UCC glossary

UCC-1 Financing Statement

A UCC-1 is the public filing a secured lender makes to perfect its security interest in a borrower’s collateral.

A UCC-1 financing statement is filed by a secured party — typically with the debtor’s state filing office — to give public notice of a security interest in a business borrower’s collateral. It identifies the debtor, the secured party, and the collateral covered.

Filing a UCC-1 is how a lender perfects its interest: it establishes priority against other creditors and puts the world on notice that the collateral is already encumbered. A UCC-1 is generally effective for five years unless continued.

Why it matters for lenders

A new UCC-1 on a business you’ve already funded usually means it took on additional secured financing. For a lender watching its portfolio, that filing is often the earliest sign of stacking or a changed collateral position.

Related terms

Monitor UCC filings on your borrowers

PerfectUCC watches your funded book across every US state and alerts you the moment a new filing appears.

Get started