate loans, SBA 504 loans, business lines of credit, Treasury Management tools, and Autobooks invoicing. Student lending includes private student loans, parent loans, refinancing, and EdMed (a specialized medical/healthcare student loan program). Digital banking features include online banking, mobile banking app, SouthEast Verifi fraud monitoring, Accelerate early direct deposit, and debit card controls.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Rewards Checking Cashback personal checking account that pays $0.10 cashback on every debit card purchase of $10 or more, with early direct deposit access via Accelerate.
• Bonus Rate Checking High-yield personal checking account earning up to 3.30% APY on balances up to $20,000 when monthly qualifications are met (15+ debit card purchases and eStatement enrollment).
• Premium Interest Checking Tiered interest-earning personal checking account for larger balances, with rates up to 2.00% APY on balances of $250,000 or more.
• Thrive Checking Personal checking account designed for seniors age 60 and older, with free checks, paper statements, a 0.10% interest rate bump on CD Specials, and no monthly service charge.
• Students' Rewards Checking Personal checking account for students that rewards debit card usage.
• Consumer Statement Savings Standard personal savings account paying 0.05% APY with flexible access.
• Bonus Rate Savings High-yield personal savings account earning up to 2.01% APY on balances up to $10,000 when paired with Bonus Rate Checking and usage requirements are met, with a Round Up Savings feature.
• Premium Money Market Savings Tiered interest-earning personal money market account requiring a $2,500 minimum to open, with rates that increase at higher balance levels and a $12 monthly fee waived with the minimum balance.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) Tax-advantaged personal savings account for qualified medical expenses, available to individuals enrolled in a high-deductible health plan, with annual rollover and debit card access.
• 6-Month CD Special Limited-time promotional 6-month certificate of deposit paying 4.00% APY with a $1,000 minimum opening deposit and quarterly compounding.
• 12-Month CD Special Limited-time promotional 12-month certificate of deposit paying 3.85% APY with a $1,000 minimum opening deposit and quarterly compounding.
• Personal Loans Fixed-rate installment loans for personal needs such as vehicles, vacations, home improvements, and unexpected expenses, available as secured or unsecured options.
• Home Construction Loans Construction financing for personal home-building projects with scheduled disbursements and dedicated relationship manager support.
• Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Revolving credit line secured by residence with a 10-year draw period, interest-only payments during draw, up to 80% LTV, and variable rates starting at 4.5% APR.
• Home Equity Loans Lump-sum loans secured by home equity with fixed interest rates, predictable monthly payments, and up to 80% LTV on Tennessee primary residences.
• Credit Cards Personal credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services with zero fraud liability, mobile wallet integration, and rewards options, accepted at millions of locations worldwide.
• Conventional Fixed-Rate Mortgage Residential mortgage with a fixed interest rate and predictable monthly payments locked for the life of the loan.
• Adjustable-Rate Mortgage (ARM) Residential mortgage with a low introductory rate and payment, providing flexibility for long-term plans.
• Senior Benefit Home Loan Program Specialized residential mortgage financing option for Tennessee residents ages 62 and above.
• Home Mortgage Access Loans (ITIN) Mortgage, home equity loan, and home equity line of credit program for customers with ITIN or SSN, available in specific Tennessee counties served by SouthEast Bank branches.
• Traditional IRA Personal retirement account funded with pre-tax dollars, providing tax savings now with funds taxed upon withdrawal.
• Roth IRA Personal retirement account funded with after-tax dollars, providing tax-free growth and qualified withdrawals.
• Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) Retirement plan for employers or self-employed individuals, primarily used by small businesses to meet retirement savings needs.
• Core Business Checking Basic business checking account with no minimum balance, 250 transaction items per statement cycle, and a $10,000 coin/currency deposit limit.
• Core Plus Business Checking Interest-bearing small business checking account designed for growing businesses.
• Premium Interest Business Checking Tiered-rate business checking account for larger balances with 500 transaction items per cycle and a $15 monthly fee waived at a $10,000 average balance.
• Business Savings Business savings account with interest credited quarterly and quarterly statements, designed for small business cash management.
• Premium Business Money Market Tiered-rate business money market account with interest credited monthly, check-writing access, and a limit of six withdrawals per month.
• Business Credit Cards Business credit cards issued through Elan Financial Services with online expense reporting, unlimited employee cards at no additional fee, and zero fraud liability.
• Equipment Financing Business equipment loans for new or used machinery, technology, and tools across industrial, medical, agricultural, and vehicle sectors.
• Construction & Development Loans Business construction financing for single/multi-family, retail, and multi-tenant commercial development projects.
• Commercial Real Estate Loans Commercial property financing for acquisition, construction, and renovation including owner-occupied, non-owner occupied, and SBA 504 loans up to $5.5 million.
• Business Lines of Credit Flexible revolving credit for businesses covering working capital loans, inventory financing, and accounts receivable loans to manage cash flow and growth.
• Treasury Management Tools Suite of business banking services including Remote Deposit, Direct Deposit ACH, Direct Debit ACH, Online Wire Transfers, Merchant Services, Positive Pay, Lockbox Services, and Insured Cash Sweeps.
• Autobooks Banking-integrated tool for business financial management, enabling online payment facilitation, digital invoice creation and sending, and simplified money management.
• Merchant Services Card payment acceptance solutions delivered through Banc Card partner, offering wireless, internet, and PC-based point-of-sale options for brick-and-mortar, mobile, and online businesses.
• ELFI Private Student Loans Private undergraduate student loans offered by the ELFI division of SouthEast Bank with competitive rates, no application, origination, or prepayment fees, flexible repayment options, and dedicated Student Loan Advisor support.
• ELFI Parent Loans Parent loans for college from the ELFI division with flexible payment terms and no application, origination, or prepayment fees.
• ELFI Student Loan Refinancing Student loan refinancing from the ELFI division allowing borrowers to potentially lower monthly payments, save on interest, or pay off loans faster with customizable terms.
• EdMed Medical Student Loans Specialized private student loan program from the ELFI division for medical, dental, veterinary, pharmacy, and nursing students, addressing federal loan funding gaps with multi-year eligibility, up to 100% cost-of-attendance financing, and up to 96 months residency deferment.
• Online Banking Web-based banking platform enabling account management, fund transfers, bill payment, check deposits, spending limits, and enrollment access.
• SouthEast Bank Mobile App Mobile banking application for iOS and Android providing on-the-go account access, transfers, bill pay, mobile deposits, and real-time alerts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 47x national average interest rate for checking accounts when qualifications are met
• +5 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026ELFI, a division of SouthEast Bank, collaborated with the AAMC on an exclusive interest-rate discount program for MD students as part of the EdMed medical student loan launch. This partnership addresses financing gaps created by upcoming federal student loan policy changes.
• WCH CasualtyminorOthersWCH Casualty is a local, independent insurance agency based in Tennessee that is transitioning to service insurance policies previously handled by Insuritas. This 28-year-old agency will provide holistic insurance planning and active account management for SouthEast Bank customers.
• InsuritasminorOthersPreviously partnered insurance services company headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. SouthEast Bank has ended its affiliation with Insuritas after carefully reviewing customer feedback and determining better ways to meet clients' insurance needs.
• Apple PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing SouthEast Bank customers to make mobile payments using Apple Pay at participating merchants worldwide.
• Google PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing SouthEast Bank customers to make mobile payments using Google Pay at participating merchants worldwide.
• Samsung PaycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital wallet integration allowing SouthEast Bank customers to make mobile payments using Samsung Pay at participating merchants worldwide.
• QuickBooks, Quicken, MintcoreTechnology or IntegrationSeamless digital banking platform integration with QuickBooks, Quicken, and Mint accounting software, allowing customers to sync their SouthEast Bank accounts with their preferred financial management tools.
• AutobookscoreTechnology or IntegrationBanking tool partnership providing financial management and reporting capabilities including online payment facilitation and digital invoicing for small business customers.
• Banc CardminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPreferred partner for merchant services providing wireless, internet, and PC-based payment solutions. Banc Card provides local support for setup, training, and ongoing needs for merchants accepting card payments.
• AllPoint NetworkcoreTechnology or IntegrationATM network partnership providing SouthEast Bank customers fee-free access to over 55,000 ATMs worldwide.
• Elan Financial ServicescoreTechnology or IntegrationCredit card program partner providing credit card products with zero fraud liability protection, 24/7 cardmember service, and mobile wallet integration. Elan issues cards under Visa and Mastercard licenses.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Truist Financial Corporation: Top-10 U.S. commercial bank formed via BB&T-SunTrust merger with significant Tennessee operations offering full-service personal, business, and commercial banking that competes for the same SMB and consumer customers across SouthEast Bank's footprint.
• Regions Financial: Large regional bank with substantial Tennessee presence offering comprehensive consumer, commercial, and wealth management services; competes for the same deposit and loan customers as SouthEast Bank but with vastly greater scale, branch density, and product breadth.
• Citizens Financial Group: Mid-size regional bank with operations across multiple U.S. regions offering personal, small business, and commercial banking products comparable to SouthEast Bank's suite but with greater scale, broader geographic reach, and more sophisticated treasury management capabilities.

Direct peers

• SoFi Technologies: Direct competitor to SouthEast Bank's ELFI division in the national private student loan and student loan refinancing market, operating as a digital-first lender with substantially greater scale, brand recognition, and consumer acquisition infrastructure.
• First Horizon Corporation: Tennessee-headquartered regional bank (Memphis) with significant presence across the Southeast offering personal, business, and wealth banking products directly comparable to SouthEast Bank's Middle/East Tennessee footprint, with similar community banking positioning but at substantially greater scale.
• FirstBank (Tennessee): Tennessee-headquartered community bank with branch presence across the state offering personal and business banking products directly competing with SouthEast Bank in Middle Tennessee markets with similar community-focused positioning.
• Pinnacle Financial Partners: Nashville-based Tennessee regional bank offering commercial and consumer banking services across Tennessee and surrounding states with comparable relationship-banking model targeting middle-market businesses and high-net-worth consumers in similar geographic markets.

Regional players

• Atlantic Capital Bank: Atlanta-based Southeast-focused bank serving middle-market businesses and high-net-worth consumers with comparable relationship-banking model; operates in adjacent Southeastern markets rather than directly competing in Tennessee.
• Cadence Bank: Texas-headquartered Southeast regional bank offering commercial, small business, and consumer banking products across multiple Southeastern states with comparable mid-size regional community banking positioning though operating in different primary geographies.
• United Community Banks: Georgia-headquartered Southeast regional bank with growing Tennessee presence offering community-focused personal and business banking products; comparable in scale and operating philosophy to SouthEast Bank, with overlapping footprint in select Tennessee markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/southeastbank
• Facebookfacebook.com/yoursoutheastbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/southeast-bank
• Instagraminstagram.com/southeastbank.tn

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SouthEast Bank