SBAFinal RuleFebruary 10, 2026

7(a) Alternative Base Rate Options

Finance & Banking

Summary

The Small Business Administration (SBA) is offering lenders multiple options for setting interest rates on 7(a) loans, which are a common type of small business loan. This change gives lenders more flexibility in how they calculate loan rates, which could affect the monthly payments that small business owners pay on their loans.

Key Points

1Lenders can now choose from different methods to calculate interest rates on SBA 7(a) loans instead of using just one standard approach
2Small business owners may see different loan rate offers depending on which base rate option their lender chooses
3This regulation gives lenders more choices but doesn't guarantee lower rates for borrowers—rates will still depend on individual business creditworthiness and market conditions
4The change applies to new 7(a) loans issued after the regulation takes effect
5Small business owners should compare loan offers from different lenders since rates may now vary more widely

Key Dates

Published

February 10, 2026

Read on Federal Register View Docket

This summary is for informational purposes only. It may not capture all nuances of the regulation. Always refer to the official text for authoritative information.