{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policy","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/credit-policy","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-policy","term":"Credit Policy","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A lender's internal guidelines and standards for evaluating borrower creditworthiness, managing risk, and approving loans. These often go beyond the SBA's minimum requirements.","what_it_means":"Each SBA lender has its own Credit Policy, which might be stricter than the SBA's baseline Eligibility Rules. For example, some lenders may require higher FICO scores or lower debt-to-income ratios than the SBA mandates. Understand your chosen lender's specific policy to ensure you meet their internal hurdles, not just the SBA's.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policy","official_sources":[],"related":[{"slug":"creditworthiness","term":"Creditworthiness","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/creditworthiness"},{"slug":"fico-score","term":"FICO score","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fico-score"},{"slug":"eligibility-rule","term":"Eligibility Rule","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/eligibility-rule"},{"slug":"prudent-lending-standards","term":"Prudent lending standards","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/prudent-lending-standards"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What are the SBA's current policy expectations for documentation of a lender's independent credit analysis for 7(a) Small Loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-sba-s-current-policy-expectations-for-documentation-of-a-lender-s-independent"},{"question":"What is the SBA's policy on collateral requirements if business assets are insufficient?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-sba-s-policy-on-collateral-requirements-if-business-assets-are-insufficient"},{"question":"Does an SBA 7(a) loan require me to get a life insurance policy?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-an-sba-7-a-loan-require-me-to-get-a-life-insurance-policy"},{"question":"Do I need to get a life insurance policy for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-get-a-life-insurance-policy-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Do I need to get a life insurance policy on myself for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-get-a-life-insurance-policy-on-myself-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"What is the policy for a 7(a) loan when the borrower is a small agricultural cooperative?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-policy-for-a-7-a-loan-when-the-borrower-is-a-small-agricultural-cooperative"}]},"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 Policy","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/credit-policy","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}