This kind of thing sounds like a lender preference.  Ever since the Dodd Frank Act tightened lending practices, bankers have been more hamstrung issuing loans, and they sometimes add their own internal rules.

I'm not a big fan of bankers for how they didn't pay agent fees on PPP loans, and how they want us to write comfort letters to do their due diligence work for them, yet give no thought to compensating us amidst all the other professionals who do get paid via escrow when a loan closes.  Rant for today.

Hang in there. I wouldn't change anything in your SOP yet.