[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 215 (Tuesday, November 6, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 55478-55479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-24258]


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SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

13 CFR Part 120


Maximum Allowable 7(a) Fixed Interest Rates

AGENCY: U.S. Small Business Administration.

ACTION: Notification announcing the maximum allowable fixed interest 
rates.

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SUMMARY: This document announces the maximum allowable fixed interest 
rates for 7(a) guaranteed loans.

DATES: This announcement of interest rates is effective November 6, 
2018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Carpenter, Acting Chief, 7(a) 
Loan Program and Policy Branch, Office of Financial Assistance, U.S. 
Small Business Administration, 409 Third Street SW, Washington, DC 
20416; telephone: (202) 205-7654; email: [email protected]; or 
the Lender Relations Specialist in the local Small Business 
Administration (SBA) District Office. The local SBA District Office may 
be found at https://www.sba.gov/tools/local-assistance/districtoffices.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Agency regulations at 13 CFR 120.213(a), Fixed Rates for Guaranteed 
Loans, state that ``[a] loan may have a reasonable fixed interest rate. 
SBA periodically publishes the maximum allowable rate in the Federal 
Register.''
    On September 30, 2009, SBA published a Federal Register Notice (74 
FR 50263) establishing the use of the London Interbank Offered Rate 
(LIBOR) (as defined in 13 CFR 120.214(c)), plus 300 basis points, plus 
the average of the 5-year and 10-year LIBOR swap rates, as the SBA 
``Fixed Base Rate.'' According to the September 30, 2009 Notice, the 
maximum allowable fixed interest rate for 7(a) loans (other than SBA 
Express and Export Express loans) was the Fixed Base Rate, plus a 
maximum allowable spread based on the term of the loan, plus an 
additional spread for very small loans.
    On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced 
that it would phase-out LIBOR by the end of 2021. No generally accepted 
replacement for LIBOR has been identified. To address the approaching 
sunset of LIBOR and the need for a new benchmark for the calculation of 
the maximum allowable fixed interest rate for a 7(a) loan, SBA will use 
the prime rate (Prime), as described in 13 CFR 120.214(c), as the base 
rate for determining the maximum allowable fixed interest rate for 7(a) 
loans (including SBA Express and Export Express loans).
    SBA reviewed and compared the interest rate difference between the 
Fixed Base Rate and Prime from October 1, 2009 through August 1, 2018. 
The Fixed Base Rate was, on average, approximately 200 basis points 
higher than Prime during this period and, as of August 2018, the Fixed 
Base Rate was approximately 300 basis points higher than Prime. To 
address this difference, SBA is increasing the maximum allowable spread 
as follows: For 7(a) fixed rate loans of $250,000 or less, SBA is 
setting the maximum allowable spread over Prime at 6% (plus the 
additional spread permitted under 13 CFR 120.215 for very small loans). 
For 7(a) fixed rate loans over $250,000, SBA is setting the maximum 
allowable spread over Prime at 5%. The maximum allowable spread will no 
longer depend on the term of the loan.
    The increase in the maximum allowable spread neutralizes the impact 
of replacing the Fixed Base Rate with Prime. A new fixed rate maximum 
also provides greater opportunity for Lenders to make loans using fixed 
rates and may offset the cost of underwriting, disbursing, and 
servicing loans of $250,000 or less. SBA notes that the higher maximum 
interest rates permitted under 13 CFR 120.215 for very small loans 
(i.e., loans under $50,000) continue to apply.
    The interest rates set forth in this Notice are applicable to all 
7(a) fixed rate loans (including fixed rate SBA Express and Export 
Express loans \1\), with the exception of the Export Working Capital 
Program \2\ (EWCP) loans and Community Advantage loans. This Notice 
does not affect the allowable base rates used for variable rate loans 
as described in 13 CFR 120.214(c). SBA will address the variable rate 
bases, including a replacement for the LIBOR base rate, in a future 
rulemaking.
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    \1\ It should be noted that SBA's recently published proposed 
rule for the Express loan programs contemplates certain maximum 
fixed interest rates for SBA Express and Export Express loans. See 
83 FR 49001 (September 28, 2018). Notwithstanding the proposed rule, 
today's Notice regarding Maximum Allowable 7(a) Fixed Interest Rates 
sets the maximum allowable fixed interest rates for SBA Express and 
Export Express loans at the same levels as the maximum fixed rates 
allowable for 7(a) loans generally. SBA will reflect any necessary 
changes when it finalizes the proposed rule.
    \2\ In accordance with 13 CFR 120.344(c), ``SBA does not 
prescribe the interest rates for the EWCP, but will monitor these 
rates for reasonableness.''
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    Effective November 6, 2018, for any complete 7(a) loan application 
received by SBA or any request for an SBA Loan Number submitted by a 
Lender with delegated authority (including fixed rate SBA Express and 
Export Express loans and excluding EWCP loans and Community Advantage 
loans), the maximum allowable fixed interest rate will be the Prime 
rate in effect on the first business day of the month plus:
    (i) 600 basis points for loans of $25,000 or less, plus the 200 
basis points permitted by 13 CFR 120.215;
    (ii) 600 basis points for loans over $25,000 but not exceeding 
$50,000, plus the 100 basis points permitted by 13 CFR 120.215;
    (iii) 600 basis points for loans greater than $50,000, up to and 
including $250,000; or
    (iv) 500 basis points for loans over $250,000.
    The following examples compare the maximum fixed rate that was in 
effect during August 2018 with the maximum fixed rate established by 
this Notice, had it been in effect at that time:
    Example 1: For a 7(a) loan (other than SBA Express or Export 
Express) in the amount of $200,000 with a 7-year maturity, the maximum 
allowable fixed interest rate was 10.88% [8.13% (SBA Fixed Base Rate 
for August 2018 based on LIBOR) + 2.75% (SBA maximum spread for loans 
over $50,000 with a maturity of 7 years or longer)].
    The new maximum allowable fixed rate for the same loan would be 
11.00% [5.00% (Prime rate for August 2018) + 6.00% (maximum spread over 
Prime for a fixed rate loan greater than $50,000, but less than 
$250,000, regardless of the maturity)].
    Example 2: For an SBA Express or Export Express loan in the amount 
of $200,000, the maximum allowable fixed interest rate was 9.5% [5.00% 
(Prime rate for August 2018) + 4.5% (maximum spread over Prime for an 
SBA Express or Export Express loan over $50,000, regardless of 
maturity)].
    The new maximum allowable fixed rate for the same loan would be 
11.00% [5.00% (Prime rate for August 2018) + 6.00% (maximum spread over 
Prime for a fixed rate loan greater than $50,000, but less than 
$250,000, regardless of the maturity)].
    Example 3: For a 7(a) loan (other than SBA Express or Export 
Express) in the amount of $350,000 with less than a 7-year maturity, 
the maximum allowable fixed interest rate was 10.38% [8.13%

[[Page 55479]]

(SBA Fixed Base Rate for August 2018 based on LIBOR) + 2.25% (maximum 
spread for loans over $50,000 with a maturity less than 7 years)].
    The new maximum allowable fixed rate for the same loan would be 
10.00% [5.00% (Prime rate for August 2018) + 5.00% (maximum spread over 
Prime for a fixed rate loan greater than $250,000, regardless of the 
maturity)].
    Example 4: For an SBA Express or Export Express loan in the amount 
of $35,000, the maximum allowable fixed interest rate was 11.5% [5.00% 
(Prime rate for August 2018) + 6.5% (maximum spread over Prime for an 
SBA Express or Export Express loan of $50,000 or less, regardless of 
maturity)].
    The new maximum allowable fixed rate for the same loan would be 12% 
[5.00% (Prime rate for August 2018) + 7.00% (maximum spread over Prime 
for a fixed rate loan greater than $25,000, but less than $50,000, 
regardless of the maturity)].
    The maximum allowable fixed interest rate for 7(a) guaranteed loans 
will be published periodically by SBA in the Federal Register and 
posted monthly on SBA's website at https://caweb.sba.gov/cls/dsp_login.cfm.

    Authority: 15 U.S.C. 636(a)(4)(A) and 13 CFR 120.213.

William M. Manger,
Associate Administrator, Office of Capital Access.
[FR Doc. 2018-24258 Filed 11-5-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8025-01-P