The SBA has been providing small businesses with loans since its creation in 1953. The SBA provides loans to businesses by backing lender-issued loans and guaranteeing payment of the loan in the event of an SBA loan default. Guaranteeing the loan means that, should the business default on the loan, the SBA will guaranty the bank’s ability to recover any outstanding loan funds by “purchasing the guaranty.”
In other words, the SBA will pay to the bank the remainder due on the loan, and in essence, acts almost like an insurance company. The entire process is referred to as SBA loan liquidation. By engaging in this process, the lender shifts the risk of loss of the SBA loan default to the SBA while still retaining control over loan administration and servicing during the time the loan is still active.
There are two (2) main types of SBA loans: 7(a) and 504. A 7(a) loan is a lender-issued loan that can be used by a small business for a variety of different purposes, such as working capital. A 504 loan typically involves a senior loan issued by a lender and a junior loan issued by a Certified Development Company (“CDC”) along with mandatory contribution by the Borrower. This type of loan may only be used for major, fixed assets, such as buildings or land.
The complex procedures for liquidating a 7(a) or 504 loan are very similar, but there are differences that Borrowers, Obligors and Personal Guarantors should know – especially, if they are confronting payment problems and imminent SBA loan default, and want to settle SBA debt.
SBA Loan Default & The Liquidation Process
How The Lender Classifies a loan as in liquidation status.
The first step in liquidating any loan is to confirm that it qualifies for liquidation under applicable SBA Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). There are eight general categories for classifying an SBA loan in liquidation status:
Once it has been determined that the loan qualifies for liquidation, notice must be sent to the appropriate Commercial Loan Service Center (CLSC) requesting transfer of the loan to liquidation status. Loans originating in the eastern or mid-eastern United States are referred to the service center in Little Rock, Arkansas; loans made in the western or mid-western United States are handled by the service center in Fresno, California. Please refer to the SBA website at www.sba.gov for more information and to obtain the appropriate mailing addresses. Requesting a transfer means the loan will be moved from the Commercial Loan Service Center to the National Guaranty Purchase Center to await further information from the Lender. Transfer into liquidation status does not affect the Lender’s need to continue reporting the loan on any required monthly or quarterly reports created by the Lender.
Performing a Physical Site Visit
The SBA requires that a physical site visit be performed for any loan that has been transferred to liquidation status if the loan is secured, recoverable personal property will be greater than $2,500 or recoverable real property is valued at more than $5,000.
If a site visit is required, it must be performed within 60 days of an uncured payment default or within 15 days of any adverse event that caused the transfer to liquidation, such as the business shutting down or bankruptcy being filed.
The ability for the Lender to conduct a physical site visit is typically contained within the default provisions of the Note and/or Security Agreement. Generally, the language will require that, upon an SBA loan default, the Borrower must make available all pledged collateral for visual inspection by the Lender. A site visit should be coordinated between the Lender and the Borrow, or each party’s respective counsel. It is likely the situation will arise where the Borrower is either uncooperative or cannot be contacted to schedule a site visit. If the Borrower fails to cooperate, the Lender may repossess the collateral without the Borrower’s cooperation so long as the means used do not breach the peace. Otherwise, legal action may be required to enforce any contractual default provisions and gain access to the property. A Lender must also consider taking any steps necessary to protect the pledged collateral. If a Borrower is being evasive, the likelihood that the collateral will either disappear or be destroyed greatly increases. The Lender will most likely consider moving for an injunction or a temporary restraining order to keep the Borrower from absconding with the collateral or otherwise engaging in any activities that may jeopardize recovery. If a Borrower engages in this type of negative conduct or behavior, it makes it more difficult, if not impossible, for the Borrower and personal guarantors to obtain an SBA OIC (Offer in Compromise) in the future and/or settle SBA debt.
Any and all information obtained from a physical site visit will be documented in a report that will be provided to the SBA at a later time. Some items to consider when conducting a site visit include taking a full inventory of all collateral, identifying any occupants if real property is collateral, reviewing any environmental risks that may need to be dealt with and reviewing the Borrower’s books for proper usage of the loan funds.
When a Lender conducts a site visit, it will usually catalog all collateral that remains in the Borrower’s possession and come up with a plan for preserving the collateral. If this is not done, there may be issues when reporting the site visit to the SBA, such as undervaluing or failing to properly care for or prevent theft of collateral. Any such issues may delay, or even hinder, a Lender’s ability to recover the outstanding balance of the loan under the guaranty.
Requesting Reassignment of a 504 Loan and Purchasing the Debenture
If a CDC is the party responsible for collecting on the loan, the loan must be reassigned from the SBA to the CDC. The CDC must make this request prior to taking any liquidation or litigation action. The request must include the reason for the reassignment, the loan documents to be reassigned and a litigation plan if litigation is contemplated.
Any time after reassignment, and at its sole discretion, the SBA may reassign loan documents back to the SBA and take over liquidating the loan. Under these circumstances, the CDC is required to return all reassigned loan documents back to the SBA
The debenture, or bond guaranteeing the debt, should also be purchased by the SBA before the CDC engages in any collection methods. The CDC must submit a written request to the SBA for the purchase to be made. After purchase, the SBA will notify the CDC that purchase has been completed to allow the CDC to proceed with liquidation and/or litigation. This process can be very convoluted and it is extremely important for the Borrower, Obligor or Personal Guarantor to document any and all communications with the Lender or CDC as there are several lender liability and misrepresentation issues that could help as part of any future leveraged negotiations for an SBA OIC, SBA debt settlement or other compromise.
Liquidating Assets
In many cases, before a Lender can liquidate collateral, a liquidation plan must be created and submitted to the SBA for approval. Such cases include where the loan was authorized under a Certified Lender Program (CLP), the collateral is being sold to associates of the Lender or a sale to associates of the Borrower. In any other case, a liquidation plan is recommended for internal use by the Lender to organize the process, but is not required for submission to the SBA. The liquidation plan is created immediately after a physical site visit is conducted and, if so required for submission to the SBA, the plan is submitted as quickly as possible. In the case of a 504 loan, a liquidation plan must be completed and submitted for approval in all cases within 30 days of purchase of the debenture.
Once a liquidation plan is created, and approved if necessary, liquidation of any collateral begins at once to avoid any further depreciation in value or the risk of losing the collateral to a problematic Borrower. The Lender takes possession and arranges for liquidation by any “commercially reasonable” means.
If the Borrower denies the Lender access to collateral for repossession and liquidation, it should be noted that UCC § 9-609 requires taking possession of collateral without judicial process by means that do not constitute a breach of the peace. Therefore, all precautionary steps will be taken to ensure that liquidation proceeds in the most reasonable, and peaceable, of manners. In the case of a Borrower blocking the Lender’s ability to repossess, judicial means will be necessary, such as an action for replevin.
Litigation as a Means of Recovery
A Lender may also file a civil action against the Borrower to recover under the loan, such as an action for monetary damages on the note or a foreclosure action on any real property securing the loan. If litigation is contemplated, the SBA requires a litigation plan be created and submitted for approval if the litigation is anticipated to be non-routine or if legal fees will likely exceed $10,000. In all other cases, a litigation plan is not required but may be helpful for internal use by the Lender and/or its legal counsel.
During the course of any litigation, copies of any significant pleadings are submitted to the SBA. Significant pleadings include counterclaims, final judgments, etc. Also, if any material changes take place during the pendency of the case that were not addressed in the original litigation plan, or if fees increase by 15% or more, an amended litigation plan will have to be submitted to the SBA for approval before continuing with the case.
There is no requirement by the SBA to engage in litigation to collect on the SBA loan. If litigation is included in the plan for recovery, the SBA requires that the litigation be necessary, reasonable and customary for the locality as well as cost effective. If a judgment is obtained, the SBA requires that any non-exempt assets be executed on within 90 days of entry of the judgment, if possible, and the judgment be recorded in any state the Borrower has assets. Even though litigation is not a requirement, it is generally the best method for collecting on the note if liquidation is not feasible to recover a significant portion of the debt owed. Filing suit on the note, especially when there is a personal guaranty involved, can push the Borrower into making payments. Also, if payments are not forthcoming, it can expand the road for recovery by opening up the ability to collect on the SBA guarantor’s personal assets.
In the situation where a bankruptcy action is pending against the Borrower or any personal guarantors, the Lender has the responsibility of keeping up-to-date on the bankruptcy action and intervening where necessary to protect its investment. This includes filing a proof of claim and participating in the litigation as necessary to avoid discharge of the debt.
Purchasing an SBA 7(a) Guaranty
In the case of an SBA 7(a) loan, the SBA will guaranty that the entire loan, or a portion of the loan, will be assumed and repaid by the SBA upon Borrower’s SBA loan default. The Lender is required to request the SBA purchase the guaranteed portion of the loan, thereby being paid for whatever remains outstanding on the loan balance after all other roads of recovery have been exhausted. A request for purchase of the guaranty should not be made until after all collateral has been liquidated and litigation and collection efforts have ceased. There is no requirement that a judgment be obtained or all possible collection actions taken, but the SBA will review the purchase package for such items if litigation was performed. Failing to take reasonable and cost effective avenues of recovery may delay, or even permit a denial of the request, until such steps are taken. Lenders are usually wise to exhaust all potential collection methods, such as discovery and garnishment, before requesting an SBA guaranty purchase.
If a Lender has sold the loan to an investor on the secondary market, the SBA will often request that the Lender purchase back the guaranteed potion of the loan. Alternatively, the Lender can submit a request to have the SBA purchase the guaranteed portion of the loan directly from the secondary market investor. If the SBA is the direct purchaser, the Lender must submit a loan status report to the SBA within 15 days after the guaranty is purchased and the standard purchase package within 45 days of the purchase. Therefore, whether the SBA purchases the guaranty from the Lender or a secondary market investor, the Lender must still submit a purchase package to the SBA for review and entry into their files.
Recovering Expenses
The SBA provides a means and method of recovering expenses incurred in the liquidation of collateral or during litigation. Some items that can be recovered include appraisal fees, any measures taken to preserve collateral and litigation expenses, such as costs and attorney’s fees. Expenses can be recovered by either deducting the expenses from any money recovered from the Borrower or by submitting a request for reimbursement to the SBA. In the case of a 504 loan, the CDC may also submit a request to the SBA for it to directly pay a vendor for services rendered.
A request for reimbursement is submitted to the proper SBA Loan Center using the Tab System for a 7(a) loan. A 504 loan request may be a simple letter but must include the CDC contact information, a summary of expenses, itemized invoices and any supporting documentation. Expenses that are less than $5,000 should be compiled and submitted quarterly or whenever the aggregate reaches greater than $5,000. Any individual expense that exceeds $5,000 may be submitted at any time.
Wrapping Up Liquidation
Once liquidation and litigation have been concluded, the guaranty has been purchased and all available methods for collecting on the loan from the Borrower have been completed, the Lender will then prepare a final wrap-up report. The Lender must create and submit to the SBA a report detailing all efforts made and outcomes achieved through the liquidation process. This report must be submitted within 90 days of completing all reasonable and cost-effective measures.
Additionally, if more than $600 was charged-off, the Lender is statutorily required to issue a 1099-C to the Borrower and the IRS. Once the SBA approves the wrap-up report, a Lender or CDC may close its file and keep it in accordance with applicable record retention polices. The time necessary to liquidate an SBA loan varies in each case. Some loans may only require a few months from the time of default to exhaust all liquidation options and close out the loan. Others, in situations where the debtors are unresponsive or evasive and/or litigation is contested, could take years to fully complete.
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If you are struggling with circumstances that involve SBA loan default, you deserve professional representation! Our attorneys all know how to handle SBA OIC and DOT compromise cases. If you contact us, we can help you settle SBA debt or DOT debt once and for all. After you schedule an appointment, you consult with a dedicated SBA OIC lawyer or United States Treasury Dept Practitioner who can help you through your administrative legal battle. Once your claim is resolved, you won’t have to worry about your SBA loan default or DOT debt problem haunting you. Our team of battle-tested SBA workout attorneys and DOT practitioners has assisted many federal debtors throughout the years. Now it is your turn! You truly can settle SBA debt or DOT debt for good!
Contact us at 888-756-9969 or simply enter your information on your online Contact Form and arrange for a Case Evaluation with one of our SBA Workout Attorneys or DOT Practitioners.
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
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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.
Clients personally guaranteed an SBA 7(a) loan that was referred to the Department of Treasury for collection. Treasury claimed our clients owed over $220,000 once it added its statutory collection fees and interest. We were able to negotiate a significant reduction of the total claimed amount from $220,000 to $119,000, saving the clients over $100,000 by arguing for a waiver of the statutory 28%-30% administrative fees and costs.
Client’s small business obtained an SBA 7(a) loan for $150,000. He and his wife signed personal guarantees and pledged their home as collateral. The SBA loan went into default, the term or maturity date was accelerated and demand for payment of the entire amount claimed was made. The SBA lender’s note gave it the right to adjust the default interest rate from 7.25% to 18% per annum. The business filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy but was dismissed after 3 years due to its inability to continue with payments under the plan. Clients wanted to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, which would have been a mistake as their home had significant equity to repay the SBA loan balance in full as the Trustee would likely seize and sell the home to repay the secured and unsecured creditors. However, the SBA lender opted to pursue the SBA 7(a) Guaranty and subsequently assigned the loan and the right to enforce collection to the SBA. Clients then received the SBA Official 60-Day Notice and hired the Firm to respond to it and negotiate on their behalf. Clients disputed the SBA’s alleged balance of $148,000, as several payments made to the SBA lender during the Chapter 11 reorganization were not accounted for. To challenge the SBA’s claimed debt balance, the Firm Attorneys initiated expedited discovery to obtain government records. SBA records disclosed the true amount owed was about $97,000. Moreover, because the Clients’ home had significant equity, they were not eligible for an Offer in Compromise or an immediate Release of Lien for Consideration, despite being incorrectly advised by non-attorney consulting companies that they were. Instead, our Firm Attorneys recommended a Workout of $97,000 spread over a lengthy term and a waiver of the applicable interest rate making the monthly payment affordable. After back and forth negotiations, SBA approved the Workout proposal, thereby saving the home from imminent foreclosure and reducing the Clients' liability by nearly $81,000 in incorrect principal balance, accrued interest, and statutory collection fees.
Small business and guarantors obtained an SBA COVID-EIDL loan for $1,000,000. Clients defaulted causing SBA to charge-off the loan, accelerate the balance and refer the debt to Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service for collection. Treasury added nearly $500,000 in collection fees totaling $1,500,000. Clients were served with the SBA's Official 60-Day Notice and exercised the Repayment option by applying for the SBA’s Hardship Accommodation Plan. However, their application was summarily rejected by the SBA without providing any meaningful reasons. Clients hired the Firm to represent them against the SBA, Treasury and a Private Collection Agency. After securing government records through discovery, we filed an Appeals Petition with the SBA Office of Hearings & Appeals (OHA) court challenging the SBA's referral of the debt to Treasury. During litigation and before the OHA court issued a final Decision and Order, the Firm successfully negotiated a reinstatement and recall of the loan back to the SBA, a modification of the original repayment terms, termination of Treasury's enforced collection and removal of the statutory collection fees.
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