If you have been following the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), you’ve heard that the $349 billion allocated for small business forgivable loans ran out in less than two weeks. You may know a few lucky people who got this loan. But you probably know a lot more who didn’t get their application approved in time.
There have been many accusations — including a few lawsuits — of banks putting its best customers first in line for these loans instead of the many struggling small businesses who desperately needed the money. The most notorious examples of this are the large loans given to the popular restaurant chains Ruth’s Chris Steak House and Shake Shack (which later returned the money).
From what I read and heard, it appears that almost all of the people who were able to secure a PPP loan did so through a connection they had with a banker, particularly a small bank. But a lot of these people did not have large bank accounts. Nor did they pay large amounts of fees and interest to the banks. They simply had an existing account with the bank and either got advance word through their bank’s e-mail advisory, or the banker called them personally.
Most of us don’t know a banker because we don’t need one on a regular basis. We contact one on the rare occasion where we need a loan or if we want to start a bank account. But even without this relationship, some people were still able to secure a loan through their accountants, attorneys, or financial advisors. They knew about the PPP before the SBA started accepting applications and were able to connect their clients with the right people who could help them. But because the funding is scarce, they are providing these services as a courtesy to their existing clients before helping others.
Unfortunately, this left many people who had to apply on their own. They thought that their large, nationally recognized bank would have the resources and the clout to process their loan applications and get them funded quickly. Instead, many of them were left in the dark with no status updates or any communication for days. When the banks eventually emailed them, they were told that many other applicants were ahead of them. By that time, they had nowhere else to turn because the smaller banks were no longer accepting applications and eventually the funding was exhausted.
If this sounds unfair, you are not wrong. Some people who really didn’t need this loan got it through their connections. While others who truly needed the money were shut out because their bank got into the game very late, their bank’s application process was very impersonal, and their bank had more customers than it could handle.
This shows how important professional relationships are. Especially now, it can mean the difference between survival and closure. The right people can help you in your time of need or can connect you with others who can.
It is not too late to make these connections. Now with more people out of work, people have more time to reach out and get to know you. Thanks to social distancing, you can meet people without leaving your house. For some introverts who don’t like to get out, this could be your chance to shine.
Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance. If you are ignored, ask someone else. Eventually someone will offer to help you.
But more importantly, while you are asking around in the chat room or Facebook group, be friendly. And be helpful to those who have questions or concerns. Most people have this weird habit of remembering people who help them in their time of need and returning the favor. Others will also notice your willingness to help and will also reciprocate. So save your elevator sales pitch for better days or when someone asks for it.
The federal government is expected to issue another round of PPP funding in the coming days. And it is very likely that the funds will again be depleted quickly now that more people are aware of the program, loan processing is more likely to be automated, and more unconventional loan servicers (such as Lendio and PayPal) are filling the gaps that banks could not. You can try applying on your own (and being customer number 102,399 on their online application service). Or you can make an effort to connect with someone who can get your loan processed — and get you your money — quicker.
Steven Chung is a tax attorney in Los Angeles, California. He helps people with basic tax planning and resolve tax disputes. He is also sympathetic to people with large student loans. He can be reached via email at sachimalbe@excite.com. Or you can connect with him on Twitter (@stevenchung) and connect with him on LinkedIn.