Deadline Looms On SBA Loans

Nonbank lenders will have to stop selling the unguaranteed portion of 7(a) small-business loans unless the Small Business Administration meets a looming congressional deadline to let banks enter the business.

A handful of nonbank lenders such as the Money Store and G.E. Capital are permitted to sell about a quarter of each 7(a) loan that isn't guaranteed by the SBA. Federal legislation in October gave banks the go- ahead to enter that market, too.

Congress gave the agency a March 31 deadline-to complete a regulation to level the playing field for banks or all sales of nonguaranteed portions would be stopped. However, the SBA did not publish a rule until Feb. 26, and comment letters are due just three days before the deadline.

"It's a front-burner project," assured James W. Hammersley, the agency's acting deputy associate administrator for financial assistance. "It will be handled as expeditiously as possible." Nonbank lenders were warned, and several closed deals late last year in case the SBA missed the deadline, he said.

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