Massachusetts: business records and regulators
Where to look a business up in Massachusetts, 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
Massachusetts 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.
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 Massachusetts
Official lists of the lenders that work in Massachusetts. Each opens on its own site, filtered to Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts on our route pages
- Business line of credit: Massachusetts lets the parties agree any rate in writing. But interest and fees above 20% a year are criminal usury, unless the lender has first notified the state Attorney General and keeps records of the loans. Banks and other lenders supervised by a state or federal regulator are outside that rule. A lender, or a broker paid to arrange the loan, needs a small loan license from the Commissioner of Banks to be in the business of lending $6,000 or less at more than 12% a year in interest and fees, whatever the loan is for. (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 107, section 3: rate of interest; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 271, section 49: criminal usury; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140, section 96: small loan business)
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: Massachusetts lets the parties agree any rate in writing. But interest and fees above 20% a year are criminal usury, unless the lender has first notified the state Attorney General and keeps records of the loans. Banks and other lenders supervised by a state or federal regulator are outside that rule. A lender, or a broker paid to arrange the loan, needs a small loan license from the Commissioner of Banks to be in the business of lending $6,000 or less at more than 12% a year in interest and fees, whatever the loan is for. (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 107, section 3: rate of interest; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 271, section 49: criminal usury; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140, section 96: small loan business)
- Online business loans: Massachusetts lets the parties agree any rate in writing. But interest and fees above 20% a year are criminal usury, unless the lender has first notified the state Attorney General and keeps records of the loans. Banks and other lenders supervised by a state or federal regulator are outside that rule. A lender, or a broker paid to arrange the loan, needs a small loan license from the Commissioner of Banks to be in the business of lending $6,000 or less at more than 12% a year in interest and fees, whatever the loan is for. (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 107, section 3: rate of interest; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 271, section 49: criminal usury; Massachusetts General Laws chapter 140, section 96: small loan business)
Sources
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Corporations: Search for a Business Entity · checked October 20, 2026
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Corporations Division (Search the UCC Database; Search the Liens Database) · checked October 20, 2026
- Mass.gov: Division of Banks (DOB) · checked October 20, 2026
- Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts: Massachusetts Securities Division · checked October 20, 2026