{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-preferred-lender","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/sba-preferred-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":"sba-preferred-lender","term":"SBA Preferred Lender","aka":"PLP Lender","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A Preferred Lender is a bank authorized by the SBA to make and approve 7(a) loans without prior SBA review, significantly speeding up the loan process.","what_it_means":"Working with a Preferred Lender (PLP) streamlines your loan application. They have delegated authority from the SBA to underwrite and close loans, meaning less bureaucracy and faster decisions. These lenders are often the best choice for business acquisitions.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-preferred-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"},{"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":"7a-loan","term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"slug":"underwriting","term":"Underwriting","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/underwriting"}],"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":"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"},{"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"}]},"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 Preferred Lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-preferred-lender","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}