Kristjan Prima is Senior Vice President and Director of SBA Lending at Hyperion Bank, bringing deep expertise, personal passion and strategic insight to small business financing. Based out of Hyperion’s historic Philadelphia HQ, Kristjan leads the bank’s SBA team with a focus on expanding access to capital for entrepreneurs throughout the region while ensuring that the SBA program guidelines are adhered to/credit quality is protected as he envisions the bank continuing to grow.

U.S. Small Business Administration loans are government-backed and offered through financial institutions to help small businesses access financing for various needs, including but not limited to business expansion, debt refinance, working capital and real estate purchases. Kristjan works with customers who have one dream in mind: to grow their businesses and provide for their families, which is the power of the SBA loan program and why Kristjan is such a great addition to a bank like Hyperion. It has a straightforward goal: to be THE community bank.

“Kristjan brings an incredible work ethic, entrepreneurial spirit and real-world experience to our customers,” says Lou DeCesare, Hyperion President & COO. “His leadership is helping us further our best-in-class SBA lending program that’s responsive, thoughtful and deeply rooted in community impact.”

A native of Toms River, New Jersey, Kristjan is a second-generation small business champion. He finds inspiration in his family’s story – starting with his grandfather’s immigration from Estonia after surviving living in Nazi Germany after escaping communism at 10 years old in Estonia. This family history inspired his deep respect for hard work, resilience and opportunity. That legacy continued when his father launched a successful homebuilding business, instilling in Kristjan a firsthand understanding of the grit and determination behind every small business success.

“I grew up in a small business household,” Kristjan says. “I saw the sacrifice, the hustle and the drive it takes to build something from the ground up. That’s what motivates me to support other business owners in achieving their dreams.”

Kristjan combines that passion with rigorous expertise. He holds a master’s degree, will add a second one when he graduates from Georgetown in May 2026, and is known for his analytical approach, market awareness and relentless commitment to customer success. Since joining Hyperion in May, he has already built a robust SBA loan pipeline of over $20 million – proof that his mission is in motion.

When he’s not working with customers or structuring loans, Kristjan enjoys giving back through volunteer work, studying market trends and staying active in the community. He describes himself as “always learning, always building and always fighting for the small business owner.”

At Hyperion Bank, he sees a perfect match: “We’re a community bank built around people, and people build businesses. That’s the heartbeat of everything we do.”