What Does the Banking Meltdown Mean for SBA Loans
With the meltdown of SVB and Signature banks and other banks teetering it may affect SBA loans in the future and current loans as well.
Small business owners who mismanage their finances could default on their Small Business Administration loan. To default, they must become delinquent for ninety days. At this point, their lender could exceed standard collection practices. These actions could include seizure of business assets such as bank accounts and real properties. A SBA Offer in Compromise could give the business owner an opportunity for settling the debt without serious repercussions.
After the SBA loan default, the lender notifies the borrower of probable action if they don't contact the lender and make arrangements for payment. The borrower has a deadline for these measures and should contact their attorney quickly. Once they have the SBA demand letter, their attorney could negotiate a settlement. Since the seizure process could increase the lender's costs, they are more likely to accept an appropriate offer.
Once the delinquency reaches ninety days, the loan enters default. At this stage, the lender is within their rights to acquire assets and the collateral used to secure the loan. They conduct the seizure process to acquire a balance that reflects what is owed by the borrower. Since the SBA is a government agency, they have federal rights and take action accordingly.
Any property listed on the loan documentation as collateral is seized immediately. This includes automobiles, real property, and business accounts. If this value doesn't reflect the balance owed, the agency could acquire more property and assets. Through a SBA loan foreclosure, they could acquire the borrower's primary residence if it was purchased with company funds.
A tax offset is a settlement in which the consumer could use their tax refunds to pay the balance. The lender seizes their tax refunds each year until the balance is paid off. If the borrower is behind on their tax payments, their attorney could acquire a settlement for the outstanding balance. A Tax Offset Program could help these consumers.
Small business owners should follow strategies for avoiding the effects of a SBA default. These actions could equate to total seizure of the business assets and properties. Business owners who wish to avoid these circumstances should contact an attorney now.
Millions of Dollars in SBA Debts Resolved via Offer in Compromise and Negotiated Repayment Agreements without our Clients filing for Bankruptcy or Facing Home Foreclosure
Millions of Dollars in Treasury Debts Defended Against via AWG Hearings, Treasury Offset Program Resolution, Cross-servicing Disputes, Private Collection Agency Representation, Compromise Offers and Negotiated Repayment Agreements
Our Attorneys are Authorized by the Agency Practice Act to Represent Federal Debtors Nationwide before the SBA, The SBA Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Treasury Department, and the Bureau of Fiscal Service.
Our firm successfully negotiated an SBA offer in compromise (SBA OIC), settling a $974,535.93 SBA loan balance for just $18,000. The offerors, personal guarantors on an SBA 7(a) loan, originally obtained financing to purchase a commercial building in Lancaster, California.
The borrower filed for bankruptcy, and the third-party lender (TPL) foreclosed on the property. Despite the loan default, the SBA pursued the offerors for repayment. Given their limited income, lack of significant assets, and approaching retirement, we presented a strong case demonstrating their financial hardship.
Through strategic negotiations, we secured a favorable SBA settlement, reducing the nearly $1 million debt to a fraction of the amount owed. This outcome allowed the offerors to resolve their liability without prolonged financial strain.
Clients obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $324,000 to buy a small business and its facility. The business and real estate had an appraisal value of $318,000 at the time of purchase. The business ultimately failed but the participating lender abandoned the business equipment and real estate collateral even though it had valid security liens. As a result, the lender recouped nearly nothing from the pledged collateral, leaving the business owners liable for the deficiency balance. The SBA paid the lender the 7(a) guaranty money and was assigned ownership of the debt, including the right to collect. However, the clients never received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and were denied the opportunity to negotiate an Offer in Compromise (OIC) or a Workout directly with the SBA before being transferred to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service, which added an additional $80,000 in collection fees. Treasury garnished and offset the clients' wages, federal salary and social security benefits. When the clients tried to negotiate with Treasury by themselves, they were offered an unaffordable repayment plan which would have caused severe financial hardship. Clients subsequently hired the Firm to litigate an Appeals Petition before the SBA Office & Hearings Appeals (OHA) challenging the legal enforceability and amount of the debt. The Firm successfully negotiated a term OIC that was approved by the SBA Office of General Counsel, saving the clients approximately $205,000.
Client received the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice for a loan that was obtained by her small business in 2001. The SBA loan went into default in 2004 but after hearing nothing from the SBA lender or the SBA for 20 years, out of the blue, she received the SBA's collection due process notice which provided her with only one of four options: (1) repay the entire accelerated balance immediately; (2) negotiate a repayment arrangement; (3) challenge the legal enforceability of the debt with evidence; or (4) request an OHA hearing before a U.S. Administrative Law Judge.
Client hired the Firm to represent her with only 13 days left before the expiration deadline to respond to the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice. The Firm attorneys immediately researched the SBA's Official loan database to obtain information regarding the 7(a) loan. Thereafter, the Firm attorneys conducted legal research and asserted certain affirmative defenses challenging the legal enforceability of the debt. A written response was timely filed to the 60-Day Notice with the SBA subsequently agreeing with the client's affirmative defenses and legal arguments. As a result, the SBA rendered a decision immediately terminating collection of the debt against the client's alleged personal guarantee liability saving her $50,000.
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