SBA loan basics
Short answer
Yes, personal assets other than your home, such as cash, marketable securities in a personal investment account, or other tangible assets, can be used as collateral for an SBA 7(a) loan.
The SBA requires all available collateral to be pledged to secure a loan. If business assets are insufficient, the lender will look to personal assets of the principals. This can include stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit, or other personal property, typically secured by a lien.
A borrower for a $400,000 SBA loan has business assets valued at $250,000. To cover the collateral gap, the borrower pledges a personal brokerage account with $150,000 in liquid stocks, which the lender takes a security interest in.
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 do you need 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