{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/plp-lender","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/plp-lender","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":"plp-lender","term":"PLP lender","group":"The loan itself","definition":"A Preferred Lending Partner — a bank the SBA trusts to approve loans without sending the file to the SBA first. They close faster.","what_it_means":"SBA Preferred Lending Partner status means the lender has earned delegated authority — they underwrite and approve in-house without waiting for the SBA to review the file. The practical benefit is speed: a PLP can commit in days where a non-PLP might take weeks for SBA approval. When you're shopping lenders, asking 'are you a PLP?' is one of the first questions worth asking, especially if you're up against a deadline.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/plp-lender","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":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"sop-50-10","term":"SOP 50 10","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sop-50-10"},{"slug":"guaranty","term":"Guaranty","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/guaranty"},{"slug":"change-of-ownership","term":"Change of ownership","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/change-of-ownership"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"What does 'Preferred Lender Program' (PLP) status mean for a bank?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-does-preferred-lender-program-plp-status-mean-for-a-bank"},{"question":"What is a 'Preferred Lender' (PLP) in the context of SBA 7(a) loans?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-a-preferred-lender-plp-in-the-context-of-sba-7-a-loans"},{"question":"What is a 'Preferred Lender' (PLP) for SBA 7(a) loans, and why is it important?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-a-preferred-lender-plp-for-sba-7-a-loans-and-why-is-it-important"},{"question":"What is a \"Preferred Lender\" (PLP) for SBA 7(a) loans, and why does it matter?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-a-preferred-lender-plp-for-sba-7-a-loans-and-why-does-it-matter"},{"question":"How quickly can an SBA 7(a) loan be approved if my lender is a Preferred Lender Program (PLP) participant?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/how-quickly-can-an-sba-7-a-loan-be-approved-if-my-lender-is-a-preferred-lender-program-plp"},{"question":"What are the benefits of applying for an SBA 7(a) loan through a Preferred Lender (PLP)?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-are-the-benefits-of-applying-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-through-a-preferred-lender-plp"}],"related_tool":{"label":"Find an SBA lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}},"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 — PLP lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/plp-lender","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}