{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-verify-where-my-down-payment-money-equity-injection-actually-came-from","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/how-does-the-sba-verify-where-my-down-payment-money-equity-injection-actually-came-from","question":"How does the SBA verify where my down payment money (equity injection) actually came from?","topic":"Down Payment & Equity Injection","audience":"new","bot_mode":"buyer","short_answer":"The SBA requires lenders to verify the source of all funds for your equity injection to ensure they are unencumbered and truly from an eligible source.","rule":"Lenders typically require bank statements showing the funds in your account for a period (e.g., 90 days), or documentation for recent deposits like gift letters, personal loan agreements (if on standby), or sale of assets. This prevents hidden debt or ineligible sources from being counted as equity.","example":"A borrower claims a $50,000 cash injection. The lender requests 3 months of bank statements to show the funds were consistently in the account, or if it was a recent large deposit, a gift letter from a family member and their bank statement proving the source.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders meticulously trace the origin of funds to prevent 'circular financing' (borrowing funds that are presented as equity) or other ineligible sources. Proper documentation is crucial to ensure the SBA guarantee is not jeopardized.","required_facts":["Source verification","Unencumbered funds","Bank statements","Gift letters","Sale of assets","No hidden debt"],"source_families":["SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans"],"official_sources":[{"title":"SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs","url":"https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2025-05/SOP%2050%2010%208%20Technical%20Updates%20effective%206.1.2025.docx"},{"title":"13 CFR Part 120 - Business Loans","url":"https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-13/chapter-I/part-120"}],"related_questions":[{"question":"How much of my own money do I need to invest in the business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-much-of-my-own-money-do-i-need-to-invest-in-the-business"},{"question":"What is usually the minimum cash down payment required for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-is-usually-the-minimum-cash-down-payment-required-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Can the down payment for an SBA 7(a) loan come from a gift from family or friends?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-the-down-payment-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-come-from-a-gift-from-family-or-friends"},{"question":"What types of assets or funds count as 'equity injection' for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/what-types-of-assets-or-funds-count-as-equity-injection-for-an-sba-7-a-loan"},{"question":"Do I need to put a cash down payment for an SBA 7(a) loan to buy a business?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/do-i-need-to-put-a-cash-down-payment-for-an-sba-7-a-loan-to-buy-a-business"},{"question":"Can I use existing business assets I already own as part of my down payment for an SBA 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/can-i-use-existing-business-assets-i-already-own-as-part-of-my-down-payment-for-an-sba-7-a"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"Down payment","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/down-payment"},{"term":"Equity injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/equity-injection"},{"term":"Indemnification from the Seller","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/indemnification-from-the-seller"},{"term":"Minimum Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/minimum-equity-injection"},{"term":"Tangible Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/tangible-equity-injection"},{"term":"Hidden Equity Injection","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/hidden-equity-injection"}],"related_tools":[{"name":"SBA 7(a) payment & fee calculator","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-7a/calculator"},{"name":"Find an active SBA 7(a) lender","url":"https://dealroom.so/lenders"}],"data_freshness":{"last_reviewed":"2026-06-13","sba_rule_sources_checked_through":"2026-06-13"},"citation":{"label":"DealRoom.so SBA 7(a) Q&A","url":"https://dealroom.so/sba-loans/basics/how-does-the-sba-verify-where-my-down-payment-money-equity-injection-actually-came-from","source_type":"DealRoom Q&A"},"caveats":["Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against official sources before relying on it for a live deal.","Not legal, tax, or financial advice and not an approval decision."]}