Unity National Bank of Houston, N.A. (“Unity”) has been authorized by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as a designated lender in round two of the Paycheck Protection Program (“SBA Paycheck Protection Program”). The SBA Paycheck Protect Program began April 3, 2020. On December 27, 2020, Congress extended the program to March 31, 2021, to help alleviate the financial burden put on small businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Unity will begin accepting applications starting January 11, 2021 from businesses that did not obtain a PPP loan in the first instance. In subsequent days, businesses that have already used 100% of their first draw PPP loan obtained in 2020 are eligible to apply.

Just as it did during the first distribution, Unity is once again ready to provide a lifeline to small business owners financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. “During round one of the SBA Paycheck Protection Program, Unity served nearly 500 small businesses and saved about 4,000 jobs,” says Laurie Vignaud, Unity’s President and CEO. “We are ready for this next opportunity to support and ensure our small businesses receive vital access to capital and resources needed to sustain them so they don’t fall through the cracks during this unprecedented challenging time.”

To qualify for the program, a small business must employ 300 or fewer people. The maximum loan amount is 2.5 times average monthly payroll cost or $2 million (for restaurants, hotels, and other establishments providing customers with lodging and/or preparing meals, snacks, and beverages for immediate consumption (businesses with NAICS code beginning with 72) then the maximum loan amount is 3.5 times borrower’s average monthly payroll cost or $2 million). To begin the application process, go to www.unitybanktexas.com.