SQL table variable empty after while loop - sql-server

Question

I have a SQL table I'm trying to query unique results. Based off of the "FileName" column I want to get only the most recent row for each filename.
In the example, I am pulling all files with the last name of "smith". The LoanNumber may be in multiple rows because the file may have been copied and so I want the most recent one only.
The code below results in no data. I get just a column header called "FileID" and no values. I believe the #ResultsTable is not keeping the data I'm trying to put into it with the INSERT on the 12th line. I do not know why. I tried moving the DECLARE statement for the table variable #ResultsTable around and the best I can ever get it to display is a single record and most of places I put it, I only get "Must declare the table variable "#ResultsTable"."
What am I doing wrong that the table variable is not getting populated properly and maintaining it rows?
DECLARE #ResultsTable table(FileID varchar(10)); --table variable for the list of record IDs
DECLARE #ThisLoanNumber varchar(50); --current loan number for each record to be used during while loop
DECLARE LoanFiles CURSOR read_only FOR --create LoanFiles cursor to loop through
Select distinct [LoanNumber] from [Package_Files]
Where [LastName]='smith';
OPEN LoanFiles;
While ##FETCH_STATUS = 0 --If previous fetch was successful, loop through the cursor "LoanFiles"
BEGIN
FETCH NEXT FROM LoanFiles into #ThisLoanNumber; --Get the LoanNumber from the current row
INSERT Into #ResultsTable --insert the ID number of the row which was updated most recently of the rows which have a loan number equal to the number form the current row in "LoanFiles" cursor
Select Top 1 [iFileID] From [Package_Files] Where [LoanNumber]=#ThisLoanNumber Order By [UpdateTime] Desc;
END;
CLOSE LoanFiles;
DEALLOCATE LoanFiles;
Select * from #ResultsTable; --display results...

Answer 1

There are a couple of ways you can do this type of query without resorting to looping.
Here is using a cte.
with SortedValues as
(
select FileID
, ROW_NUMBER() over (partition by LoanNumber order by UpdateTime desc) as RowNum
from Package_Files
where LastName = 'Smith'
)
select FileID
from SortedValues
where RowNum = 1
Another option is to use a subquery approach similar to this.
select FileID
from
(
select FileID
, ROW_NUMBER() over (partition by LoanNumber order by UpdateTime desc) as RowNum
from Package_Files
where LastName = 'Smith'
) x
where x.RowNum = 1