Two U.S. Bank lenders with 38 years between them on what makes a loan application stand out, what to bring to the first meeting, and why the most common mistake owners make is waiting until they need the money.
Answered by Allison Mann and Marialuisa Tame
October 19, 2026 · 7 min read
Ryan put eight questions to Allison "Ally" Mann and Marialuisa "Kikis" Tame, who handle SBA lending and business banking for U.S. Bank out of Bellevue. Between them they have 38 years in lending and have seen a lot of applications, good and bad. Here is what they said.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? What's your role, how long have you been in lending, and what kinds of businesses do you typically work with?
Ally: I'm a Business Development Officer with U.S. Bank, specializing in SBA lending. My role is to help small business owners find financing solutions that support their goals, whether that's purchasing a business, acquiring commercial real estate, buying equipment, refinancing debt, or accessing working capital.
I started in U.S. Bank's SBA Division 16 years ago and one of the things I enjoy most about SBA lending is that every business has a unique story. I work with a wide range of industries, including professional services, healthcare practices, construction companies, manufacturers, retailers, and many other owner operated businesses. My job is to understand where a business is today, where it wants to go, and then help structure financing that supports that growth.
What funding options are available to small businesses today? Walk us through the main ones, such as term loans, lines of credit, SBA loans, and equipment financing. How does an owner know which one fits their goal, whether that's expanding, making upgrades, or consolidating debt?
Ally: Small business owners have more financing options available today than many people realize. The best solution really depends on the purpose of the funding, and U.S. Bank has a wide range of products available.
I specifically work in the SBA Division. We offer both 7a and 504 loans, and we're a PLP lender, meaning we can approve loans on behalf of the SBA in house.
Within the 7a program, we can provide non real estate loans for startups, business acquisitions, equipment, working capital, and lines of credit. We also offer the 7a pari passu loan, which allows us to lend up to $7MM. 7a loans can also be used to purchase commercial real estate, or consolidate debt.
The 504 loan can only be used to purchase commercial real estate or large pieces of equipment, and we have no cap on how large we can go on a 504 loan.
My job is to assess your financial position, and recommend what product fits best.
What are you looking for when you review a loan application? What makes an application stand out, and what are the red flags that make you hesitate?
Ally and Kikis: When reviewing a loan request, we're looking at the overall story behind the business. Strong applications clearly demonstrate how the business generates revenue, manages expenses, and will comfortably repay the loan.
Applications stand out when owners provide organized financial information, understand their numbers, and can clearly explain the purpose of the financing. We also like to see a track record of responsible credit management and evidence that ownership has invested time, effort, and capital into the business.
Some common red flags include incomplete financial information, inconsistent revenue trends that aren't explained, excessive debt obligations, recurring overdrafts, or situations where a borrower doesn't have a clear plan for the funds they're requesting.
At the end of the day, lenders want confidence that the business has the ability and willingness to repay the loan.
What should an owner have ready before they walk into the bank? Which documents, financials, or numbers make the process go smoothly?
Ally and Kikis: The more prepared you are, the smoother the process tends to be. Typically, we recommend having:
The above documents allow me to get a clear picture of the transaction as a whole, before it goes into underwriting.
Beyond the documents, owners should be prepared to discuss their business model, customer base, growth plans, and how the financing will help achieve specific business goals.
When should a business owner start talking to their banker? Is there a benefit to building that relationship before they actually need money?
Ally and Kikis: Absolutely. One of the best times to talk to a banker is before you need financing. Building a relationship early gives your banker time to understand your business, your goals, and your long term plans.
When opportunities come up, whether that's purchasing property, buying a competitor, or investing in growth, having an established banking relationship can make the process more efficient because your banker is already familiar with your business.
Additionally, these conversations often help business owners prepare for future financing needs by identifying opportunities to strengthen financial reporting, improve cash flow, or position the business for larger financing requests down the road.
When does consolidating or refinancing debt make sense for a small business? And when is it better to leave things as they are?
Ally and Kikis: Debt consolidation or refinancing can make a lot of sense when it improves cash flow, reduces interest expense, simplifies monthly payments, or aligns repayment terms with the life of the assets being financed.
For example, a business that has accumulated multiple short term loans with high monthly payments may benefit from refinancing into a longer term structure that creates additional monthly cash flow.
However, refinancing isn't always the right answer. If the existing debt already has favorable rates and terms, or if the costs associated with refinancing outweigh the benefits, maintaining the current structure may be the better choice.
The decision should always be based on whether the transaction improves the overall financial position of the business, which is the first thing I double check when working with customers.
What options are there for newer businesses or owners with less than perfect credit? Are there programs or approaches that help them qualify?
Ally and Kikis: Newer businesses and borrowers with credit challenges still have options.
SBA loan programs were designed in part to help expand access to capital for small businesses that may not fit traditional conventional lending guidelines. Depending on the situation, factors like industry experience, available collateral, cash flow projections, a strong business plan, or an equity injection can help strengthen a loan request.
For newer businesses, lenders often place significant emphasis on management experience and the owner's ability to execute the business plan.
For borrowers with past credit issues, it's important to disclose everything, and be upfront about it. Lenders understand that life and business don't always go exactly as planned. Demonstrating that past issues have been resolved and that recent financial management has been strong can make a huge difference.
What's the most common mistake you see owners make when they seek funding? If you could give one piece of advice to someone about to apply, what would it be?
Ally and Kikis: The most common mistake is waiting too long.
Many business owners don't start exploring financing until they are facing an immediate need or deadline. That can limit available options and create unnecessary stress.
If I could offer one piece of advice, start the conversation early.
You don't need perfect financials or a finalized project to speak with a banker. A good banking partner can help you understand what financing options are available, what information you'll need, and how to position your business for success.
The earlier those conversations happen, the more opportunities you'll typically have available when it's time to move forward.
This column is general information from people who work in the field, not financial, legal or tax advice, and it is not an offer of credit. Every business is different. Talk to a qualified professional about your own situation before making a decision.
Nikki Belt, Anchor & Keel Consulting
Nikki spent 20 years in operations, from nonprofits to Google, and went in to her last corporate role already expecting the layoff. She talks about why a new tool almost never fixes the problem owners hire it to fix.
James Shin, CBI, First Choice Business Brokers, Seattle Metro, Seattle, WA
James left a Fortune 500 IT career to broker business sales across the Seattle metro. He talks about the weight of having agents depend on you, and why the owners who sell well started preparing years earlier.
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