04/04/2020
BT CAPITAL GROUP, LLC
Getting through this together
As most of you are aware, the Payroll Protection Program Loan is now “theoretically” open to accept and process applications. While some banks are taking applications, most of the banks that we are in contact with regularly have either delayed taking applications until next week or have shut off their online portals and will relaunch again sometime next week. This has caused anxiety for most business owners.
We believe that the main cause of this is the conflicting guidelines for what is eligible and what is not eligible under the PPP loan program. As we mentioned before, the guidelines received from Treasury department on Tuesday night has conflicting edicts from the SBA guidelines received Thursday night. This program, by design, gives credit and underwriting departments of banks wide latitude to make decisions on issues such as inclusion of 1099 employees, certain group health benefits such as HSA, affiliations rule, calculations for the forgiveness portion as well as other material business points. A handful of banks understand the value and reasons why 1099 doctors and extensive benefits packages are standard and critical in this industry, while others are less willing to bend for PPP loans. Bankers and underwriters are looking towards their senior managers to issue internal policies and guidelines. As of today, a small number of banks that we have relationships with have created and set those policies in place. However, the clear majority of the banks that are participating in this program have not. We hope that by Monday more banks will be ready to take and process applications.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and enjoy the weekend with your family and love ones. We will all get through this together.
BT Capital Group