Reality television star and restaurateur Kelli Potter (formerly known as Kelli Ferrell) is confronting fresh financial and legal challenges.
Creditors are moving to identify and potentially seize funds from her bank accounts to satisfy a default judgment exceeding $217,000 tied to a business loan for her restaurant chain.
RHOA Star Kelli Potter Faces Potential Bank Account Seizure Over $217K+ Debt from Years-Old Business Loan
The development was highlighted on July 15, 2026, in court documents posted online.
The Default Judgment and Collection Efforts
According to court documents obtained by TMZ and reported across multiple outlets, ARF Financial sued Potter and her company, Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles LLC, in 2025 over an unpaid business debt. Potter and the LLC did not respond to the lawsuit, resulting in a default judgment against them.
The judgment includes approximately $217,370.21 in principal damages, plus $4,723.70 in attorney’s fees and court costs, along with post-judgment interest that continues to accrue. ARF Financial has since issued subpoenas to multiple banks to locate accounts that could be used to satisfy the debt.
Subpoenas of this nature are a standard step in judgment enforcement and do not automatically mean funds have been or will immediately be seized. However, they signal active efforts by the creditor to collect.
Connection to Her Divorce and Ex-Husband
A representative for Potter stated that the matter “stems from a business loan that [Kelli] and her ex-husband, Mr. Ferrell, obtained over five years ago, while married.” The debt reportedly surfaced during divorce proceedings, where Potter argued that her ex-husband, Mark Ferrell, should bear responsibility. He has disputed that claim.
The representative added that the team is “confident that this legal matter will be rightfully resolved,” noting that Potter had not been officially served in the matter as of the latest reporting (though the default judgment had already been entered against her and the LLC).
This financial issue adds to ongoing post-divorce disputes between Potter and Ferrell, including matters related to child support.
Potter’s Business and Reality TV Exploits
Potter joined The Real Housewives of Atlanta (RHOA) for Season 16. Her storyline has prominently featured the growth of her restaurant brand, Nana’s Chicken-N-Waffles. The chain recently expanded with a second location in Sandy Springs, Georgia, offering more space, an expanded menu, events, and brand partnerships (including a Disney activation).
Potter has emphasized her commitment to the brick-and-mortar business beyond reality television, calling the expansion “the best thing ever” and highlighting that the new location opened on schedule despite assumptions to the contrary.
The current debt collection efforts come amid this period of business growth and her increased visibility on the hit Bravo series.
Public and Media Reaction
The story quickly gained traction on social media following the Complex post and related coverage from TMZ, TheGrio, That Grape Juice, and others. Some online commentary has been critical of Potter’s financial management or priorities, while others note the complexities of business loans from a prior marriage and the challenges of default judgments when responses are not filed.
As of this writing, there has been no public statement directly from Potter herself, and no indication that funds have already been seized from her accounts. The situation remains fluid as her legal team works to address the judgment and any related disputes with her ex-husband.
This latest development underscores the financial pressures that can accompany reality television fame, entrepreneurial ventures, and personal transitions—even as Potter focuses on expanding her restaurant empire.
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