# Do you apply for an SBA loan with SBA or with a lender?

**Short answer:** With a lender for most SBA business loans. 13 CFR 120.190 sends 7(a) applicants to a lender, 504 applicants to a Certified Development Company and microloan applicants to an intermediary. Only direct loans go to SBA.

Canonical page: https://www.sbaexpress.loans/answers/do-you-apply-for-an-sba-loan-with-sba-or-a-lender/
Last checked: 2026-11-09

With a lender, for most SBA business loans. 13 CFR 120.190 names where to apply by program:

- **7(a) loans:** a Lender.
- **504 loans:** a Certified Development Company, or CDC.
- **Microloans:** an Intermediary.
- **Direct loans:** SBA.

## What SBA says

SBA's 7(a) page says you apply directly through a local lender and always work with your lender, not SBA (read November 8, 2026). Its 504 page says those loans are available exclusively through CDCs.

Disaster loans are different. SBA's disaster page tells applicants to apply online with SBA.

## Finding a participating lender

SBA points applicants to its Lender Match tool and to local District Offices (sba.gov/loans/7a-loans). SBA's lender page describes Lender Match as a referral tool for lenders and borrowers.

A 7(a) Lender is an institution with a participation agreement with SBA (13 CFR 120.10). SBA lists banks, savings and loans, credit unions and other specialized lenders (sba.gov/sba-lenders).

## Not every lender offers every program

- SBA Express requires separate authority (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2, p. 125).
- Delegated processing requires its own approval (13 CFR 120.440).

Ask each lender which SBA programs it makes and whether it can process your loan itself.

## Sources

- [13 CFR § 120.190](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.190)
- [13 CFR § 120.10](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.10)
- [13 CFR § 120.440](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/section-120.440)
- [SBA, 7(a) loans, sba.gov/loans/7a-loans (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/loans/7a-loans/)
- [SBA, 504 loans, sba.gov/loans/504-loans (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/loans/504-loans/)
- [SBA, disaster loans, sba.gov/disaster (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/disaster/)
- [SBA, Terms, conditions and eligibility for 7(a) lenders, sba.gov/sba-lenders (read November 8, 2026)](https://www.sba.gov/sba-lenders)
- [SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. B, Ch. 2 (p. 125)](https://legacy.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2026-10/SOP%2050%2010%208.1%20Technical%20Policy%20Updates%20effective%20%2010.1.2026.docx)