For SBA lenders
Short answer
Following the SBSS sunset, lenders must document their comprehensive credit analysis for 7(a) Small Loans, including traditional financial statements, cash flow analysis, and assessment of management, collateral, and industry risk.
With the removal of the SBSS score, the SBA expects lenders to apply a robust, documented credit analysis for all 7(a) Small Loans. The loan file must clearly demonstrate how the lender evaluated the borrower's capacity to repay, using conventional underwriting methods and supporting financial documentation.
For a $200,000 7(a) Small Loan, the lender includes 3 years of business and personal tax returns, interim financial statements, a detailed cash flow projection, a narrative credit memo, and collateral valuation reports in the loan file.
Lenders must ensure their credit files for Small Loans are fully compliant with their own internal underwriting standards and adequately support the credit decision, as the SBSS score no longer provides a presumptive eligibility benchmark.
Sunset of SBSS Score for 7(a) Small Loans
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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