{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policies","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/credit-policies","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"credit-policies","term":"Credit policies","group":"Doing the deal","definition":"These are the internal rules and guidelines a lender uses to evaluate loan applications and manage risk. They define what types of businesses and borrowers a lender will finance.","what_it_means":"While the SBA sets broad eligibility, individual lenders have their own credit policies that can be stricter. Understanding a lender's specific policies (e.g., minimum FICO, industry preferences) can help you target the right lender and prepare your application to meet their specific criteria.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policies","official_sources":[{"slug":"sop-50-10","title":"SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sop-50-10-lender-development-company-loan-programs","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":2,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sop-50-10"}],"related":[{"slug":"credit-underwriting","term":"Credit underwriting","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-underwriting"},{"slug":"prudent-lending-standards","term":"Prudent lending standards","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prudent-lending-standards"},{"slug":"fico-score","term":"FICO score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-score"},{"slug":"credit-report","term":"Credit report","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-report"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What are the SBA's specific guidelines for acceptable collateral life insurance policies?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-are-the-sba-s-specific-guidelines-for-acceptable-collateral-life-insurance-policies"},{"question":"Does an SBA 7(a) loan require specific insurance policies for my business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-an-sba-7-a-loan-require-specific-insurance-policies-for-my-business"},{"question":"Who typically pays the premiums for life insurance policies used to fund a buy-sell agreement?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/who-typically-pays-the-premiums-for-life-insurance-policies-used-to-fund-a-buy-sell-agreem"},{"question":"Is it necessary to obtain separate life insurance policies for each owner in a multi-owner business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/is-it-necessary-to-obtain-separate-life-insurance-policies-for-each-owner-in-a-multi-owner"},{"question":"How does a lender ensure life insurance policies assigned as collateral are properly maintained throughout the loan term?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-ensure-life-insurance-policies-assigned-as-collateral-are-properly-maint"},{"question":"What constitutes 'material non-compliance' with SBA lending policies that typically leads to a guaranty repair or denial?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-constitutes-material-non-compliance-with-sba-lending-policies-that-typically-leads-to"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — Credit policies","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policies","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}