About Us

We spent many years in major banks running small business lending units and learning what it takes to be successful in the competitive and changing small business lending industry. Because of our experience and focus, we provide the most efficient, flexible and knowledgeable service in the industry. Throughout our careers, we have been responsible for the funding of nearly $1 billion in SBA loans.

Heather Endresen

Beginning her banking career over 15 years ago in an independent bank in Orange County, California, Ms. Endresen learned every aspect of lending to small businesses from sales, to credit, selling on the secondary market, servicing and liquidations. Next she started an SBA lending unit for Glendale Federal Bank which became the fastest growing SBA lending unit in the country during its first year of operation. The unit remained successful as it expanded with 2 successive acquisitions by CalFed Bank and finally, Citibank. With Citibank, she was a Senior Vice President and National Director of SBA Lending responsible for the sales team and the centralized credit center. She left Citibank to spend more time with her two young children and later partnered with Catherine Jooyan to form Lender’s Option. Heather enjoys riding horses.

Catherine Jooyan began her banking career at Liberty National Bank in 1982. She quickly joined the SBA lending unit as a sales person. She later moved into Sales Management and within a few years she was in charge of the SBA department. Following an acquisition by Eldorado Bank, she was promoted to Executive Vice President in charge of the SBA Division. In this position, she was responsible for 15 sales people throughout California and a high volume underwriting, packaging and closing group. The bank sold all of their SBA loans into the secondary and so, she became an expert in increasing the bank’s revenue with secondary market sales. After three years, the bank was sold to Zion’s Bank and was known as California Bank and Trust. There, she was responsible for all sales in California. She managed 12 sales people in the state of California, in both 7a and 504 loan production. Catherine took time off to have her second child and then started Jinains, Inc. The company specialized in loan underwriting, packaging and other bank consulting services. Catherine partnered with Heather Endresen and Lender’s Option was formed.