{"ok":true,"canonical_url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/who-must-be-named-as-the-beneficiary-for-life-insurance-on-a-7-a-loan","api_url":"https://dealroom.so/api/public/questions/who-must-be-named-as-the-beneficiary-for-life-insurance-on-a-7-a-loan","question":"Who must be named as the beneficiary for life insurance on a 7(a) loan?","topic":"Life Insurance","audience":"lender","bot_mode":"lender","short_answer":"The lender must be named as the sole beneficiary for life insurance required as a condition of a 7(a) loan, for an amount sufficient to cover the outstanding balance.","rule":"When life insurance is required, it serves as collateral to mitigate the risk of a key person's death impacting loan repayment. Naming the lender as beneficiary ensures that the loan can be repaid from the policy proceeds, protecting the lender and the SBA guaranty.","example":"A $400,000 loan requires life insurance on the CEO. The lender ensures the policy names 'ABC Bank, as its interest may appear' as the sole beneficiary for at least $400,000, and receives an assignment of policy form.","what_lenders_check":"Lenders must verify the beneficiary designation on the policy and obtain a valid assignment. Incorrect beneficiary designation or a lapse in coverage can compromise the collateral and lead to a guaranty repair.","required_facts":[],"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 does a lender ensure proper collateral assignment of life insurance on multiple key principals?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-ensure-proper-collateral-assignment-of-life-insurance-on-multiple-key-pr"},{"question":"How does a lender ensure sufficient life insurance coverage for multiple key principals with varying ownership stakes?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-does-a-lender-ensure-sufficient-life-insurance-coverage-for-multiple-key-principals-wi"},{"question":"Under what specific circumstances can a lender waive the life insurance requirement for a key principal on a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/under-what-specific-circumstances-can-a-lender-waive-the-life-insurance-requirement-for-a-"},{"question":"How should a lender structure the beneficiary and assignment of life insurance on a key principal for a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/how-should-a-lender-structure-the-beneficiary-and-assignment-of-life-insurance-on-a-key-pr"},{"question":"When is life insurance required as collateral for key principals with less than 20% ownership in a 7(a) loan?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/when-is-life-insurance-required-as-collateral-for-key-principals-with-less-than-20-ownersh"},{"question":"What are the specific requirements for naming the lender as the loss payee on a life insurance policy collateral assignment?","url":"https://dealroom.so/for-lenders/questions/what-are-the-specific-requirements-for-naming-the-lender-as-the-loss-payee-on-a-life-insur"}],"related_terms":[{"term":"7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7a-loan"},{"term":"Standard 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/standard-7-a-loan"},{"term":"SBA 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/sba-7-a-loan"},{"term":"7(a) Small Loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/7-a-small-loan"},{"term":"Life insurance","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/life-insurance"},{"term":"Variable-rate 7(a) loan","url":"https://dealroom.so/glossary/variable-rate-7-a-loan"}],"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/for-lenders/questions/who-must-be-named-as-the-beneficiary-for-life-insurance-on-a-7-a-loan","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."]}