A recent update to the SBA’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for lenders participating in the Small Business Administration (SBA) loan guarantee program could make getting an SBA-guaranteed small business loan a little more challenging if you and your small business have less than perfect credit.
According to the update, this SOP will go into effect on Oct. 1, 2020. The pertinent part of the update regarding credit qualification criteria is as follows:
All 7(a) Small Loan applications will begin with a screening for a FICO® Small Business Scoring ServiceSM Score (SBSS Score).
The SBSS Score is calculated based on a combination of consumer credit bureau data, business bureau data, Borrower financials, and application data (The SBSS Score is not to be confused with the Small Business Predictive Score (SBPS) used by the SBA’s Office of Credit Risk Management). The minimum credit score is based on the lower end of the risk profile of the current SBA portfolio. As of the effective date of this SOP, the minimum acceptable SBSS score is 155, but that score may be adjusted up or down from time to time. Loans will an SBSS score lower than 155 must be fully underwritten under Standard 7(a) procedures. SBA will post on its website the minimum acceptable SBSS credit score for 7(a) Small Loan applications at www.sba.gov/partners/lenders/7a-loan-program.
Editor’s Note: The link to Nav’s explanation of the SBSS Score was not a part of the SBA’s notice and was added by the editor.
Although this formally increases the minimum SBSS score, it doesn’t mean you can’t get an SBA loan if your score doesn’t meet the 155 threshold. In fact, most SBA lenders are already looking for scores of 160 or above. It simply means that your loan application will go through a manual review and can’t be approved automatically under delegated authority.
Are There Alternatives to an SBA Loan?
There are a number of reasons a small business borrower might consider other options to an SBA loan (including the minimum credit criteria mentioned above). Time to funding, term length, and other factors could impact a decision regarding which business loan would be a good fit for your business and your individual situation.
With that in mind, if you don’t qualify for an SBA loan or the terms of an SBA-guaranteed loan don’t meet your needs, there are other options. You can get matched to those options based on your real data at Nav.
This article was originally written on September 3, 2020.
Yes!! This is not cool at all!!! The people of today that have businesses can’t work!! The Government made a Mandatory Shut Down for all businesses!!! So what do Small Business People Do with Not do Good Credit!!! Not fair!!! We are in Pandemic Still and you guys still want to check out Credit with a Fine Tooth Comb!!! Please get out of here with this!!!! People need to live!!! I’m done
There were many companies that were declined during the first round of EIDL loans because of poor credit. The unfortunate part was these companies waited weeks & weeks for any word from the SBA only to find out they were denied. The SBA should have made this a “first” step from the beginning instead of the “last” step. So many businesses were misled.
Morning! I’ve had a hard time with SBA loan! If I can talk to someone more knowledgeable about email me!
Robert, your local Small Business Development Center or SCORE office can provide you with free assistance.
If your Credit Score is 550 would my Business fet Approved or other option.
Thanks for reading the blog. The minimum personal credit threshold for an SBA loan is going to be about 650, so a 550 personal credit score likely won’t be high enough to qualify for an SBA loan. Fortunately, there are other loan options available, but there are fewer options for a borrower with a 550 score. Expect to pay a higher interest rate and for terms to be much shorter than the low interest, long-term loans associated with the SBA.
Now that you know what the minimum personal credit score threshold is, my advice would be to work on your personal score to make improvements. It won’t happen overnight, but good credit practices over time will help you make gradual improvement to your score.
La necesidad de pedir ayuda o préstamos por la presente pandemia (covi19) nos hace ser más honestos y luchadores por una mejor superación y seguir adelante
With the economy going crazy like this who will keep a perfect credit score might as well you tell people to close their business and keep your goddamn loans
It is tough right now and that can’t be minimized. Unfortunately, with a weak credit profile it is unlikely a business will qualify for an SBA loan. Although it’s admittedly difficult, monitoring and guarding your personal and business credit profile has never been more important. A free Nav account could be a good place to get started.
what you mean 155 or more that mean 555 or more, cozy i never heard 155 on the credit score what i know is 300 more
That’s the FICO SBSS score which runs on a scale of 0 – 300. Learn more about FICO SBSS here.
What does the minimum fico score have to be
The minimum personal credit score (FICO) threshold for an SBA loan is around 650. They typically won’t approve a loan with a score lower than that.
With a SBA Loan effect your three Credit score
Hi, the SBA does report your credit history with an SBA loan.
That’s quite interesting. I was told by the SBA, that they DO NOT report to ANY of the credit bureaus, verbatim. Can you provide a link to an article or something from the SBA validating your claim?
I explicitely inquired as it pertains to this PRIOR to taking the loan as I did NOT want my personal scores impacted. As I said, I was told, on two separate occasions, that they don’t report to any of the bureaus.
I will be LIVID if what you’re stating is true.
Are you talking about EIDL or PPP? EIDL loans are made by the SBA and the SBA does not report to personal credit. PPP loans are made by individual lenders and traditionally SBA loans under the 7(a) program can be reported. If your PPP loan is forgiven it’s doubtful it will report.
Hi , I am a small sole proprietor and also a single mom. I was deeply affected by my credit score even tho in your article say October 1. Sba is already denying applications due to credit score. And it’s really troubling because who else can keep a perfect one when you have been affected greatly by a pandemic?..
Would like to my business score
You can sign up for a free Nav account to see your business credit.