U.S. SBA Resources for Community Advantage Lenders

**Review Community Advantage Timeline Factsheet**​​​​

• May 28, 2025: SBA released a newer version of SOP 50 10 8 with Technical Updates and a Tracked Changes Version found on the SBA website, Box.com. The new SOP is effective June 1, 2025

• May 28, 2025: SBA released an Information Notice, Issuance of SOP 50 10 8 with Technical Updates effective June 1, 2025 and issuing another set of technical changes to SOP 50 10 8 replacing the version release on April 21, 2025. [See Information Notice 5000-866746] 

• May 5, 2025: SBA released a Policy Notice that reiterated CA SBLC requirements and added a new Capital Requirement effective May 15th: i.every CA SBLC must maintain, at a minimum, unencumbered paid-in-capital and paid-in surplus of at least $375,000, or 10 Percent of the aggregate of its share of all outstanding loans, whichever is greater; and ii. Beginning May 15, 2026, every CA SBLC must maintain, at a minimum, unencumbered paid-in-capital and paid-in surplus of at least $750,000, or 10 Percent of the aggregate of its share of all outstanding loans, whichever is greater. [See Policy Notice 5000-868068]

• April 21, 2025: SBA released an Information Notice, Issuance of SOP 50 10 8 effective June 1, 2025, reversing many of the prior administration’s changes to the 7(a) and 504 programs. [See Information Notice 5000-866746]

• April 15, 2025: SBA released a Procedural Notice with revisions to SOP 50 57 3.1 for SBA’s Processing of Lender Guaranty Purchase Requests and Certain Servicing Actions. [See Procedural Notice 5000-866946]

• March 26 2025: SBA released a Procedural Notice requiring lenders to enter the date of birth for all owners of an applicant business into E-Tran. [See Procedural Notice 5000-866498]

• March 24, 2025 - SBA issued a Procedural Notice to advise SBA Employees and 7(a) Community Advantage
  Small Business Lending Companies (CA SBLCs) that effective immediately SBA is rescinding SBA
  Procedural Notice 5000-864101 regarding the expansion of 7(a) loan ceiling for CA SBLCs above
  $500,000 and up to $2,000,000. [SBA Procedural Notice 5000-865355]

• January 15, 2025 - SBA issued a Procedural Notice to advise on the expanding the 7(a) loan ceiling for approved
  Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (CA SBLCs) and initiating a process to enable qualifying CA SBLCs) to apply to SBA for expansion of their 7(a) loan ceiling. [SBA Procedural Notice 5000-864101]

• September 19, 2024 - SBA made technical corrections to clarify SOP 50 57 3.1, 7(a) Loan Servicing and Liquidation, which became effective on August 1, 2023, some of which are identified within the SBA Information Notice, and which will result in the issuance of SOP 50 57 3.1 with an effective date of December 1, 2024 [SBA Information Notice 5000- 856113]

• July 23, 2024 - 7(a) Lender’s Annual Service Fee and the SBA Guaranty Fee (aka Upfront Fee) for Fiscal Year 2025, effective October 1, 2024 [SBA Information Notice 5000-858936]

• July 23, 2024 - This notice announces the SBA Guaranty Fee for SBA new 7(a) Working Capital Pilot Lines of Credit/loan Fees for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 [SBA Information Notice 5000-859410]

• July 12, 2024 - SBA Form 1919, Update for Criminal Justice Reviews, Final Rule [SBA Information Notice 5000-857390]

• June 24, 2024 - 7(a) and 504 loans to Cooperatives and valuation requirements for 7(a) loans to ESOPs for changes of ownership [SBA Procedural Notice 5000-858322]

• May 14, 2024 - 7(a) Loan Submission Checklist (For all 7(a) Loans submitted non-delegated through the LGPC)

• December 26, 2023 - Renewals and Updates of SBA Forms 1919, 1971, 2237; Introduction of New SBA Form 3518; and Elimination of SBA Forms 1920 and 2449 [SBA Information Notice 5000-852422]​

• December 6, 2023 - Updates to SOP 50 10 7.1, Lender and Development Company Loan Programs. This Notice also clarifies provisions related to the use of 7(a) loan proceeds to refinance the same institution debt [SBA Procedural Notice 5000-852522]

• October 15, 2023 - SBA released the revised SOP 50 10 7.1 for 7(a) and 504 programs. Effective on November 15, 2023 [SOP 50 10 7.1]

• October 5, 2023 - U.S. SBA issued a federal register notice to sunset the Community Advantage pilot program in 2023. The rule became effective on October 31, 2023 [88 FR 69003] 

• August 1, 2023 - The Universal Purchase Package (UPP) provides lenders with one document to request SBA honor its guaranty on all 7(a) loan types in their portfolio regardless of size and program type SBA’s summary PDF

• June 15, 2023 - SBA’s participation guidance for 7(a) Lenders and Certified Development Companies (CDCs), became effective, providing criteria for becoming an SBA Lender [SOP 50 56 1]

• May 31, 2023 - SBA notified 7(a) Lenders and SBA employees of the issuance of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) 50 57 3, 7(a) Loan Servicing and Liquidation, which became effective on August 1, 2023 [SBA Information Notice]

• May 26, 2023 - SBA delayed the implementation of new procedures for submitting loan terms and conditions to SBA until August 1, 2023, to coincide with the effective date of the new SOP 50 10 7 [SBA Procedural Notice] 

• May 10, 2023 - This update to the SOP provides additional guidance and incorporates revisions to conform to changes in SBA regulations and Loan Program Requirements. Effective on August 1, 2023 [SOP 50 10 7]

• May 9, 2023 - SBA implemented the removal of the requirement for a Loan Authorization in accordance with the final rule on the Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization [​SBA Procedural Notice] 

• May 9, 2023 - SBA addressed the implementation of the final rule on Affiliation and Lending Criteria for the Business Loan Programs in the 7(a) and 504 Loan Programs, along with an increase in the maximum loan amount for a 7(a) small loan to $500,000, effective May 11, 2023 [SBA Procedural Notice] 

• May 1, 2023 - OCRM initiated a program to enable CA lenders to become Community Advantage Small Business Lending Companies (CA SBLCs) [SBA Information Notice]

• April 12, 2023 - Final rule on the SBA's Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium Rescission and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization published [88 FR 21890] 

• November 7, 2022 - SBA issued a rescission on the Small Business Lending Company (SBLC) Moratorium and Removal of the Requirement for a Loan Authorization [87 FR 66963]

• September 29, 2022 - SBA amended its small business size regulations to incorporate OMB’s NAICS revisions for 2022, effective on October 1, 2022 [87 FR 59240] 

• ​July 5, 2022 - SBA proposed to amend its small business size regulations and incorporate OMB's NAICS Codes ​[87 FR 40034] ​

• June 30, 2022 - Final rule on program changes to all 7(a) & 504 programs became effective on August 1, 2022 [87 FR 38900]

• April 29, 2022 - SBA published notification of changes to Community Advantage Pilot Program. Effective May 31, 2022 [87 FR 25398] 

• April 1, 2022 - SBA extended the term of the CA Pilot Program through September 30, 2024 and allowed for new CA applications from Mission Lenders. Effective April 1, 2022 ​[87 FR 19165]

• September 12, 2018 - SBA placed a moratorium on accepting new CA Lender applications. Effective October 1, 2018 [83 FR 46237]

• December 28, 2015 - SBA extended the CA Pilot Program until March 31, 2020, and program changes were adopted including allowing changes made to CA delegated authority rules. Effective December 28, 2015 [80 FR 80872] 

• October 9, 2012 - The CA Pilot Program was extended to remain in effect until March 15, 2017. Effective November 9, 2012 [77 FR 67433] 

• February 8, 2012 - SBA increased the maximum allowable rate a CA Lender could charge a borrower to prime + 6%. CA Lenders were allowed to sell loans in the secondary market. SBA removed the initial examination/ review requirements. Effective February 8, 2012 [77 FR 6619]

• September 12, 2011 - SBA released the first CA Participant Guide and modified the program to permit CA Lenders to pledge loans made under the CA pilot as collateral for lender financings approved by SBA. Effective September 12, 2011 [76 FR 56262] 

• February 18, 2011 - SBA established the Community Advantage Pilot Program with the intent to expand access to capital for small businesses in underserved markets. Effective September 12, 2011 [76 FR 9626]​