Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses

The Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses program (since renamed the "Purchase SBA 7(a) Securities (SBA)" program by Treasury, which has also in the past included it under the broader category of "Community Business Lending Initiative") would theoretically increase loans to small businesses by spurring demand amongst investors for securities backed by Small Business Administration loans (SBA 7(a) loans). Treasury publicly committed $15B for the program. Treasury eventually lowered its total estimated commitment to $370 million, of which it had disbursed the full amount by the end of 2010.

SIGTARP: “On March 16, 2009, Treasury announced the Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses (“UCSB”) program to encourage banks to extend more credit to small businesses. Under the UCSB program, Treasury stated that it would purchase up to $15 billion in securities backed by pools of Small Business Administration (“SBA”) loans from two SBA participating programs: the 7(a) Program and the 504 Community Development Loan Program. According to Treasury, the UCSB program is designed to provide banks the liquidity necessary to start writing new small-business loans again. On September 24, 2009, during Congressional testimony, Assistant Treasury Secretary for Financial Stability, Herbert Allison, noted that Treasury would soon announce further program details. As of September 30, 2009, no TARP funds had been expended under this program.”

Funding agency and aid type
The funding agency was the Treasury Department.

Related SourceWatch articles

 * SIGTARP Quarterly Report to Congress July 21, 2009
 * Troubled Asset Relief Program