District of Columbia: business records and regulators
Where to look a business up in District of Columbia, where to search the UCC filings against it, and the offices that regulate banks, lenders and securities there.
Each link opens the state's own site in a new tab, so what you type there goes to that site, not to us. Some state searches charge a fee or ask you to make an account. Privacy
District of Columbia records and regulators
Business search
Look a business up in the state's register of businesses.
UCC search
Find the UCC filings against a business: the financing statements lenders file to record a lien on its assets, such as a blanket lien.
DC Recorder of Deeds: online public records search (opens in a new tab)
UCC filings are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds, part of the Office of Tax and Revenue. Searching needs a free account; searching and viewing images is free, and a downloaded document costs $4.00 plus $1.50 a transaction.
Banking and lending regulator
Oversees the banks the state charters. Check its site for the lender and broker licenses the state requires.
Securities regulator
The state office for securities offerings, brokers and investment advisers.
Find a lender in District of Columbia
Official lists of the lenders that work in District of Columbia. Each opens on its own site, filtered to District of Columbia where the list allows it.
SBA 504 lenders (Certified Development Companies) (opens in a new tab)
The nonprofit lenders that make SBA 504 loans for property and big equipment, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA microloan lenders (opens in a new tab)
Nonprofit lenders that make SBA microloans of up to $50,000, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA Lender Match (opens in a new tab)
The SBA's own matching tool: you answer a few questions about your business on its site, and two business days later it gives you a list of the lenders interested; some may contact you. It is not a loan application. What you type goes to the SBA and those lenders, not to us.
Certified CDFIs (community lenders) (opens in a new tab)
The CDFI Fund's list of every certified community development financial institution (CDFI): loan funds, banks and credit unions. Download the list and sort it by the State column.
The FDIC's BankFind: search for the banks with offices in the state.
Credit unions (opens in a new tab)
The NCUA's credit union locator. Credit unions lend to their members, so check who can join.
Before you sign with any lender, check it is licensed: see the banking and lending regulator above, and Check a lender or platform. A few national lenders and platforms are named, with how they were chosen, in the provider directory.
State rules for District of Columbia on our route pages
- Business line of credit: A loan of more than $2,500 for a business, professional or commercial activity can carry any agreed rate. Below that, the limit is 24% a year. A lender that charges more than 6% a year needs a District money lender license, unless it is a bank, a small business investment company or another lender the law exempts. The license rule does not cover loans over $25,000, loans to a borrower who lives, does business or is incorporated outside the District, or some loans to corporations. (Code of the District of Columbia 28-3301: rate of interest expressed in contract (subsection (d): business loans); Code of the District of Columbia 26-901: businesses required to procure license; Code of the District of Columbia 26-910: exemption of certain persons and businesses; Code of the District of Columbia 26-912: exemption of certain loans)
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: A loan of more than $2,500 for a business, professional or commercial activity can carry any agreed rate. Below that, the limit is 24% a year. A lender that charges more than 6% a year needs a District money lender license, unless it is a bank, a small business investment company or another lender the law exempts. The license rule does not cover loans over $25,000, loans to a borrower who lives, does business or is incorporated outside the District, or some loans to corporations. (Code of the District of Columbia 28-3301: rate of interest expressed in contract (subsection (d): business loans); Code of the District of Columbia 26-901: businesses required to procure license; Code of the District of Columbia 26-910: exemption of certain persons and businesses; Code of the District of Columbia 26-912: exemption of certain loans)
- Online business loans: A loan of more than $2,500 for a business, professional or commercial activity can carry any agreed rate. Below that, the limit is 24% a year. A lender that charges more than 6% a year needs a District money lender license, unless it is a bank, a small business investment company or another lender the law exempts. The license rule does not cover loans over $25,000, loans to a borrower who lives, does business or is incorporated outside the District, or some loans to corporations. (Code of the District of Columbia 28-3301: rate of interest expressed in contract (subsection (d): business loans); Code of the District of Columbia 26-901: businesses required to procure license; Code of the District of Columbia 26-910: exemption of certain persons and businesses; Code of the District of Columbia 26-912: exemption of certain loans)
Sources
- DC Business One Stop Shop (BOSS): Global Search (search by entity or licensee name, file or license number, or address) · checked October 20, 2026
- DC Office of Tax and Revenue: Recorder of Deeds FAQs ("UCC documents can be recorded with the DC Office of the Recorder of Deeds"; its online records at washington.dc.publicsearch.us) · checked November 1, 2026
- DC Recorder of Deeds public search: registration and fees · checked November 1, 2026
- DC Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking: home page · checked October 20, 2026