Finding 33025 (2022-001)

Significant Deficiency
Requirement
N
Questioned Costs
-
Year
2022
Accepted
2023-08-28

AI Summary

  • Core Issue: A mortgage for a loan issued by True Access Capital was not recorded for over a year due to a poorly executed power of attorney.
  • Impacted Requirements: This situation violates 13 CFR section 307.11, which mandates proper documentation and compliance for RLF loans.
  • Recommended Follow-Up: The Organization should ensure all loan closings are completed accurately and on time to prevent future compliance issues.

Finding Text

Condition: During the year ended December 31, 2022, True Access Capital issued a loan that was collateralized by real property. A mortgage on the collateral was executed during the loan closing process but was not recorded for over one year after the closing. Criteria: 13 CFR section 307.11 (a)(1)(ii) requires the following: (ii) The RLF Recipient's certification that standard RLF loan documents reasonably necessary or advisable for lending are in place and a certification from the RLF Recipient's legal counsel that the loan documents are adequate and comply with the terms and conditions of the RLF Grant, RLF Plan, and applicable State and local law. The standard loan documents must include, at a minimum, the following: (A) Loan application; (B) Loan agreement; (C) Board of directors' meeting minutes approving the RLF loan; (D) Promissory note; (E) Security agreement(s); (F) Deed of trust or mortgage (as applicable); (G) Agreement of prior lien holder (as applicable); and (H) Evidence demonstrating that credit is not otherwise available on terms and conditions that permit the completion or successful operation of the activity to be financed. Cause: The mortgage was executed by a power of attorney that was not properly completed and could not be recorded by the recorder of deeds. The Organization engaged an attorney to conduct the loan closing and execution of the relevant loan documents. The Organization?s attorney did not discover this error until the mortgage was returned by the recorder of deeds indicating the power of attorney was not properly executed. Effect: The loan issued did not comply with the requirements of 13 CFR Section 307.11. Additionally, the Loan Fund and the Organization experienced a temporarily increased risk of loss because the mortgage was not properly recorded. Context: Two loans totaling $225,000 issued during the year ended December 31, 2022, were selected for audit. We found one loan in the amount of $200,000 was not in compliance with the program requirements. Recommendation: The Organization should review each closing to confirm it is completed in a timely and accurately manner.

Corrective Action Plan

The Organization acknowledges Finding 2022-001. The Organization will revise the post loan closing process to include a tickler system that alerts the Portfolio team after the loan has been closed to ensure that the loan has been properly closed and that all collateral and security filings have been completed. Responsible Person: Vandell Hampton, Jr., President & CEO Anticipated Completion Date: July 31, 2023

Categories

Equipment & Real Property Management Matching / Level of Effort / Earmarking

Other Findings in this Audit

Programs in Audit

ALN Program Name Expenditures
59.012 7(a) Loan Guarantees $1.34M
11.307 Economic Adjustment Assistance $1.19M
21.020 Community Development Financial Institutions Program $810,748
59.046 Microloan Program $749,970
59.043 Women's Business Ownership Assistance $170,351
10.870 Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program $16,616