Head-to-head
Baker Hill vs Abrigo for SBA lending: the two community bank LOS vendors compared
Baker Hill publishes the more precise SBA record: 7(a) with PLP, Express and CapLine named, Forms 1919 and 1920 from captured data, E-Tran submission with the loan number written back, and spreads, cash flow and the memo generated in the same system. Abrigo publishes the larger footprint: two named banks on its SBA page, a PPP result of 318 approved loans, and more than 400 credit union customers, with E-Tran through its API network and Forms 1919 and 1920 as PDFs, but only 7(a) named. Neither names 504 or publishes 1502 reporting.
Both sell to the same institutions and both put SBA inside a commercial workflow. One publishes a precise program list; the other publishes a larger footprint.
At a glance
Baker Hill
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Best for
- Banks and credit unions that want a conventional business loan converted to an SBA loan inside the same origination workflow
Abrigo
- Founded
- 2019
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Pricing
- Quote only
- Best for
- Community banks and credit unions that want SBA 7(a) decisioned in the same credit analysis suite as their other loans
Feature by feature
| Feature | Baker Hill | Abrigo | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Programs named | 7(a), Preferred Lender Program, Express, CapLine | 7(a) | Baker Hill |
| E-Tran | Submission without rekeying; SBA loan number and application number returned and stored | Integration via the Sageworks API network | Baker Hill |
| Forms | 1919 and 1920 populated from captured data | 1919 and 1920 as PDFs | Tie |
| Conversion from conventional | A business loan converts to an SBA loan with a click | SBA, personal and commercial loans aggregated on one platform | Baker Hill |
| Underwriting in the same system | Credit memos, cash flow analysis and spreads generated in NextGen | Spreading, global cash flow, risk rating and memo from the Sageworks suite | Tie |
| Servicing and 1502 | Not described; standard reports and dashboards | Not described | Tie |
| Named SBA lenders | None on the SBA sheet | Signature Bank of Georgia, Western States Bank | Abrigo |
| Institution count | 400+ financial institution clients per CCG Catalyst | More than 400 credit union customers on its own page | Tie |
| Closing documents | Loan data transfers to document preparation providers | Not described | Tie |
Choose Baker Hill if…
- Most of your SBA loans start life as conventional business requests
- PLP, Express or CapLine are in your mix and you want them named by the vendor
- You want the E-Tran loan number stored in the file without anyone typing it
- You already run Baker Hill for commercial lending
Choose Abrigo if…
- You already spread and rate risk in Sageworks
- You are a credit union and want the vendor with the largest published credit union footprint
- A named bank customer on the SBA page matters to your committee
- Your SBA program is 7(a) only and the credit analysis is where the time goes
Our take
These two sell to the same banks and credit unions and they publish their SBA capability in different currencies. Baker Hill's currency is precision: a two-page sheet that names four program variants, both forms, the E-Tran round trip including the returned loan number, and the memo and spreads generated in the same workflow that converts a conventional loan into an SBA one. Abrigo's currency is proof: two banks named, a customer's 318 PPP loans counted, and more than 400 credit unions, attached to a shorter capability statement that names only 7(a). Both leave the same holes: no 504, no 1502, no published price, and closing documents handled outside the platform in Baker Hill's case and not described in Abrigo's. The institution already running one of them should take that one's module. A new buyer choosing between them for SBA should ask Baker Hill for the named customer its sheet lacks and ask Abrigo for the program list its page lacks, and decide on whichever gap gets filled.
Frequently asked questions
Which one handles Express and PLP?
Baker Hill names both, with CapLine, on its SBA sheet. Abrigo names 7(a) only.
Which one has more named SBA customers?
Abrigo names two banks on its SBA page. Baker Hill's SBA sheet names none, though CCG Catalyst puts its overall client base at 400 or more institutions.
Ledgers carrying both
- SBA Lending Software Ranked for 7(a) and 504 Lenders · Baker Hill #6, Abrigo #5
- Best SBA Lending Software for Community Banks · Baker Hill #2, Abrigo #4
- Best SBA Lending Software for Credit Unions · Baker Hill #4, Abrigo #3
- Best SBA Loan Underwriting Software · Baker Hill #3, Abrigo #6
- Best SBA Loan Servicing and 1502 Reporting Software · Baker Hill #2, Abrigo #4