PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM LOANS

PPP LOAN FORGIVENESS

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has launched a direct forgiveness platform for all PPP loan borrowers seeking forgiveness for their first draw or second draw loans of $150,000.00 or less.  This SBA forgiveness application portal should only take a few minutes to complete with no required documentation uploads unless otherwise directed by the SBA.  The First will still be engaged in the process by reviewing and approving your forgiveness application prior to an SBA decision.  Your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and your SBA loan number will be needed to access the portal.  Your SBA loan number can be located on the PPP loan documents you signed.  If you cannot locate the SBA loan number, please contact your local branch for assistance.

All borrowers with a loan amount of $150,000.00 or less must click here to begin the new registration process with SBA Direct Forgiveness and forgiveness application access.

 

All borrowers with a PPP loan obtained in 2021 with a loan amount of more than $150,000, must click here.

 

We are here to help regardless of the amount of your PPP loan. Please contact us at 215-579-3409 or at pppquestions@fnbn.com.

For detailed guidance on all PPP loans, please go to https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program

The Small Business Administration is finalizing new procedures for PPP loan forgiveness for Borrowers who received their funds in 2021.  They expect to open their process Wednesday, August 4, 2021.  First National Bank will finalize our procedures for all our Borrowers after that date.  We will be notifying our PPP loan customers through the email addresses provided at time of application and will also have the new guidance on our website.

 

The First National Bank is currently not accepting new Paycheck Protection Program loan applications. 

The Small Business Administration announced today that the Paycheck Protection Program has been exhausted.

New applications for first and second draw loans for SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program is now open for First National Bank customers.

Applications will be accepted electronically only.  Use Google Chrome or Firefox for optimal function.

 

The Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act (the Economic Aid Act) provides continued assistance to small businesses that have been financially impacted by the ongoing COVID pandemic.  Included in this new Act is the Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loan (PPP Second Draw Program) with generally the same terms and conditions under the Paycheck Protection Program (First Draw PPP Loans).

In general, your small business may be eligible to participate in the PPP Second Draw Program if your business received a First Draw PPP Loan and have used or will use the full amount of the loan for authorized purposes, has no more than 300 employees, and can demonstrate at least a 25% reduction in gross receipts between comparable quarters in 2019 and 2020.  Your maximum loan amount for a PPP Second Draw is 2.5 times average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.  However, if you are in the Accommodation and Food Services industry (NAICS 72), the maximum loan amount is 3.5 times average monthly 2019 or 2020 payroll costs up to $2 million.

Please refer to https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program or www.treasury.gov for the specific details regarding eligibility, payroll cost calculation and definitions, covered expenses and Second Draw PPP Loan application and documentation requirements.

The First National Bank of Newtown was honored to navigate the First Draw PPP Loan process with you and now we are preparing to help you navigate the PPP Second Draw Program.  FNB will be offering to our First Draw PPP Loan participants a secure online portal to apply for a PPP Second Draw Loan and to upload required documents.  The bank will not be accepting paper or emailed applications. 

The Paycheck Protection Program is now officially open; however, the initial rollout is limited to First Draw PPP Loans and CFIs (Community Financial Development Institutions, Minority Depository Institutions, Community Development Corporations and Microlender Intermediaries).  All other financial institutions, including FNB, are waiting to be granted access to the Program by the SBA.  Please continue to check our website for updates on the availability of the PPP Second Draw Program and the link to the portal.

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provided critical funding to millions of small businesses. The First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown is grateful for your trust and patience as we navigated the application and funding process together and now, as we embark on the forgiveness process.

Your PPP loan is eligible for forgiveness in an amount equal to the sum of the eligible payroll and non-payroll costs paid during your covered period of 24 weeks, or through December 31, 2020; whichever occurs first. However, you may choose to expend your PPP funds in 8 weeks. The covered period for your PPP loan began on the day your loan was funded.

Key points of PPP Loan Forgiveness:

• Borrower has 10 months after the last day of the covered period to apply for forgiveness.
• There is safe harbor from reductions in forgiveness, based on reductions in full-time equivalent employees (FTE), for borrowers that are unable to return to the same level of business activity prior to February 15, 2020, due to compliance with requirements/guidance between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, by the SHHS, CDC, and OSHA.
• There is safe harbor from reductions in forgiveness based on reductions in full-time equivalent employees for borrowers that are unable to rehire individuals who were employees on February 15, 2020, and unable to hire similarly qualified employees for unfilled positions by December 31, 2020.
• Borrower must use at least 60 percent of the loan amount on payroll costs and may use up to 40 percent of the covered payroll costs for any payment of mortgage interest, rent, or utilities. All non-payroll costs must be in place/force before February 15, 2020.
• If a borrower received an EIDL advance, the SBA is required to reduce the borrower’s loan forgiveness amount by the amount of the EIDL advance. 
• If a PPP loan is not forgiven in full by the SBA (including if there has been a reduction in the forgiveness amount for an EIDL advance), the borrower must repay any remaining balance due by the loan maturity date.
• The SBA has 90 days to review applications for forgiveness and make a determination on loan forgiveness, subject to any SBA review of the loan or application.

All PPP borrowers must complete the SBA forgiveness application Form 3508 or Form 3508EZ and upload all supporting documents through our online portal. Eight weeks after your loan funding, you will receive your first email from ESFSCMConfigurator@Fiserv.com inviting you to The First’s secure online portal. If you are ready to begin the forgiveness process, start by following the link from Fiserv.com. Please note, the business name you login with must exactly match the name on your invitation email from Fiserv.com. The business name and EIN may not contain punctuation. The online application and supporting documents submitted through the portal will be received by The First for review prior to submission to the SBA.

Many PPP borrowers are postponing the forgiveness process with the expectation that the Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act will be enacted. This new legislation may greatly simplify the forgiveness application and documentation process for loans under $150,000. However, The First is encouraging you to begin the application process soon after your covered period ends in the event the legislation does not become law. If you receive the online invitation but are not ready to apply, please take some time to log into and navigate the portal to become familiar with it.

If you have any questions or if you have not received your invitation to the portal, please contact our PPP team at 215-579-3409, or email us at PPPQuestions@fnbn.com. Please refer to https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/assistance-for-small-businesses and your accountant for additional guidance.

Thank you for your continued commitment to The First.

The SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) has helped Small Businesses, like yours, keep their workforce employed during the COVID-19 crisis. The SBA will forgive loans if all employee retention guidelines are met, and the funds are used for eligible expenses. Please refer to https://home.treasury.gov/policy-issues/cares/assistance-for-small-businesses and consult with your accountant for guidance. Another good resource is https://bench.co/blog/operations/ppp-loan-forgiveness/.

The covered period for your PPP loan began on the day your loan was funded and ends 24 weeks after. If you have already exhausted your funds on payroll and other eligible expenses, you may elect to apply for forgiveness prior to the end of your 24 weeks.

You will be receiving an email from ESFSCMConfigurator@Fiserv.com inviting you to The First’s secure online portal to complete the forgiveness application and upload supporting documents. If you are ready to begin the forgiveness process, start by following the link from the next email you receive from Fiserv.com. Please note, the business name you login with must exactly match the name on your original PPP loan documents. Although the SBA is not yet ready to accept applications, your application and supporting documents will remain secure in the portal until transmission to the SBA is allowed. At that time, The First will transmit your application to the SBA. The SBA has 90 days to make a decision on each PPP forgiveness application. You will receive notice of the SBA’s decision through the portal. You are welcome to check the portal from time-to-time for the status of your forgiveness application.

All applications for forgiveness must be completed and processed through The First’s secure online portal. If this is not feasible for you and your business, please contact a member of our PPP team for support at 215-579-3409, or email us at PPPQuestions@fnbn.com.

The Paycheck Protection Program has experienced many changes since its first passage and The First’s communications have always been based on what we know at the moment. While questions remain about some of the forgiveness details, we will continue to keep you posted on the evolving process. For example, proposed new legislation, the Paycheck Protection Small Business Forgiveness Act would forgive PPP loans of $150,000 or less if the borrower submits a one-page attestation form to the bank. If this ACT passes, it may eliminate the complicated forgiveness application and the process of providing the supporting documentation.

Thank you for your continued patience as we navigate this process.

Please be aware of PPP scams. Do not respond to any email or phone inquiries unless you are certain the inquiry is coming from the bank or directly from this email, ESFSCMConfigurator@Fiserv.com.