SBA 7(a) Q&A
Short answer
Yes, pledged marketable securities such as stocks, mutual funds, or bonds can serve as additional collateral for an SBA 7(a) loan.
The SBA permits various types of assets to serve as collateral, including marketable securities. Lenders will require these securities to be pledged (e.g., via a collateral assignment or control agreement with a brokerage firm) and will apply a haircut (discount) to their market value to account for volatility, using the net value as collateral.
If you have $200,000 in a brokerage account with marketable stocks, a lender might value this collateral at $140,000 (after a 30% haircut) to secure a portion of your SBA loan. You would sign a control agreement allowing the lender a security interest.
Insider move
Lenders are concerned about the liquidity and volatility of marketable securities. They implement conservative valuation (haircuts) and strict control agreements to ensure the collateral can be liquidated if necessary to cover a portion of the loan.
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.
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