UCC filings alone don’t harm your business credit, and they are a common practice lenders use to secure a business loan.
Randa Kriss
Lead Writer | Small business
Randa Kriss is a lead writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, The Associated Press, MarketWatch and Nasdaq, among other publications. She has also hosted a webinar as part of the SBA's 2024 National Small Business Week Virtual Summit. Randa is passionate about helping small-business owners make educated financial decisions, especially when it comes to affordable funding. She is based in Chicago.
Assigning Editor Sally Lauckner
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Sally Lauckner is an editor on NerdWallet's small-business team. She has over 15 years of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet in 2020, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content and specializing in business financing. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She is based in New York City.
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A Uniform Commercial Code filing, also known as a UCC filing, is a document that lenders use to establish their legal right to assets that a borrower uses to secure a loan. This notice allows the lender to seize the borrower’s collateral in the case of default.
UCC filings can cover a specific piece of collateral, or lenders can file a blanket lien, which applies to all of a borrower’s assets. Filing a UCC lien is a common practice among lenders when they issue small-business loans .
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A UCC filing is the official notice lenders use to indicate that they have a security interest in a borrower’s assets or property. The UCC filing establishes a lien against the collateral the borrower uses to secure the loan — giving the lender the first-position right to claim that collateral as repayment in the case of default.
UCC liens are typically filed using a UCC financing statement, also called the UCC-1 financing statement.
This document is submitted to the secretary of state’s office in the state where the business (i.e., the borrower) is located. The UCC-1 financing statement identifies the assets or properties the lender has claim to, and lets other creditors know of its security interest in that collateral.
UCC liens can be filed on a range of personal and/or business assets, including but not limited to real estate, inventory, receivables, vehicles, machinery and equipment.
Once a UCC lien is filed with the secretary of state’s office, it becomes public record, meaning anyone can go online and search for active filings .
Although the specifics can vary from state to state, UCC filings usually last for five years. If your loan is still active after that period of time, your lender can apply for a continuation of the lien. The lender can also file amendments or addendums to the statement, if necessary.
The Uniform Commercial Code is a set of laws that govern commercial transactions across the U.S. These uniformly adopted state laws help promote and simplify interstate business. Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code provides guidelines for transactions secured by assets or property, resulting in the term UCC filing.
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Simply having a UCC lien is not bad for your business — it serves as an official notice to other creditors that your lender has a security interest in one or all of your assets. However, if you end up defaulting on that business loan, or need additional funding, the UCC filing could have an impact in several ways.
Although your business credit report will show any UCC filings taken out on your business within the last five years, these liens don’t typically impact your business credit score . If you make late payments or default on your loan, though, your credit can be negatively affected.
When a lender files a UCC lien, some or all of your assets (depending on the type of lien) are at risk if you fail to pay back your loan. As long as you repay your lender, your assets will remain safe. On the other hand, if you don’t repay your loan, the lender can seize your assets to recover its losses.
A UCC filing indicates that a lender has the first position to claim your collateral in the case of default. If you decide to apply for additional financing, your new lender can search to see if your business has any liens against it. In many cases, lenders are hesitant to take second position on a company’s assets and may deny your business loan application — or offer limited funding — if you have an active UCC filing.
There are two types of UCC filings that can be used to secure a business loan. The UCC filing a lender uses can vary based on a variety of factors, including the type of business loan , your company’s qualifications and the individual lender itself.
Lenders can file a UCC lien on specific pieces of collateral, such as real estate or equipment. If you default on your business loan , the lender can claim these assets to recoup its losses, but not any other company assets.
Specific collateral liens tend to be used for special-purpose loans, such as equipment financing or inventory financing . If there are existing liens on specific assets, you may have trouble using those same assets as collateral on future loans.
Rather than claiming a specific piece of collateral, a blanket lien covers all of a business’s assets, including things like accounts receivables, equipment, vehicles and inventory. If you default on your loan, the lender can claim (and/or sell) any of the assets it needs to cover its losses.
Blanket liens are more commonly used for standard bank loans, SBA loans and online loans.
Your UCC lien can only be removed by the lienholder (lender), and is usually only done after you’ve repaid the loan. A UCC lien is typically active for five years — if your loan term extends beyond that, your lender may choose to renew the lien. If you repay your loan before the five years is up, any UCC filing on that financing can remain active until you have it removed.
You can remove a UCC filing by asking your lender to submit a UCC-3 form to terminate the lien. If you find a UCC lien listed on your credit report that shouldn’t be there, you can dispute it with the secretary of state’s office or credit bureau (e.g., Experian, Dun & Bradstreet) to have it removed. You will likely need to show proof that you’ve repaid the loan and swear an oath that you’re telling the truth.
Removing a UCC lien on a loan that you’ve repaid can help you qualify for other business funding options.
Frequently asked questions How can I resolve a UCC lien?UCC liens can only be removed by the lienholder, or lender once you have paid off your loan. If you have a false lien appearing on your report or one that hasn’t been removed after you’ve repaid your loan, you can dispute it with the secretary of state’s office, the lender or the credit bureau.
However, in many cases, the terms UCC lien and UCC filing are used interchangeably.
How long are UCC filings good for?Most UCC filings last for five years, but this time frame can vary based on your state and type of transaction. If your filing expires and your loan is still active, the lender can submit a continuation through the corresponding secretary of state’s office.
Does a UCC filing hurt your credit?UCC filings do not impact your personal credit score. Although UCC filings from the past five years will show up on your business credit report, they don’t typically impact your business credit score unless you fail to make payments and default on your loan.
How can I resolve a UCC lien?UCC liens can only be removed by the lienholder, or lender once you have paid off your loan. If you have a false lien appearing on your report or one that hasn’t been removed after you’ve repaid your loan, you can dispute it with the secretary of state’s office, the lender or the credit bureau.
However, in many cases, the terms UCC lien and UCC filing are used interchangeably.
How long are UCC filings good for?Most UCC filings last for five years, but this time frame can vary based on your state and type of transaction. If your filing expires and your loan is still active, the lender can submit a continuation through the corresponding secretary of state’s office.
Does a UCC filing hurt your credit?UCC filings do not impact your personal credit score. Although UCC filings from the past five years will show up on your business credit report, they don’t typically impact your business credit score unless you fail to make payments and default on your loan.
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Randa Kriss is a small-business writer who joined NerdWallet in 2020. She previously worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics including banking and loan products. Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona College. See full bio.
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