The aim of this paper was to introduce a model of the loan process in relation to the segment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In this context, the status and importance of open problems of internal rating models of commercial banks in the process of SME credit risk management was analyzed. In the next stage, based on the data that was obtained by us, a custom IRM for the SMEs segment was created and its quality was tested, respectively its limitations were defined as well. In the final phase our own innovative methodological proposal for loan process management for SMEs was introduced. A model of the loan process has been designed to ensure optimization of credit decisions, a reasonable rate of effectiveness of lending practices and a reasonable rate of individual commercial banks approach to the SME segment.