When Historical Cash Flow Isn’t Enough: Can You Approve the SBA 7(a) Loan? — Thurs, July 30
Writing the Credit Memo That Supports Approval When Repayment Depends on Projections
A Coleman Professional Training Webinar
Date: Thursday, July 30, 2026
Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern
Includes e-certification & recording
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Every experienced SBA lender eventually encounters the same underwriting challenge.
Historical financial performance does not fully support the requested financing, yet the borrower presents a compelling case that future cash flow will be materially stronger.
Business acquisitions, startups, ownership transitions, expansion projects, and new product launches often require lenders to determine whether projected cash flow provides a sufficient basis for loan approval.
More importantly, can you prepare a credit memorandum that clearly demonstrates why projected repayment, not historical cash flow, provides reasonable assurance of repayment under SBA standards?
SOP 50 10 8 recognizes that repayment may be supported by projected financial performance. It also requires lenders to evaluate the assumptions underlying those projections, determine whether future cash flows are reasonably achievable, and document why the projected repayment provides sufficient support for approval.
In this practical webinar, former Chief Credit Officer Michael Bland explains how experienced SBA lenders make those decisions. Using actual underwriting examples, he demonstrates when projected repayment may support loan approval, what analysis SBA expects, and how to prepare a credit memorandum that clearly documents the lender’s repayment analysis and approval recommendation.
What You’ll Learn
• When SBA permits lenders to rely on projected repayment
• When historical cash flow may no longer be the best indicator of repayment ability
• How to evaluate management’s assumptions and projected cash flow
• How GP lenders strengthen SBA submissions and PLP lenders document delegated lending decisions
• How to prepare the repayment analysis section of the credit memorandum
• Common weaknesses that undermine projection-based loan requests
• How to build a credit file that supports approval and withstands SBA review
Your Instructor
Michael Bland
Chief Credit Officer
Michael Bland has spent more than 30 years underwriting, reviewing, and approving SBA loans, including serving as Chief Credit Officer for leading SBA lending institutions, and currently with Lendesca. Drawing on decades of real-world experience, Michael explains how experienced credit officers evaluate projected repayment, challenge management assumptions, and document credit decisions that satisfy SBA underwriting standards.
Who Should Attend
Designed for SBA underwriters, Chief Credit Officers, SBA managers, commercial lenders, credit analysts, credit administration professionals, and loan committee members responsible for approving SBA credit requests.
How the Webinar Works
We use Microsoft Teams as the webinar platform. All Coleman webinars are recorded and a link is sent to all attendees.
Single Site License
The single site license grants your institution one viewing of the webinar. It is permissible to use a single site license on one device in a conference room to be viewed by multiple attendees The webinar can be viewed on any device.
Multiple Site License
A multiple site license is an unlimited access pass for anyone at your institution. You will be given a link that will be usable to anyone with your email domain.
Webinar Links and Handouts
The webinar link will be sent out prior to the session, and included again when we send the presentation and handouts.
Participants Earn Certificates of Participation
All Coleman Webinar attendees will receive a certificate of participation. This documents your continuing education history for SBA and your regulators.
Questions
Questions throughout the webinar are strongly encouraged. There are two ways to ask a question. The first is to ask the question via the chat in Microsoft Teams. The second is to send an email to anna@colemanreport.com. Also, feel free to ask pre and post-webinar questions.
The Fine Print
1) Substitutions are allowed at no charge.
2) Cancellations receive a 100% credit for any Coleman product.
3) As with all our products, we offer a 100% money back satisfaction guarantee — no questions asked.
3 Easy Ways to Order
1) ONLINE — Register and pay online via QuickBooks
2) EMAIL –Send an email to cindy@colemanreport.com with “Webinar Registration” in the Subject Line. We will do all the paperwork and either send you a sales receipt or an invoice.
3) PHONE — Call us at 818-974-8934.
Bob Coleman
Publisher, Coleman Report
bob@colemanreport.com