https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/c727a5fa-fa2d-410e-a13d-981b1ce3e805.mp3 Artificial intelligence is already helping commercial lenders streamline intake, review financial information, detect fraud, summarize documents, and speed routine communications. For SBA lending teams, those efficiencies are attractive, but they come with legal risk if sensitive borrower, deal, or counsel-related information is entered into the wrong AI tool. What the law currently says The ... Read More

https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/5a97ec89-ffae-4cb0-a6fb-3034da0cc171.mp3 When underwriting or discussing a loan where Maryland real property is collateral, a lender must take recording fees and taxes that will be incurred to record the appropriate lien document into account when computing potential closing costs. While the recording fees are generally not high, the recording taxes could be.  The amount is dependent ... Read More

https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/47208d0a-8940-41b8-a518-1f02cd3fa8a9.mp3 As artificial intelligence tools become increasingly accessible, lenders are facing a new and evolving risk landscape when communicating with borrowers following a loan default. Borrowers now have the ability to record, transcribe, analyze, and strategically generate communications using AI-driven platforms. Routine conversations that once carried minimal perceived risk may now become evidence in lender ... Read More

https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/d8309b8f-2f34-4a38-aa7f-8d9e2b607765.mp3 On February 6, 2026, SBA issued Procedural Notice 5000-875051 7(a) Alternative Base Rate Options (the “Notice”), which announced new alternative base rate options for SBA 7(a) loans approved by SBA on or after March 1, 2026. Prior to this Notice, SBA 7(a) variable interest rate loans had two base rate (“Base Rate”) options: the ... Read More

https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/38659c97-02df-431c-92ea-1ffc55ac6bde.mp3 With interest rates at their highest level in over twenty years and other factors in the economy impacting small businesses, more borrowers are having a difficult time meeting their debt service payments on SBA loans that they could easily manage just a few years prior. A As a result, more lenders may be seeking ... Read More

https://starfieldsmith.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/33217301-7064-448b-a9a5-01ce1bc3cec6.mp3 In the past year SBA has instituted several changes to the 7(a) and 504 loan programs’ citizenship and residency requirements to comply with President Trump’s Executive Order 14159 “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”. On February 2, 2026, SBA further revised these requirements via Policy Notice 5000-876441 (the “Policy Notice”), effective March 1, 2026 ... Read More