Coleman Report

July 28, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher SBA 7(a) Connect Call: 7(a)/504 Decoupled as ITL Volume Triples 7(a) First, Then 504.  Effective July 4, SBA decoupled 7(a) and 504 loan limits under Policy Notice 5000-879058. Structure the deal 7(a) first, then 504, and a borrower can now access the full statutory capacity of both programs…

July 27, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Main Street Monday: Small Banks Lead as Loan Approvals Hold at 52% Main Street lending conditions remained steady through early 2026 as loan approval rates held at 52 percent, borrowing costs eased, and loan performance remained strong, according to the SBA Office of Advocacy’s July edition of Small…

July 24, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Fraud Friday: Bank CFO Who Abused His Position to Orchestrate $4.3 Million Construction Loan Scheme Sentenced to Three Years in Federal Prison This is the follow up to our March report on the conviction of former Bank of the Valley Chief Financial Officer Aaron Luneke, who abused one…

July 23, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Movers & Shakers: Brian Harper, Jordan Landon, Jason Noble & Avidbank Brian Harper Named Managing Director of SBA Lending at Avidbank Brian Harper has joined Avidbank as Senior Vice President and Managing Director of SBA Lending, where he will lead the bank’s newly established SBA Lending division. Harper…

July 21, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher SBA Hot Topic Tuesday: Proposed $10 Million SBA 7(a) and 504 Loan Cap Models at Zero Subsidy — What Loeffler Told Congress Last Week SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler spent 90 minutes in front of House appropriators last Tuesday, and if you’re a 7(a) lender, this was the most…

July 22, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher A Coleman Conversation: Brent LeBlanc In this week’s episode of A Coleman Conversation, Bob Coleman sits down with Brent LeBlanc, Executive Vice President of Peachtree Group and Head of Growth for its SBA lending division, to discuss Peachtree’s entry into SBA 7(a) lending following its acquisition of First…

July 20, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Main Street Monday: Shutdown Hangover – 504 Lending Still Paying the Price for Washington’s 43 Day Shutdown Nine months into fiscal year 2026, SBA 504 lending is running below last year’s pace. The reason is not a weaker demand. The story of FY 2026 is the 43-day federal…

July 17, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Fraud Friday: 9 Fake Lien Waivers, Zero Work;  Muncie Contractor Indicted on $188,000 Construction Loan Draw Fraud  Today’s fraud is a small one by Fraud Friday standards. The fraud was $188,000. But it targeted the one control every construction lender relies on: the lien waiver. Richard Turner, 38,…

July 16, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher Movers & Shakers: Leland Willis, Amber Dorland & Echelon Bank Leland Willis Promoted to SBA Underwriting Team Lead at United Community United Community has promoted Leland Willis to SBA Underwriting Team Lead, recognizing the leadership role he has been performing since late 2024. In his expanded position, Willis…

July 14, 2026 Bob ColemanFounder & Publisher SBA Hot Topic Tuesday: East West Bank Backs Lendistry with $100 Million Credit Facility  How do non-bank lenders and CDFIs fund loans? Lendistry answers part of the question this week by announcing it has secured a new $100 million credit facility from East West Bank, along with a…