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Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-102

§1962 Loan Determination Factors; Written Credit Declinations

Title 7 › CHAPTER 50 — AGRICULTURAL CREDIT › SUBCHAPTER III — EMERGENCY LOANS › § 1962

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must look at an applicant’s net worth — everything they own and everything they owe — when deciding to make or insure a loan under this subchapter. To show an applicant can’t get enough credit elsewhere, the Secretary must get at least one written denial from a legally organized lender nearby that explains why credit was refused. Loans over $300,000 need two such written denials. For loans of $100,000 or less, the Secretary may waive this rule if it would be too hard for the applicant.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §1962

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)For the purpose of determining whether to make or insure any loan under this subchapter, the Secretary shall take into consideration the net worth of the applicant involved, including all the assets and liabilities of the applicant.
(b)For the purpose of determining whether an applicant under this subchapter is not able to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere, the Secretary shall require at least one written indication of declination of credit, from a legally organized lending institution within reasonable proximity to the applicant, that specifies the reasons for the declination: Provided, That for loans in excess of $300,000, the Secretary shall require at least two such written declinations: Provided further, That for loans of $100,000 or less, the Secretary may waive the requirement of this subsection if the Secretary determines that it would impose an undue burden on the applicant.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–127 substituted “loans of $100,000 or less” for “loans of $300,000 or less”. 1980—Pub. L. 96–438 substituted provisions prescribing factors to be considered in determining whether to make or insure a loan and relating to the need for applicants unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to provide written credit declinations for provisions relating to the purpose and extent of loans under this subchapter. 1975—Pub. L. 94–68 extended authority to finance crop or livestock changes deemed desirable as a result of changes in market demand, and to make emergency loans in excess of the actual loss sustained as a result of the natural disaster.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–127 effective 90 days after Apr. 4, 1996, see section 663(b) of Pub. L. 104–127, set out as a note under section 1922 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1980 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 96–438 effective with respect to loans approved after Oct. 13, 1980, except for certain subsequent emergency loans, see section 3(d) of Pub. L. 96–438, set out as a note under section 1961 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 1962

Title 7, Agriculture

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102