{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-lender-status","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/sba-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":"sba-lender-status","term":"SBA Lender status","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"Refers to a bank's authorization from the SBA to originate and service SBA-guaranteed loans. Banks can have different levels of approval, affecting how fast they can process your loan.","what_it_means":"Lenders with Preferred Lender Program (PLP) status have delegated authority to make final credit decisions without prior SBA review, speeding up your closing. Non-delegated lenders must send applications to the SBA for approval, adding time to the process. Always ask your prospective lender about their status.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-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":"delegated-authority","term":"Delegated authority","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/delegated-authority"},{"slug":"origination","term":"Origination","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/origination"},{"slug":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"}],"related_questions":[{"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 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 does a lender verify the full standby status of a non-SBA third-party debt?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-the-full-standby-status-of-a-non-sba-third-party-debt"},{"question":"How does a lender verify a franchise's current listing status on the SBA Franchise Directory?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-a-franchise-s-current-listing-status-on-the-sba-franchise-directo"},{"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 the 'SBA-compliant' status of a franchise agreement not on the directory?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-verify-the-sba-compliant-status-of-a-franchise-agreement-not-on-the-dire"}]},"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 — SBA Lender status","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-lender-status","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}