UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

May 5, 2021
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported)

Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity:  0001687031
Morgan Stanley Bank of America Merrill Lynch Trust 2016-C31
(Exact name of issuing entity)

Central Index Key Number of the registrant:  0001005007
Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

c/o Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
9062 Old Annapolis Road
Columbia, MD 21045
(Address of principal executive offices of the issuing entity)

(980) 388-7451
Registrant's Telephone number, including area code

Former name or former address, if changed since last report:  Not Applicable

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act(17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act(17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

☐  Emerging growth company

☐  If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised Financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

The International Square Mortgage Loan, which constituted approximately 3.1% of the asset pool of the issuing entity as of its cut-off date, is an asset of the issuing entity and is part of a loan combination that is being serviced and administered under the trust and servicing agreement, dated as of August 17, 2016 relating to the BAMLL 2016-ISQR Commercial Mortgage Trust filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2016 (the “BAMLL 2016-ISQR TSA”).  Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the BAMLL 2016-ISQR TSA, AEGON USA Realty Advisors, LLC (“AEGON Advisors”), an Iowa limited liability company, was removed as special servicer of the International Square Mortgage Loan and Torchlight Loan Services, LLC (“Torchlight”), a Delaware limited liability company, was appointed as the successor special servicer of the International Square Mortgage Loan under the BAMLL 2016-ISQR TSA.

In the interest of transaction management, this Current Report on Form 8-K is being filed to record that, effective as of May 5, 2021, the International Square Mortgage Loan will be specially serviced, if necessary, pursuant to the BAMLL 2016-ISQR TSA, by Torchlight.  The principal executive office and principal servicing office of Torchlight is located at 280 Park Avenue, 11th Floor, New York, New York 10017 and its telephone number is (212) 808-3640. 

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

Banc of America Merrill Lynch Commercial Mortgage Inc.
(Depositor)