SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Yes, personal investment accounts or brokerage portfolios holding marketable securities can serve as additional collateral for an SBA 7(a) loan.
When business assets are insufficient, lenders are required to take additional collateral from the principals. Marketable securities held in personal investment accounts are generally considered acceptable collateral, provided they are unencumbered and can be legally assigned or pledged to the lender. The lender will typically apply a discount factor to their value.
A buyer needs additional collateral for their $600,000 SBA loan. They have a personal brokerage account with $150,000 in diversified, publicly traded stocks. The lender could take a lien on this account, valuing it at a discounted rate (e.g., 70% of market value) for collateral purposes, adding $105,000 to the total collateral pool.
Insider move
Lenders assess the liquidity and volatility of the securities in the account. They will require specific documentation for pledging the account and may establish a control agreement to ensure the collateral remains available and properly valued throughout the loan term.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-13. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-13. DealRoom analysis of public SBA 7(a) lending records (FY2020–present). Grounded in the current SBA rulebook; verify against the official sources above before relying on it for a live deal. Not legal, tax, or financial advice, and not an approval decision.
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