{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/preferred-lender-status","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/preferred-lender-status","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":"preferred-lender-status","term":"Preferred Lender Status","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A designation granted by the SBA to experienced lenders, allowing them to make final credit decisions on most SBA loans without prior SBA review. This speeds up the loan approval process.","what_it_means":"Working with a Preferred Lender (PLP lender) significantly streamlines your SBA loan application. They have delegated authority from the SBA, meaning they can underwrite and approve loans faster than non-delegated lenders. This can be a major advantage in competitive deal environments.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/preferred-lender-status","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":"preferred-lender","term":"Preferred Lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/preferred-lender"},{"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":"non-delegated-lender","term":"Non-Delegated Lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/non-delegated-lender"}],"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":"How is a lender's 'SBA Preferred Lender' status beneficial for the borrower?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-is-a-lender-s-sba-preferred-lender-status-beneficial-for-the-borrower"},{"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":"What is the role of an \"SBA Preferred Lender\" in the application process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-the-role-of-an-sba-preferred-lender-in-the-application-process"},{"question":"Does working with a 'Preferred Lender' speed up the SBA 7(a) loan process?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-working-with-a-preferred-lender-speed-up-the-sba-7-a-loan-process"},{"question":"What is an 'SBA Preferred Lender,' and why does it matter for my application?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-an-sba-preferred-lender-and-why-does-it-matter-for-my-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 — Preferred Lender Status","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/preferred-lender-status","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}