SBA Today

This week on SBA Today, Tonya is flying solo to breakdown: ❌ USDA Lenders Banished—household-name lenders over a $620 million delinquency issue. 📈 The $10M Combined Cap—are your capital-intensive borrowers eligible? ⚖️ $3M Fraud Indictment—signaling a sharp escalation from the new National Fraud Enforcement Division. 🏛️ Navigating the OHA— this independent SBA office might be your last line of defense. The Bottom Line: The regulatory floor is shifting fast. While the new $10M decoupling rule unlocks historic capital limits, federal agencies are simultaneously tightening compliance and purging non-compliant participants. 🛠 This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are tackling: 🎖️ Small Business Week---celebrating the job creators with regional awards galas and specialized lender training from the Seattle SBA team. ⚖️ The $22 Billion Referral---the SBA recently referred 562,000 delinquent or "suspected fraud" PPP and EIDL loans to the Treasury. ⚠️ Fraud vs. Filing Errors---discussing the concern that legitimate small businesses may be flagged due to minor discrepancies or filing errors rather than actual intent. 📑 How to Read Tax Returns like an SBA Lender 🛠 This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are talking about: 🆕 New 7(a) Leadership---welcoming Emily Doxzon as the new Chief of 7(a) Loan Origination for the Office of Capital Access. 🍦 Franchise Lending Challenges---how the sunsetting of the SBA Score may make it harder for lenders to justify the time and effort required for startup franchise deals. 📊 Small-Dollar Performance---analyzing lender reports that show while large loans are performing, the real struggle remains in the small-dollar loan space. 📞 7(a) Connect Call---a friendly reminder that the next call is today, Tuesday the 21st, at 3:00 PM Eastern. If you aren't on these calls, you're missing the pulse of the industry. What do you think? Will the removal of the SBA Score genuinely hinder startup franchise growth, or will lenders adapt their underwriting to fill the gap? Let's discuss in the comments! 👇 🛠 This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are breaking down: 📉 BayFirst Data: Analysis shows SBA guaranty purchases exceeded original amounts by $3.5 Million. 🏭 The 90% Guarantee: Starting May 1st, the International Trade Loan (ITL) expands to a 90% guarantee for manufacturers (NAICS 31–33) to modernize and reshore production. 🍎 Grocery Guarantee: That same 90% guarantee now extends to the entire food supply chain—from farming and ranching to grocery retailers—to fight price pressures. 🛠️ Onshoring Tools: Use the new "Make Onshoring Great Again" Portal to connect with over one million domestic suppliers. The Bottom Line: The SBA is supercharging domestic production. If you're lending in manufacturing or ag, the game changes May 1st. Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode to stay ahead of the industrial comeback! 🛠 This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

If you originated loans between 2023 and 2024, you need to hear this. This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are diving into: 🔍 THE 2026 OVERSIGHT PLAN: What three specific areas—including lenders with rapid increases in loan volume—is the Inspector General zeroing in on this year, and why should SBLCs be particularly worried? 📉 THE KPMG DISCLAIMER: Why did the FY 2025 Independent Audit come with a stunning disclaimer, and what does it signal about the future of SBA audits? 🚩 THE 73,302 LOAN FLAG: Over $32 Billion in loans is now under a cloud. What specific OIG report (26-07) flags 73,302 loans for "limited assurance on eligibility," and did your loans make the list? 🛠️ PLANNED OIG WORK: Keep an eye out for upcoming reviews on Lender Service Providers (LSPs), manufacturing loan portfolios, and IT capital planning. The bottom line: Documentation is your best friend. With 73,000+ loans now flagged for review at the time of purchase, having a solid foundation has never been more critical. Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode to stay ahead of the audit trail! 🛠This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya dive into: 📉 The Credit Squeeze—What recent data from the Small Business Economic Bulletin shows approval rates for businesses under $5M. 🔄 The Opening vs. Closing Inversion—For the first time since 2020, business establishment closings have begun to outpace openings. 📈 Franchising's 2026 Outlook—The industry is projected to grow by 1.5%, with Texas and Florida leading the pack as top states for expansion. ✨ The "Experiential" Shift—Consumer preferences are moving toward "experiential dining" and luxury travel, signaling a shift toward meaning and memories over purely value-driven offerings. This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily those of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are joined by David Parrish, a 20-year SBA veteran and secondary market expert, for a deep dive into the massive regulatory and structural shifts hitting the industry in early 2026. From the strategic move to allow SOFR and Treasury base rates to the candid "insider" truth behind the agency's 53% headcount reduction, this episode is packed with the data and wisdom you need to navigate the current market. We're breaking down: The New Rate Revolution: Beginning March 1, 2026, the SBA is unlocking SOFR, 5-year, and 10-year Treasury base rates for variable 7(a) loans. David explains the "math in the sauce" behind secondary market pooling and how these rates provide a critical buffer against future market corrections. The 53% SBA Draw-Down: The 2025 Annual Report revealed a staggering loss of headcount. David provides a first-hand account of the "deferred resignation" and "early retirement" waves and what the loss of tenured wisdom means for the speed of SBA processing. The Green Card Bombshell: A major procedural change now prohibits Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs) from SBA loan eligibility starting March 1st. We discuss the potentially "devastating" impact on major markets like Florida, Texas, and California. FY26 Volume Check: Despite a five-week shutdown at the end of 2025, YTD 7(a) volume has already hit $10.2B. We analyze whether manufacturing initiatives like the MARC program can offset the loss of volume from newly ineligible borrowers. Chapters: [00:00:00] Intro [00:03:31] The Rate Shift: SOFR, 5-Year, and 10-Year Treasury Options [00:09:48] Secondary Market Liquidity: Pooling the New Base Rates [00:13:08] The Exodus: Inside the 53% Headcount Reduction [00:23:32] YTD Volume: $10.2B and the Rebound from the Shutdown [00:25:55] The Citizenship Mandate: Impact on LPR Borrowers [00:31:05] Market Hotspots: The Florida and California Squeeze [00:43:57] Closing: Resiliency in the Small Business Ecosystem This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer. ⚠️

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya are breaking down: 📑 The 1919 Exit: The SBA is moving toward a fully electronic submission experience, eventually eliminating the physical Form 1919 altogether. 🔍 SOP Updates: SBA is now requiring two months of commercial bank statements for 7(a) Small loans to verify real cash flow. ✅ Agency Slim-Down: In 2025, the SBA reduced its workforce by 54%, closed 19 underutilized offices, and cut agency credit card spending by over half. 🪪 Fraud & Security: SBA is now cross-checking loan applicants with DHS and Treasury databases to hunt down billions in stolen funds. ⏸SBLC Moratorium: The Community Advantage SBLC expansion is on hold after defaults doubled the standard portfolio. 💡 Mark your calendars: The 7(a) Underwriting Call is set for February 11th. This is a must-attend for lenders looking to stay compliant with the new cash-flow focus. 🎧 Catch the full episode for the deep dive into the 2025 Annual Report and what's next for SBA technology. This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective—empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer.

The SBA just dropped a massive update for 2026 that will completely change how small-dollar loans are underwritten. Paul and Tonya break down: SBSS Sunset: The Small Business Scoring Service (SBSS) will be discontinued on February 28, 2026, for 7(a) Small loans at or below $350,000. Lender Freedom: Lenders can now use their own existing scoring models to streamline small-dollar lending. New Inspector General: William "Bill" Kirk has been sworn in as Inspector General, bringing over 30 years of experience to target fraud and restore agency integrity. Red Tape Hotline: The SBA's new "Deregulation Strike Force" wants to hear from you at 1-800-827-5722 about which regulations need to go. Market Shift: Pipelines are full, but banks are getting more conservative, putting post-closing liquidity and direct operating experience under a microscope. 💡 Mark your calendars: The next 7(a) Connect call is Tuesday, January 20, 2026, at Noon (ET). Don't forget to use the new fee calculator released on January 6th to avoid MARC program errors! 🎧 Catch the full episode for the latest on why your 2026 pipeline might be getting a lot tighter. This episode is sponsored by SBA Collective — empowering community banks and credit unions to compete and win in SBA lending. ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer. ⚠️

This week on SBA Today, Paul and Tonya explore the "SBA Dark Web" for a look at the Federal Register before diving into shocking new data on lender satisfaction . From shifting form requirements to a massive satisfaction crash for online lenders, we're looking at what small businesses really want—and where the industry is missing the mark . We're breaking down: 🔍 SBA Dark Web & Form Gutting: Paul dives into the Federal Register, where the SBA is looking to retire redundant forms like the 912 and potentially revamp the 1919 to reduce paperwork . 🤝 Relationship vs. Speed: New data from Lumos shows a massive gap in borrower priorities . While small banks dominate on relational strength (67%), online lenders hold the edge on operational speed (55%) . 📉 The Satisfaction Crash: Lender satisfaction has declined across the board since 2019 . Small banks dropped from 74% to 62%, but online lenders saw a staggering collapse, plummeting from 38% to just 2% . 🎀 The Finish Line: Tonya shares a heartwarming story from a client's ribbon cutting in Castle Rock, Colorado, attended by SBA Deputy Administrator Bill Briggs, reminding us why we fight through the red tape . 💡 The Closing Cure: We discuss how the closing process can make or break a borrower's experience . Paul explains why cross-training your team (underwriters learning processing and vice versa) is the key to a better customer journey . Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer.

This week on SBA Today, the mood is lighter because the government is BACK OPEN! Paul and Tonya discuss: 🎉The government lights are back on—a Connect Call is scheduled soon, so stay tuned for updates. 💔 MARC Program Update—what's going on? 🏨 SBLC SOLD—why another non-bank entity moving up the rankings should matter to lenders, especially one focused on hotel owners. 📈 BizBuySell Q3 Report Insights—Buyer Urgency & Economic Headwinds! ❌ The 'Investment' Lie—we deliver a reality check Tune in, subscribe, and share this episode to help your colleagues get the latest on the re-opening and the market! ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer. ⚠️

This week on SBA Today, we are joined by special guest Stephanie Dunn for an upbeat conversation about the true heartbeat of our industry: Connection. But first, Paul gets heated about the ongoing government shutdown. We're breaking down: 😡 INSANE! Paul lets loose, calling the continuing shutdown "Cray Cray, Ridiculous, Wild, Bizarre, Unreasonable, INSANE." Tonya adds that nobody wins this standoff—we all lose. 🤝 The Power of Connection: The overwhelming takeaway from NAGGL was the power of connection. We discuss why connection matters as much as knowledge in this business. 🚀 Giving People Wings: With Stephanie Dunn, we discuss the importance of supportive leadership and how empowering others to grow doesn't create risk, it creates strength. Fear vs. Trust: What happens when teams or banks operate from fear or scarcity instead of connection and trust? We explore the difference between competing and collaborating. Keep the Spirit Alive: We share simple ways to keep the NAGGL spirit of connection going, even when you're back at your desk. Final Farewell: Don't miss THE FINAL EPISODES OF The Art of SBA Lending! This episode is sponsored by: Res/Title Res/Title, your "One Stop Shop for SBA closings". We're your commercial title and closing company that provides you with the tools and technology to give you an instant quote and Al property reports on any deal in the nation. Whether it's for $35,000 or $35 Mil, we handle closings anywhere in the nation with one point of contact. Get started today! www.res-title.com ⚠️ Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer. ⚠️