Underwriting Framework

Transparent. Data-driven. Fair.

See exactly how we evaluate and score your application. No surprises, no hidden factors—just honest underwriting.

The CORE Framework: Three Stages, One Goal

Every PGI application goes through our proprietary CORE underwriting engine—a three-stage evaluation process designed to assess risk fairly and consistently. We evaluate the fundamentals of your business, grade your industry and operational continuity, and assess the geopolitical and regulatory environment where you operate.

The result is a single CORE score that reflects the true risk profile of your guarantee. No black box. No guessing. You submit your information, and our system evaluates it the same way every time.

1

Stage 1: CORE Risk Score

We evaluate 13 essential questions that measure your business fundamentals: revenue, profitability, cash flow, collateral, personal credit, and loan structure.

The 13 Essential Questions

  • Annual revenue
  • EBITDA (operating profit)
  • Business age and operating history
  • Loan amount being guaranteed
  • Personal guarantee exposure amount
  • Collateral value (appraised)
  • Enterprise value estimate
  • Personal credit score
  • Bankruptcy, insolvency, or judgment history
  • Loan type (SBA, term, line of credit, equipment, etc.)
  • Debt-to-income ratio
  • Ownership percentage in business
  • Interest rate and loan term
2

Stage 2: Industry Score

An underwriter grades your application based on your supported NAICS code, business plan, management experience, and continuity strategy—factors that can't be automated.

What the Underwriter Evaluates

  • Business Plan: Clarity, realism, and alignment with stated use of funds
  • Management Experience: Years in industry, relevant background, proven track record
  • Operational Continuity: Succession planning, key person backups, operational resilience
  • Industry Performance: Historical SBA data for your NAICS code (failure rates, average loan size, typical terms)
  • Financial Narrative: Explanation for any delinquencies, dips in revenue, or unusual patterns
  • Growth Trajectory: Is the business stable, declining, or growing? What's the outlook?
3

Stage 3: Geopolitical Score

We assess the regulatory environment, sanctions compliance, and geopolitical risk factors in your operating jurisdiction.

What We Evaluate

  • Jurisdiction Assessment: State or country where business operates; unique regulatory or economic conditions
  • Sanctions Compliance: OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control) screening for owners, business, and key stakeholders
  • Regulatory Environment: Pending regulatory changes, industry-specific rules, licensing requirements
  • Market Stability: Economic conditions, unemployment, cost of living, and business climate in region
  • Political Risk: Any geopolitical factors that could impact business stability or loan repayment

Why This Framework Works

Data-Driven, Not Arbitrary

Every question we ask maps directly to a financial or operational metric we can measure. We don't make gut calls. We don't penalize you for factors you can't control. Your score reflects the actual risk you represent to us.

Consistent Across All Applicants

The same framework, the same 13 questions, the same scoring rules apply to every applicant. A borrower in Texas gets evaluated the same way as one in California. This consistency is how we scale fairly.

Transparent Throughout

After you submit your application, you'll see your CORE score, the industry grade, and the key factors that moved your score. You'll understand why you were approved (or declined) and what you could change if you want to reapply.

Blends Human Judgment with Automation

The fundamentals (Stage 1) are calculated automatically from your answers. The industry score (Stage 2) is always reviewed by a human underwriter—because business judgment, continuity planning, and management quality can't be fully automated. The geopolitical assessment (Stage 3) is automated but escalated if needed.

Your Score Isn't Final Until Underwriting Is Complete

The CORE score you see in your app is indicative. Once our underwriter completes their review of Stage 2 and Stage 3, they may adjust the final score slightly based on factors that emerge during document review. This is rare—usually the final score aligns closely with your initial CORE score.

After Your CORE Score

Approval & Underwriting

If you pass Stage 1 eligibility gates and achieve a CORE score that fits our appetite, we move to underwriting. Our underwriter requests supporting documents (financial statements, tax returns, loan agreements, business plans) and completes their review of Stage 2 and Stage 3.

Quote & Coverage Offer

Once underwriting is complete, we issue a premium quote and coverage terms. This is based on your full risk profile and the amount of coverage you're requesting. You'll see the annual premium, the coverage limits, and any exclusions or special conditions.

Bind or Decline

You review the quote and decide. If you accept, you bind coverage (in some states, this is instant; in others, we issue a formal policy). If you decline, no problem—you can reapply anytime.

Coverage Active

Once bound, you're covered. If your personal guarantee is called, you file a claim. We handle the rest, subject to the policy terms.

Questions About Our Process?

Head over to our FAQ page for detailed answers to common questions about underwriting, eligibility, and how we evaluate applications.

Ready to see your score?

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