Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance (Including Key Steps)

What is a collateral assignment of life insurance? Is there a difference between absolute assignment vs. collateral assignment? Or, what is involved in the assignment of a life insurance policy?

These or other related questions are understandable, given that this request by a prospective lender may be the first time an individual has ever heard of a collateral assignment. This article, Collateral Assignment of Life Insurance (Including Key Steps), provides information related to the collateral assignment of life insurance, compares absolute assignment to collateral assignment, and discusses the process for collateral assignment, as well as other considerations in understanding how life insurance policies work.

This type of arrangement is referred to as a collateral assignment and guarantees loan repayment in the event of a borrower’s untimely death. In this scenario, the policy owner is the assignor, and the lender requiring collateral assignment is the assignee.

In a collateral assignment, the insured borrower’s death benefit would be used to repay the outstanding loan amount, with any remaining benefit being paid to the policy’s listed beneficiaries. The life insurance policy used for collateral assignment may be either an existing policy or a new policy taken out specifically for this purpose.

Please note that a collateral assignment is preferred to simply listing the lender as a beneficiary on the policy since the outstanding loan amount usually decreases over time. Additionally, a collateral assignment will routinely terminate once the perspective loan balance has been paid in full.

In many instances, term life insurance is the most logical and economical type of policy for providing a lender-required death benefit. Additionally, if a new policy is being established to meet lender requirements, a policy term length can be selected, which coincides with the terms of the loan.

As an example, a 10-year term life insurance policy could be purchased for collaterally assigned to a 10-year loan. Since term life is “pure” protection and provides no cash value, this type of policy will likely meet collateral assignment requirements for a death benefit only. If a lender requires additional collateral as a condition of loan approval, an existing permanent policy with accumulated cash value may be preferred.

A permanent life insurance policy may also be used for collateral assignment. In the case of a permanent life policy, the accumulated cash value may be assessed to repay any outstanding balance in the event of borrower default, as well as providing death benefit protection. On a positive note, this “collateral” may be helpful in qualifying for a loan but also limits the policy owner’s access to the cash value as long as there is an outstanding balance.

In either event, once the loan is paid off, collateral assignment restrictions to both the cash value and death benefit are removed. It is also important to note that the policy owner has a responsibility to ensure that a policy used for collateral assigned remains in force and that required premiums are paid.

In some instances, an individual’s group life insurance (employee benefits) may be used for collateral assignment. This is not common but is offered by some insurance companies as an option for group policy members. If you are considering a collateral assignment of life insurance that is part of a group policy or employee benefits, you should contact your benefits administrator and/or issuing insurance company to determine availability.

With a collateral assignment, a borrower’s life insurance policy death benefit and/or cash value may be used to repay the outstanding loan balance in the event of borrower death and/or default. In comparison, a life insurance policy loan involves borrowing money directly from the life insurance company using the accumulated cash value as collateral. If you own a permanent life insurance policy (i.e., whole life, universal life, variable life, etc.), and have adequate cash value, a policy loan may be a great option to consider.

In comparing loan options, it is important to consider interest rates, loan terms, and other factors. It is also important to note that with a policy loan, you will be charged interest on the amount borrowed, an unpaid loan may reduce the death benefit paid to beneficiaries, and a policy lapse can have significant tax implications.

If you are considering taking out a policy loan on an existing life insurance policy, please consult your insurance and tax professionals for advice specific to your individual situation.

Also, assigning a bank as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy is another common mistake. Being named as the primary beneficiary gives the bank rights to the entire death benefit regardless of the current balance on any loan. Whereas, as discussed above, a collateral assignment only commits policy benefits for the term and/or outstanding balance of the loan. So, after the loan amount is paid, the remaining death benefit would go to the policy’s primary beneficiaries.

To reiterate, NEVER provide an absolute assignment or primary beneficiary designation to a lender if all that is required is the collateral assignment of life insurance.

If you are required to provide a collateral assignment for a loan and have an existing life insurance policy with an adequate face amount, you can reach out to the issuing insurance company’s policy service department to request collateral assignment instructions and required forms.  Most insurance companies allow collateral assignment of life insurance unless otherwise prohibited in the policy contract.

While the insurance company must be notified and will require certain paperwork to process the request, they are otherwise not involved in the loan process. When completing life insurance company collateral assignment forms, be prepared to provide detailed information related to both your existing policy and perspective loan.

If you require a collateral assignment for a loan and do not have an existing life insurance policy, you will need to apply for a new policy to meet the terms of your lender. Though the primary purpose of the new policy may be to satisfy lender requirements, it is always advised that you consider comprehensive coverage needs when applying for life insurance.  As an example, you may choose to apply for a longer term policy that you plan to keep after the loan has been paid off for personal or business protection.

As with any purchase of life insurance, it is important to select the right type of policy, amount of coverage, and insurance company based on your individual situation. In naming beneficiaries on a life insurance policy purchased for collateral assignment, ensure to name personal beneficiaries (not the lender). This designation is extremely important since named beneficiaries will receive any death benefits above and beyond the outstanding loan amount.

Additionally, since life insurance policy approval may take anywhere from a few days for simplified issue (non-medical) products to up to 4 weeks or more for fully underwritten (requires medical exam) policies, the application and approval timeline should be taken into consideration. It is best to work with an experienced independent agent who can make appropriate recommendations and facilitate the application process. Once your new life insurance policy is approved and inforce, you can initiate the collateral assignment process by reaching out to the insurer for instructions and required paperwork, as discussed above.

The following are key steps in the collateral assignment process for most insurance companies and lending institutions. It is important to ensure that you follow the specific instructions provided by your individual insurance company. Additionally, consideration of the policy approval timeline is also advised since life insurance underwriting can take several weeks to complete.