Director, Office of Financial Assistance
SBA
Daniel Pische is Director of the Office of Financial Assistance within the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Capital Access, where he leads the strategic planning, development, and modernization of the SBA 7(a), 504, and Microloan programs. As a member of the Senior Executive Service, he oversees commercial loan policies that support more than $50 billion in small business financing annually, driving job creation and investment in communities nationwide.
He leads new program development and major enhancements - including the Working Capital Pilot, Manufacturers’ Access to Revolving Credit (MARC), and the expansion of the International Trade Loan program - to streamline lender participation and better align SBA lending with the needs of today’s small businesses.
Prior to joining SBA, Daniel spent more than 15 years in commercial banking, where he led a Trade Finance Division and served on the bank’s Senior Loan Committee. He holds a BS in Finance from Northern Illinois University and is an Evans Scholar alumnus.
While the SBA has expanded capital access for high-growth businesses, its recent rule changes could present challenges for banks. While SBA borrowers can now combine 7(a) and 504 loan limits for up to $10 million—double the previous limit—banks must now meet more rigorous SBA-specific loan guidelines, reducing underwriting flexibility.
This session explores the specific implications of the SBA’s rule changes and how they will affect national and community banks. Industry practitioners will examine what has changed in underwriting standards, program eligibility, and compliance requirements—and what banks need to do to stay out in front of the wide-ranging implications of the new rules in place. The discussion will address how the most forward-looking lenders are turning regulatory change into a competitive advantage, and what their new small business lending playbook looks like.