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Proposed CARES Act allows fintechs to make federally backed small business loans
On March 18, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) proposed relief legislation which, among other things, would temporarily allow fintechs to offer “small business interruption loans” for as long as the Covid-19 national emergency is in effect. The “CARES Act” or Corornavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, would provide nearly $300 trillion in additional funds to the SBA in order to provide emergency government-backed loans. Under the proposal, small businesses eligible for the SBA Section 7(a) loans with 500 or fewer employees, could use the loans to fund, such things as (i) paid sick, medical, or family leave; (ii) group health care benefits; (iii) employee salaries; (iv) mortgage payments; and (v) utilities. In addition, the proposal provides for loan deferment for a year and loan forgiveness for loans used to cover payroll expenses.
SBA Rebrands Core Business Loan Programs
In a November 1 memorandum, the Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that the names of the popular 7(a) and 504 loan programs have been changed. The “7(a) program” will now be rebranded as the “SBA Advantage Loan Program,” while “504 loans” will be known going forward as the “SBA Grow Loan Program.” The SBA’s memo did not announce any substantive changes to the loan programs.