Business UCC Filing Search - Can't Find Our Equipment Loan Records

We're incorporated in the same state we operate in, so that's not the issue. I did try partial name searches but still nothing. The bank is being super vague about what name they actually used on the filing.

Banks mess up debtor names ALL the time. I've seen them use trade names instead of legal names, or add random LLC designations that don't match the articles of incorporation.

Good point about the old names. We did change our legal name about 18 months ago but the loan was only a year old. I'll check both versions.

This is why I always request a copy of the UCC-1 from lenders before closing. Too many headaches later when you can't find filings because of name mismatches.

yeah this happens way more than it should, banks just dont pay attention to the exact legal name

That sounds helpful - does it search multiple states automatically or do you still need to know where to look?

It focuses on the state you specify but it's really good at catching name variations and common filing mistakes. Just upload your loan agreement and it handles the cross-checking.

Another vote for checking documents against filings. Manual searches miss so many variations it's not even funny.

Tell me about it. I've been dealing with UCC filings for 15 years and the inconsistency just keeps getting worse as more lenders use automated systems.

At least with automated systems you'd think they'd pull the name directly from incorporation documents but apparently not!

Smart idea. The lender is a pretty big regional bank so there should be lots of filings under their name.

This is exactly what I do when I can't find filings. Search the lender first, then scan through their recent filings.

Just be careful because big banks file dozens of UCCs every day. You might need to narrow it down by date range.

The loan was over a year ago so timing shouldn't be an issue. I'll check about separate databases though - this is equipment so it could be filed as fixtures.

Equipment usually gets filed as regular personal property, not fixtures, unless it's permanently attached to real estate.

I tried DBA searches too but maybe I need to try more variations. Did you eventually find it?

yeah finally found it but took forever, had to try like 10 different name combinations

I didn't know they offered that service. Definitely worth trying if I can't track it down myself.

Most states charge like $20-30 for staff searches but they can find things the online system misses.

Called them once for a really obscure search and they were super helpful. Much better than the online system for complex searches.

That's the second mention of that tool - sounds like it might be worth trying. Did it require any special setup or just upload and go?

Super simple - just upload your loan agreement PDF and it handles the rest. No setup required.

It's strictly equipment financing, no real estate involved. But I'll double-check the filing type options in our state's database.

Even equipment can be filed as fixtures if it's permanently installed. Worth checking both databases to be safe.

True - anything that's attached to the building or considered part of the real estate gets the fixture treatment.

Smart move. I recommend doing annual UCC audits just to make sure everything is filed correctly and still active.

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions. Going to try the secured party search first, then maybe look into that document verification tool if I'm still stuck.