SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Yes, personal marketable securities can be pledged as additional collateral if business assets are insufficient to secure the SBA 7(a) loan.
The SBA's 'all available collateral' rule extends to personal assets when business assets do not provide sufficient collateral coverage. Marketable securities (e.g., publicly traded stocks, bonds, mutual funds) can be pledged as collateral, typically requiring a perfected security interest through an account control agreement with the brokerage firm. The liquidation value, often a percentage of market value, is used.
A buyer has $200,000 in a brokerage account with marketable securities. If the business assets for a $700,000 loan only cover $500,000, the lender may require pledging a portion of the marketable securities to make up the collateral shortfall, possibly at 70% of their value.
Insider move
Lenders value liquid collateral like marketable securities but will apply a discount to their market value to account for market fluctuations and liquidation costs. They require a control agreement to ensure their lien position is perfected.
13 CFR Part 120 — Business Loans
Office of the Federal Register · Federal regulation
7(a) Loan Program — Terms, Conditions, and Eligibility
U.S. Small Business Administration · Official SBA source
SOP 50 10 - Lender and Development Company Loan Programs
Last checked 2026-06-14. Official sources control — verify before relying on any rule for a live deal.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14 · SBA sources checked through 2026-06-14. 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.
More on collateral
Terms in this answer
Pre-qualify your SBA 7(a) deal
Tell us the business, the price, and where you are — we'll point you to the lenders most likely to fund a deal like yours and flag anything that trips up approval.
Free · No documents · Usually same-day