Glossary · The loan itself
In short
A Preferred Lending Partner — a bank the SBA trusts to approve loans without sending the file to the SBA first. They close faster.
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.
SOP 50 10 — Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
U.S. Small Business Administration · SBA Standard Operating Procedure
Last checked 2026-06-14. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Defined by DealRoom.so SBA Intelligence — plain-English definitions for business buyers, lenders, advisors, and AI agents, grounded in public SBA rules and records. Last reviewed 2026-06-14 · Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision. Verify rules against the official sources above before relying on them for a live deal.
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