{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-credit","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/personal-credit","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":"personal-credit","term":"Personal Credit","group":"Your money in the deal","definition":"Your individual credit history and score, reflecting your past ability to manage debt. This is a critical factor in qualifying for an SBA 7(a) loan.","what_it_means":"Lenders heavily weigh your Personal Credit as part of evaluating your character and repayment capacity for an SBA loan. A strong FICO score and a clean credit report are essential. Derogatory marks like bankruptcies or foreclosures can disqualify you, even if the business itself is strong. Address any issues before applying.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-credit","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":"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"},{"slug":"derogatory-mark","term":"Derogatory mark","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/derogatory-mark"},{"slug":"repayment-capacity","term":"Repayment capacity","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/repayment-capacity"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What if my personal credit report shows a recent late payment on a minor credit card?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-if-my-personal-credit-report-shows-a-recent-late-payment-on-a-minor-credit-card"},{"question":"Does having many recent credit inquiries on my personal credit report affect SBA 7(a) loan approval chances?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/does-having-many-recent-credit-inquiries-on-my-personal-credit-report-affect-sba-7-a-loan-"},{"question":"Can personal funds borrowed from a credit union against personal assets count towards my equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/can-personal-funds-borrowed-from-a-credit-union-against-personal-assets-count-towards-my-e"},{"question":"Can funds from a personal line of credit secured by non-personal real estate be equity injection?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/can-funds-from-a-personal-line-of-credit-secured-by-non-personal-real-estate-be-equity-inj"},{"question":"Does the SBA check my personal credit score directly when I apply?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-check-my-personal-credit-score-directly-when-i-apply"},{"question":"Does my personal credit history affect my business's SBA loan application?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-my-personal-credit-history-affect-my-business-s-sba-loan-application"}]},"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 — Personal Credit","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-credit","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}