The Biggest SBA Underwriting Change of 2026 is Here | Jan. 13, 2026 | SBA Today

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. 

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