{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-history","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/criminal-history","data_freshness":{"sba_records_through":"2026-05-31","fdic_records_through":"2026-03-31","dealroom_last_updated":"2026-06-15","timezone":"America/Chicago"},"source_summary":["Public SBA 7(a) loan records","FDIC institution data","DealRoom lender and franchise enrichment"],"term":{"slug":"criminal-history","term":"criminal history","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A record of past criminal convictions for you or any key principal in the business. This is a critical eligibility factor for an SBA 7(a) loan.","what_it_means":"The SBA requires disclosure of criminal history for all owners with 20% or more equity, and any key principals. Certain felony convictions, especially those involving fraud or financial misconduct, can make you ineligible for an SBA loan. Be upfront and honest on SBA Form 1919 about any past issues.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-history","official_sources":[{"slug":"sba-form-1919","title":"SBA Form 1919 — Borrower Information Form","official_url":"https://www.sba.gov/document/sba-form-1919-borrower-information-form","official_label":"View on SBA.gov","authority_tier":4,"publisher":"U.S. Small Business Administration","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/sba-form-1919"},{"slug":"13-cfr-part-120","title":"13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans","official_url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120","official_label":"View on eCFR","authority_tier":1,"publisher":"Office of the Federal Register","source_guide_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/sources/13-cfr-part-120"}],"related":[{"slug":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"},{"slug":"key-principal","term":"Key principal","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/key-principal"},{"slug":"felony","term":"Felony","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/felony"},{"slug":"fraud","term":"Fraud","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/fraud"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Which criminal history issues commonly prevent SBA loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/which-criminal-history-issues-commonly-prevent-sba-loan-approval"},{"question":"How do criminal history issues commonly prevent SBA loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-do-criminal-history-issues-commonly-prevent-sba-loan-approval"},{"question":"What criminal history issues might prevent SBA 7(a) loan approval?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-criminal-history-issues-might-prevent-sba-7-a-loan-approval"},{"question":"What specific criminal history issues are automatic disqualifiers for SBA loan eligibility?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/questions/what-specific-criminal-history-issues-are-automatic-disqualifiers-for-sba-loan-eligibility"},{"question":"Does the SBA check my personal background, like criminal history, for a loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-the-sba-check-my-personal-background-like-criminal-history-for-a-loan"},{"question":"What type of criminal history might automatically disqualify an SBA 7(a) applicant?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-type-of-criminal-history-might-automatically-disqualify-an-sba-7-a-applicant"}]},"caveats":["Definitions represent DealRoom's plain-English interpretation for buyers; verify regulatory terms against the official SBA and eCFR sources listed.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an SBA eligibility determination."],"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so Glossary — criminal history","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-history","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}