{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-record","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/glossary/criminal-record","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-record","term":"Criminal Record","group":"People and paperwork","definition":"A history of certain criminal offenses can make you ineligible for an SBA loan. Lenders check this during underwriting to assess your character.","what_it_means":"The SBA has specific rules about past criminal convictions, especially felonies or certain misdemeanors, which can prevent loan approval. You'll need to disclose any history on Form 1919; lenders will verify this with background checks. Be upfront about any issues.","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-record","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":"personal-guarantor","term":"Personal Guarantor","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/personal-guarantor"},{"slug":"form-1919","term":"Form 1919","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/form-1919"},{"slug":"felony","term":"Felony","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/felony"},{"slug":"good-character","term":"Good character","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/good-character"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"Can a past criminal record impact my eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-a-past-criminal-record-impact-my-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Does having a criminal record automatically disqualify me from an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-having-a-criminal-record-automatically-disqualify-me-from-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Does having a past criminal record prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-having-a-past-criminal-record-prevent-me-from-getting-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Does having a past criminal record automatically disqualify me for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/does-having-a-past-criminal-record-automatically-disqualify-me-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Will having a past criminal record prevent me from getting an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/will-having-a-past-criminal-record-prevent-me-from-getting-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"How does a past criminal record affect my eligibility for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-a-past-criminal-record-affect-my-eligibility-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"}]},"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 Record","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/criminal-record","source_type":"DealRoom Data"}}