Merchant Loan Closing Call
A merchant loan closing call is often required before the lender will wire funds into your account. They will alert you when you need to take and complete the call.
But what exactly is a merchant call? Why is it important? How do you pass it, – or fail it?
Consider the top 4 ways, detailed further below, to easily handle a merchant closing call.
Call 919-771-4177 for more info.
1. Give fully accurate information.
2. Don’t withhold anything critical.
3. Do not volunteer information.
4. Do not answer if you are unsure.
Apply above: For business loans with expert guidance to help your business get past ANY issues and get funding today!
The lender is making the borrower closing call to you.
4 Top ways to insure the merchant loan closing call is successful and you get funds.
1. Give fully accurate information:
When the lender calls, always accurately answer every question.
Even for minor issues, always give completely accurate answers. This also includes clarifying things. You may be asked about the most recent cash flow in the account since the beginning of the most current month, also known as month to date or MTD statement. The lender may want to know if your cash flow has changed since the beginning of the month. Make sure your balance is not low when the loan closes. Having about three times the daily payment is safe.
Example #1:
The business address on the application is a mailing address rather than the physical address. The lender confirms the business address with you. Let the lender know the address listed on the application is not the physical address for the business. Give them the physical address if they ask for one.
Another example is if the lender asks if you are the owner. If there are more owners, let them know about each one.
Other examples can include giving updated information on the company such as product lines, website detail and a full explanation of what the company does.
2. Don’t withhold critical information
If you have important updates that the lender does not know, tell them or give them an update during the live merchant loan closing call.
Any updates not provided before closing can backfire and cause major problems later. Even if one of these reasons means your business loan does not close, it is better to work through the issues now.
Example # 1:
A company buyout. You are in negotiations to sell the company and have not told the lender. This is critical information they would definitely want to know and likely would not approve the request if they knew.
Example # 2:
You are 1 of 2 owners of the business guaranteeing the loan. You plan on buying out the other owner after closing. It would be advisable to tell the lender what your plans are. The lender approved the funding based on the current owners of the business. If the lender knew one of the guarantors will be bought out shortly after closing, they may not approve the request.
Example # 3:
The IRS or state is filing a tax lien against you personally, or your business.
If you need money to pay irs business taxes and the IRS or State is about to file a lien against you or your business, it is risky not to tell the lender about this.
The loan contract may say the lender needs to be made aware of any impending liens that may be filed against you. Not disclosing this type of information could be considered a violation of the contract.
Example # 4:
Outstanding liens on assets. The lender does a search of existing liens and may not find your listed assets as encumbered. The lender must be told about any liens they did not find in their search.
Sometimes previous lenders may have put a blanket lien on assets and those assets are not itemized at the Secretary of State. Such liens are sometimes called a lien on all assets, including furniture, fixtures and equipment. This type of lien may not list a specific asset, but still includes that asset. Tell the lender which specific pieces of equipment are encumbered.
3. Do not volunteer information
In general, do not give information that you are not being asked about.
Providing anything not asked for has the potential of stopping the closing. You may be telling them something they did not know about and will not like. Even if it is minor, it may be enough to cause the loan status to be put on hold and then declined.
4. Do not answer if you are unsure.
Many times we want to get tasks over with. This causes us to sometimes answer questions when we are not completely sure about our answer. Don’t do this! If you are not sure, tell the lender you will check and call them back.
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Call 919-771-4177 for more info.
FAQ on Merchant Loan Closing Calls.
What is a merchant call?
A merchant loan call is when a lender is about to close and fund a loan. One of the closing requirements is they call the borrower just before funding to confirm their identity and the loan request.
What do I say on a loan closing call?
Always give correct information. Do not withhold anything critical. Also do not volunteer any information or answer questions when you are unsure.
What if I fail a borrower closing call?
Call the lender to find out if the problem is something that can be corrected in the short term to still fund the loan. If not, get a full understanding of why the call was not satisfactory.
If you cannot get the decision reversed, apply with other lenders and eliminate the issues on your next approval before the closing phase.
Conclusion
Loan closing calls for businesses are a quick, but important part of the completion process.
Do not take the call when you are in the middle of another task. Try to find out when the lender will call and what the questions will be about.
Mostly, just answer the questions accurately and thoroughly. If there is a misunderstanding or the lender does not know something important, correct and update them.
The lenders want to close the transaction. They are looking for every reasonable way to close rather than decline. If there are still issues, then discuss them with the lender. They will give you the best plan to get past any hurdles and send funds to your account.
This should result in a quick closing process and funding!
Author Biography: Will Sanio, Owner of SCF Funding, dba SmallBusinessLoansDepot.com, has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Over 20 Years experience including 10 Years with Wells Fargo, formerly Wachovia Bank and First Atlanta Bank. Specializing in Traditional and Alternative lending.
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