SBA Underwriter/Analyst

Description

The SBA Underwriter/Analyst is responsible for analyzing, underwriting, and recommending credit decisions for Small Business Administration (SBA) loan requests in accordance with SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), bank credit policy, and regulatory requirements. This role evaluates borrower creditworthiness, assesses business and industry risk, analyzes financial statements and cash flow, and prepares comprehensive credit memorandums to support lending decisions while ensuring SBA eligibility and compliance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Credit Underwriting & Analysis

• Analyze SBA loan applications, including 7(a), 504, and other government-guaranteed loan programs.
• Conduct detailed assessments of borrower repayment capacity, cash flow, leverage, liquidity, collateral, and management experience.
• Review historical and projected business financial statements, tax returns, personal financial statements, and supporting documentation.
• Evaluate debt service coverage, global cash flow, guarantor strength, and overall risk profile.
• Identify key credit risks and recommend appropriate mitigating factors and loan structures.
• Prepare comprehensive credit approval memorandums and underwriting narratives for presentation to loan committees and credit approvers.

SBA Eligibility & Compliance

• Ensure loans comply with current SBA SOP requirements, policies, and procedures.
• Review borrower eligibility, use of proceeds, franchise requirements, affiliation rules, and ownership structures.
• Verify adherence to SBA environmental, collateral, life insurance, equity injection, and guaranty requirements.
• Document loans to maximize SBA guaranty protection and minimize repair or denial risk.

Financial Analysis

• Spread and analyze business and personal financial statements.
• Perform trend analysis, ratio analysis, and cash flow analysis.
• Evaluate projections and assumptions for startups, acquisitions, expansions, and refinancing requests.
• Assess industry conditions, market factors, and economic impacts affecting borrower performance.

Portfolio & Risk Management

• Assist in ongoing portfolio monitoring and risk assessment efforts.
• Identify potential credit concerns and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Support annual reviews, renewals, and modifications of existing SBA credit relationships.
• Maintain credit quality standards and risk rating accuracy.

Collaboration & Communication

• Partner with Business Development Officers, Relationship Managers, Credit Officers, Closing Specialists, and Loan Servicing teams.
• Communicate underwriting findings, credit recommendations, and loan structure requirements effectively.
• Provide guidance to internal stakeholders regarding SBA eligibility and underwriting standards.
• Support audits, examinations, and internal compliance reviews.

Requirements

Experience

• 3-7+ years of commercial credit analysis or underwriting experience.
• Experience underwriting SBA 7(a) and/or SBA 504 loans preferred.
• Strong understanding of commercial lending principles, credit risk analysis, and SBA loan programs.
• Experience with SBA SOP requirements and government-guaranteed lending regulations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong financial statement analysis and cash flow modeling skills.
• Knowledge of commercial loan documentation and collateral analysis.
• Understanding of SBA eligibility requirements and program guidelines.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Strong written communication and credit memorandum writing skills.
• Ability to manage multiple transactions and deadlines simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Word, and commercial lending software platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with delegated lending programs such as SBA PLP.
• Knowledge of SBA servicing and liquidation requirements.
• Prior banking, credit administration, or government-guaranteed lending experience.
• Formal credit training preferred.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, or a related field preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Underwriting turnaround time.
• Credit quality and loan performance.
• SBA compliance and guaranty preservation.
• Accuracy and completeness of credit packages.
• Portfolio quality metrics.
• Productivity and volume of loans underwritten.
• Internal and external audit results.

EEO Statement:

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.