Washington: business records and regulators
Where to look a business up in Washington, 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
Washington 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.
Washington Department of Licensing: UCC online filing and searches (opens in a new tab)
In Washington, UCC records are kept by the Department of Licensing, not the Secretary of State. The department lists its fees for online filing and searches.
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 Washington
Official lists of the lenders that work in Washington. Each opens on its own site, filtered to Washington 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 Washington on our route pages
- Business line of credit: The general limit on interest is 12% a year, or 4 percentage points above the 26-week Treasury bill rate if that is higher. But a corporation, partnership or other organization, or anyone borrowing mainly for a business, cannot plead usury or sue under the usury law. Washington's Consumer Loan Act license does not cover loans mainly for business, commercial or farming purposes, unless the loan is secured on the borrower's main home. (Revised Code of Washington 19.52.020: highest rate permissible; Revised Code of Washington 19.52.080: no usury defense when the transaction is mainly for business; Revised Code of Washington 31.04.025: application of the Consumer Loan Act (subsection (4)(e): business, commercial and agricultural loans))
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: The general limit on interest is 12% a year, or 4 percentage points above the 26-week Treasury bill rate if that is higher. But a corporation, partnership or other organization, or anyone borrowing mainly for a business, cannot plead usury or sue under the usury law. Washington's Consumer Loan Act license does not cover loans mainly for business, commercial or farming purposes, unless the loan is secured on the borrower's main home. (Revised Code of Washington 19.52.020: highest rate permissible; Revised Code of Washington 19.52.080: no usury defense when the transaction is mainly for business; Revised Code of Washington 31.04.025: application of the Consumer Loan Act (subsection (4)(e): business, commercial and agricultural loans))
- Intrastate offerings and state crowdfunding: Washington's crowdfunding exemption (RCW 21.20.880) lets a business doing business in Washington raise up to $1 million in 12 months after filing with the Department of Financial Institutions, with the money in escrow until the minimum is reached, limits on what each investor who is not accredited can put in ($2,000 or 5% of income or net worth for most), a one-year limit on resale, and a yearly report to investors. (RCW 21.20.880: small securities offerings, exemptions)
- Online business loans: The general limit on interest is 12% a year, or 4 percentage points above the 26-week Treasury bill rate if that is higher. But a corporation, partnership or other organization, or anyone borrowing mainly for a business, cannot plead usury or sue under the usury law. Washington's Consumer Loan Act license does not cover loans mainly for business, commercial or farming purposes, unless the loan is secured on the borrower's main home. (Revised Code of Washington 19.52.020: highest rate permissible; Revised Code of Washington 19.52.080: no usury defense when the transaction is mainly for business; Revised Code of Washington 31.04.025: application of the Consumer Loan Act (subsection (4)(e): business, commercial and agricultural loans))
Sources
- Washington Secretary of State: Corporations & Charities (CCFS Search) · checked October 20, 2026
- Washington State Department of Licensing: Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) (file and search online, in batches or by mail; online file and search fees) · checked October 20, 2026
- Washington State Department of Financial Institutions: home page (verify a license) · checked October 20, 2026
- Washington DFI: Securities Division · checked October 20, 2026