SBA loan basics
Short answer
Yes, personal savings held in bank accounts are a perfectly acceptable and common source for a borrower's equity injection (down payment) for an SBA 7(a) loan.
The SBA permits liquid assets from the borrower's personal savings or checking accounts to count towards the required equity injection. Lenders will verify the source and seasoning of these funds to ensure they are genuinely the borrower's and not borrowed from another source.
An applicant for a $500,000 business acquisition loan needs a 10% down payment ($50,000). They provide bank statements showing $75,000 in their personal savings account, which is acceptable for the equity injection.
Insider move
Lenders verify that the funds are actually available, liquid, and sourced legitimately. They will often request several months of bank statements to see the funds' history and confirm they are not recently borrowed.
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
SBA Form 1919 - Borrower Information Form
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.
More on down payment & equity
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