[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 7, Parts 700 to 899]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR762.130]

[Page 425-427]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
                            CHAPTER VII--FARM
                SERVICE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 
PART 762--GUARANTEED FARM LOANS--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 762.130  Loan approval and issuing the guarantee.

    (a) Processing timeframes. (1) Standard Eligible Lenders. Complete 
applications from Standard Eligible Lenders will be approved or 
rejected, and the lender notified in writing, no later than 30 calendar 
days after receipt.
    (2) CLP and PLP lenders.
    (i) Complete applications from CLP or PLP lenders will be approved 
or rejected not later than 14 calendar days after receipt.
    (ii) For PLP lenders, if this time frame is not met, the proposed 
guaranteed loan will automatically be approved, subject to funding, and 
receive an 80 or 95 percent guarantee, as appropriate.
    (3) Complete applications. For purposes of determining the 
application processing timeframes, an application will be not be 
considered complete until all information required to make an approval 
decision, including the information for an environmental review, is 
received by the Agency.
    (4) The Agency will confirm the date an application is received with 
a written notification to the lender.
    (b) Funding preference. Loans are approved subject to the 
availability of funding. When it appears that there are not adequate 
funds to meet the needs of all approved loan applicants, applications 
that have been approved will be placed on a preference list according to 
the date of receipt of a complete application. If approved applications 
have been received on the same day, the following will be given 
priority:
    (1) An application from a veteran
    (2) An application from an Agency direct loan borrower
    (3) An application from a loan applicant who:
    (i) Has a dependent family,
    (ii) Is an owner of livestock and farm implements necessary to 
successfully carry out farming operations, or
    (iii) Is able to make down payments.
    (4) Any other approved application.
    (c) Conditional commitment. (1) The lender must meet all of the 
conditions specified in the conditional commitment to secure final 
Agency approval of the guarantee.
    (2) The lender, after reviewing the conditions listed on the 
conditional

[[Page 426]]

commitment, will complete, execute, and return the form to the Agency. 
If the conditions are not acceptable to the lender, the Agency may agree 
to alternatives or inform the lender and the loan applicant of their 
appeal rights.
    (d) Lender requirements prior to issuing the guarantee. (1) Lender 
certification. The lender will certify as to the following on the 
appropriate Agency form:
    (i) No major changes have been made in the lender's loan or line of 
credit conditions and requirements since submission of the application 
(except those approved in the interim by the Agency in writing);
    (ii) Required hazard, flood, crop, worker's compensation, and 
personal life insurance (when required) are in effect;
    (iii) Truth in lending requirements have been met;
    (iv) All equal employment and equal credit opportunity and 
nondiscrimination requirements have been or will be met at the 
appropriate time;
    (v) The loan or line of credit has been properly closed, and the 
required security instruments have been obtained, or will be obtained, 
on any acquired property that cannot be covered initially under State 
law;
    (vi) The borrower has marketable title to the collateral owned by 
the borrower, subject to the instrument securing the loan or line of 
credit to be guaranteed and subject to any other exceptions approved in 
writing by the Agency. When required, an assignment on all USDA crop and 
livestock program payments has been obtained;
    (vii) When required, personal, joint operation, partnership, or 
corporate guarantees have been obtained;
    (viii) Liens have been perfected and priorities are consistent with 
requirements of the conditional commitment;
    (ix) Loan proceeds have been, or will be disbursed for purposes and 
in amounts consistent with the conditional commitment and as specified 
on the loan application. In line of credit cases, if any advances have 
occurred, advances have been disbursed for purposes and in amounts 
consistent with the conditional commitment and line of credit 
agreements;
    (x) There has been no material adverse change in the borrower's 
condition, financial or otherwise, since submission of the application; 
and
    (xi) All other requirements specified in the conditional commitment 
have been met.
    (2) Inspections. The lender must notify the Agency of any scheduled 
inspections during construction and after the guarantee has been issued. 
The Agency may attend these field inspections. Any inspections or review 
performed by the Agency, including those with the lender, are solely for 
the benefit of the Agency. Agency inspections do not relieve any other 
parties of their inspection responsibilities, nor can these parties rely 
on Agency inspections for any purpose.
    (3) Execution of lender's agreement. The lender must execute the 
Agency's lender's agreement and deliver it to the Agency.
    (4) Closing report and guarantee fees.
    (i) The lender must complete an Agency closing report form and 
return it to the Agency along with any guarantee fees.
    (ii) Guarantee fees are 1 percent and are calculated as follows: Fee 
= Loan Amount x % Guaranteed x .01. The nonrefundable fee is paid to the 
Agency by the lender. The fee may be passed on to the borrower and 
included in loan funds.
    (iii) The following guaranteed loan transactions are not charged a 
fee:
    (A) Loans involving interest assistance;
    (B) Loans where a majority of the funds are used to refinance an 
Agency direct loan; and
    (C) Loans to beginning farmers or ranchers involved in the direct 
beginning farmer downpayment program.
    (e) Promissory notes, line of credit agreements, mortgages, and 
security agreements. The lender will use its own promissory notes, line 
of credit agreements, real estate mortgages (including deeds of trust 
and similar instruments), and security agreements (including chattel 
mortgages in Louisiana and Puerto Rico), provided:
    (1) The forms meet Agency requirements;
    (2) Documents comply with State law and regulation;

[[Page 427]]

    (3) The principal and interest repayment schedules are stated 
clearly in the notes and are consistent with the conditional commitment;
    (4) The note is executed by the individual liable for the loan. For 
entities, the note is executed by the member who is authorized to sign 
for the entity, and by all members of the entity as individuals. 
Individual liability can be waived by the Agency for members holding 
less than 10 percent ownership in the entity if the collectability of 
the loan will not be impaired; and
    (5) When the loan purpose is to refinance or restructure the 
lender's own debt, the lender may continue to use the existing debt 
instrument and attach an allonge that modifies the terms of the original 
note.
    (f) Replacement of loan guarantee, or assignment guarantee 
agreement. If the guarantee or assignment guarantee agreements are lost, 
stolen, destroyed, mutilated, or defaced, except where the evidence of 
debt was or is a bearer instrument, the Agency will issue a replacement 
to the lender or holder upon receipt of acceptable documentation 
including a certificate of loss and an indemnity bond.