Collateral Assignment: Using Term Life Insurance for Business Loan Collateral

Never Assign Your Bank as the Beneficiary

Remember, the bank is not a beneficiary of the policy, so do not assign them as a beneficiary. They will have a claim to the payout proceeds of the policy in the event of the death of the policyholder prior to the full loan repayment.

The last thing you want is for the bank to have a rightful claim as a beneficiary of the policy. This is because when a beneficiary is paid out, they are entitled to a percentage of the policy.  For a collateral loan assignment, you want the bank only to hold entitlement to the amount of the loan that is outstanding.

So, if a policyholder pays off more of the loan but dies during the term, the policyholder’s family will want to make sure the bank only gets the amount to pay off the remainder of the loan.

A Few Tips to Help You Get the Right Policy

1. Inform your agent or broker upfront that you need the policy as loan collateral. That way, they’ll know to prepare for the extra paperwork involved.
2. Take out a term life policy that’s long enough to cover the loan repayment period. For example, if you’re getting a 20-year business mortgage loan, you will need a 20-year term life insurance policy.
3. Don’t drag your feet! Because most lenders won’t finalize a loan until you’re able to show “proof of policy,” don’t wait until the last minute to talk with a life insurance agent if you don’t already have a policy. On average, it takes four weeks for policy approval. If you have medical conditions, the review process could take longer. Your bank may not want to wait that long.

Note that you can expedite the process of securing life insurance if you opt to apply for a no medical exam term life insurance policy. By going that route, you won’t have to take the paramedical examination otherwise required (if you do have to take the examination, understand what to expect from a life insurance medical exam here). These types of policies generally receive approval within 24 to 48 hours. The drawback is that they cost a bit more because the insurer is assuming more risk.

When to fill out collateral assignment paperwork?

If you are looking to secure funding by using life insurance for a SBA loan, you will need a policy in place first. The bank will want to make sure that you are in good health and can qualify for a policy.

Once you have a policy in place, the bank will review the rest of your loan application. If they choose to provide you a loan, the bank will then work with your insurance company to produce the assignment paperwork.

So, until you know that your loan will be approved, and your policy is in place, you don’t need to worry about assigning the policy.

When does a collateral assignment end?

A collateral assignment will end when the loan is repaid. It’s as simple as that. However, the amount that the bank can claim reduces as you repay your loan.

So, if you took out a loan of $500,000 for a 10-year period, in the last year, the bank wouldn’t be able to claim $500,000 against the policy, but instead would discount the claim for the amount of principal that was repaid against the loan.

Pros & Cons of Collateral Assignments

Collateral assignment to secure a business loan does have benefits and disadvantages.
Pros:

• Term life insurance used to secure the loan is inexpensive. And as you pay off the loan, your family has an additional source of security.
• Using the insurance policy as a way to collateralize your loan allows you to free up other assets and cash flows to run your business.

Cons:

• If you have a permanent insurance policy, your access to use the cash value in the plan will be limited until the loan is repaid.
• Until you repay the loan, you may need additional life insurance to secure your family in addition to the policy used to secure your business.

In the end, however, most banks will require you to secure your loan with a policy. Keeping in good health and securing a policy while you are young will help you qualify for the lowest rates. Check out the rates below to get an idea of how much you might pay for a simple term life policy.

One last benefit is that your premium payments are an expense to the business and are tax-deductible.

Alternatives to Collateral Assignment

In some cases, you won’t have much of a choice but to take out an insurance policy to secure your loan. The bank will insist upon it.

However, you won’t have to if you use some other collateral for the loan. This could be real estate that you own, financial securities like stock and bonds, or simply a cash account with the amount available.

However, in each of these instances, you will lose flexibility in managing these assets since you will have to hold on to them for the life of the loan.  Also, you will need to manage the value of these assets. If they decrease in value, the bank may insist that you come up with additional capital.

If you are struggling to find a bank to provide you with capital, you can reach out to the U.S. Small Business Administration for helpful guidance on funding options.

Using Life Insurance for Business Loan Collateral: The Bottom Line

If you have dreams for your business, and you need funding to help them come true, keep the option of a term life policy as loan collateral in mind as you talk with lenders.

Because of its affordability and flexibility, term life insurance can give the bank the assurance it requires without putting undue strain on your business budget.

The first step is to have a great policy in place at the best price. Start shopping right now by using our free quote generator. Get a custom term life insurance quote for business loan collateral in seconds and save time with the loan process later.