{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-s-credit-authority","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/lender-s-credit-authority","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":"lender-s-credit-authority","term":"Lender's Credit Authority","aka":"LCA","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"This refers to the specific dollar amount a lender is authorized to approve for SBA loans under their delegated authority without prior SBA review. It speeds up the approval process.","what_it_means":"Lenders with Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status have delegated authority, meaning they can approve loans up to their Lender's Credit Authority without sending every application to the SBA for review. This significantly reduces closing times for your 7(a) loan. Work with a PLP lender for a faster process.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-s-credit-authority","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"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"plp-lender","term":"PLP lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/plp-lender"},{"slug":"delegated-authority","term":"Delegated authority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/delegated-authority"},{"slug":"underwriting","term":"Underwriting","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underwriting"},{"slug":"e-tran-submission","term":"E-Tran submission","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/e-tran-submission"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What factors allow a lender to use their delegated authority (e.g., Preferred Lender status) to speed up SBA loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-factors-allow-a-lender-to-use-their-delegated-authority-e-g-preferred-lender-status-t"},{"question":"How does a lender verify equity injection from a borrower's personal credit card cash advance?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-equity-injection-from-a-borrower-s-personal-credit-card-cash-adva"},{"question":"What specific documentation is required for a lender's independent credit analysis under prudent lending standards?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-specific-documentation-is-required-for-a-lender-s-independent-credit-analysis-under-p"},{"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 role of the lender's credit committee in the SBA 7(a) loan approval process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-role-of-the-lender-s-credit-committee-in-the-sba-7-a-loan-approval-process"},{"question":"What is the importance of a lender's detailed credit memorandum in the 7(a) loan approval process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-is-the-importance-of-a-lender-s-detailed-credit-memorandum-in-the-7-a-loan-approval-p"}]},"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 — Lender's Credit Authority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/lender-s-credit-authority","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}