With a new administration in office, the Small Business Administration (SBA) is anything but quiet these days. Just one month into the agency’s reorganization, the SBA issued SOP 50 10 8 Lender and Development Company Loan Programs. The updated requirements outlined in the new standard operating procedures (SOP) will take effect June 1, 2025, and will apply to all loans receiving an SBA loan number on or after that date. 

What to Expect 

Similar to past SOPs, SOP 50 10 8 is divided into three core sections: 

1. Section A: Core Requirements for All 7(a) and 504 Loans 
2. Section B: 7(a) Loan Program Requirements 
3. Section C: 504 Loan Program Requirements 

Most changes throughout the SOP are reimplementing requirements established before January 2021, including: 

• Restoring 7(a) underwriting criteria. 
• Reinstituting the SBA Franchise Directory with streamlined procedures. 
• Reaffirming that SBA lenders determine whether the applicant is eligible for a loan guaranteed by SBA. 
• Eliminating the “do what you do” philosophy. 

In addition, effective June 1, 2025, lenders with Preferred Lender Program (PLP) delegated authority will be required to process all loans under delegated authority other than the refinance of same institution debt, and the maximum size of a 7(a) small loan will be reduced from $500,000 to $350,000.  

Here to Help 

Trying to navigate the new SOP can be a daunting task. Adapting to change and ensuring compliance is as well. You don’t need to do it alone. Rely on Doeren Mayhew’s SBA pros to decode the procedures and validate compliance. Performing over 16,000 SBA independent loan reviews, our specialists know the ins and outs of SBA loans. If you have internal team doing your SBA loan review, we can assist with that as well. Doeren Mayhew’s proprietary GOLoan software serves as a self-evaluation tool identifying weaknesses in SOP compliance with your SBA loan files. Contact us today to schedule a demo or learn more about our independent SBA loan review services.