Would This Loan Get Approved? The SBA Lender Perspective

Event description

oin us for a discussion-based webinar where we move beyond theory and walk through a realistic loan scenario — through the eyes of two SBA lenders.

In this live, podcast-style session, we're joined by Michele Vervlied, EVP & Director of Government Guaranteed Lending at Customers Bank, and Steve Salomon, Vice President, Business Banking at M&T Bank to break down a loan scenario and walk through exactly how a lender evaluates the request. You'll hear what catches a lender's eye first, which financial details carry the most weight, and the red flags that borrowers routinely underestimate.

As we work through the loan scenario, the lenders will explain how credit, cash flow, owner investment, collateral, and management experience all fit together — what makes a lender comfortable, what raises questions, and where borrowers most often run into trouble when trying to secure capital.

Rather than a formal presentation or sales pitch, this is built as an open, candid conversation: walking through the request, breaking down what stands out, and showing how a lender thinks long before an application ever reaches underwriting.

In this session, you'll learn to:

- See a loan request the way an SBA lender does
- Spot the weaknesses that stall or sink an application
- Understand which problems are fixable — and which ones aren't
- Recognize how cash flow, credit, and owner investment work together
- Know when to bring in the SBDC Team to help you prepare

It's ideal for entrepreneurs starting, buying, or expanding a business — and for owners who want a practical, real-world look at their financing options before approaching a lender.

Speakers: Steve Salomon, M&T Bank; Michele Vervlied, Customer's Bank