Who services an SBA 504 loan after it closes?
Short answer
The CDC handles routine servicing, including annual financial reviews, insurance, taxes and lien renewals. Payments run through the Central Servicing Agent. If a loan is more than three months past due, the CDC must generally ask SBA to buy the debenture. Source: 13 CFR 120.970.
In this answer, CDC means Certified Development Company.
The Certified Development Company, or CDC, services your 504 loan. 13 CFR 120.970 lists its duties.
What the CDC does
- Reviews your financial statements at least annually and monitors collateral.
- Makes sure insurance premiums and taxes are paid.
- Files renewals and extensions of security interests.
- Responds to loan modification requests.
- Cooperates with SBA to cure defaults and start workouts.
Who handles payments
Payments go through the Central Servicing Agent, usually by monthly ACH draw. SBA's 504 page says to contact your CDC for balances, due dates or other questions (read November 8, 2026). Guidehouse Inc. is the current Central Servicing Agent (SOP 50 10 8.1, Sec. C, Ch. 2, Para. C.7).
What needs SBA
A non-PCLP CDC needs SBA's prior written consent for several actions. They include substantially altering loan terms, accelerating the note and accepting a workout on a defaulted loan (13 CFR 120.536(b)). After the debenture closing, neither the amount nor the maturity can be modified (Sec. C, Ch. 2, Para. B). CDCs send changes on disbursed loans to SBA's Commercial Loan Servicing Center.
If the loan falls behind
If a 504 loan is more than three months past due, the CDC must promptly ask SBA to purchase the debenture. The exceptions are an SBA-approved deferment or catch-up plan (13 CFR 120.970(f)). SBA's lender page tells CDCs to act at 60 or more days past due when no deferment or workout is in prospect.
Servicing fee
The CDC charges a monthly servicing fee on the unpaid balance, within the limits in 13 CFR 120.971(a)(3).
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