UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

________________

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): June 29, 2021

Central Index Key Number of the issuing entity: 0001802215

Benchmark 2020-B17 Mortgage Trust

(Exact name of Issuing Entity)

Central Index Key Number of the depositor: 0001013611

J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0000835271

JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001541294

German American Capital Corporation

Central Index Key Number of the sponsor: 0001701238

Citi Real Estate Funding Inc.

(Exact Names of the Sponsors as Specified in their Charters)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (212) 834-5467

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))

Section 1.     Registrant’s Business and Operations.

On March 24, 2020, a series of mortgage pass-through certificates, entitled Benchmark 2020-B17 Mortgage Trust, Commercial Mortgage Pass-Through Certificates, Series 2020-B17 (the “Certificates”), was issued by Benchmark 2020-B17 Mortgage Trust (the “Issuing Entity”), pursuant to a Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2019 (the “Pooling and Servicing Agreement”), between J.P. Morgan Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp. (the “Registrant”), as depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as master servicer and as special servicer, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as certificate administrator and as trustee, and Pentalpha Surveillance LLC, as operating advisor and as asset representations reviewer. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Pooling and Servicing Agreement.

The Mortgage Loan identified as “Alabama Hilton Portfolio” on Exhibit B to the Pooling and Servicing Agreement (the “Alabama Hilton Portfolio Mortgage Loan”), which is an asset of the Issuing Entity, is part of a whole loan (the “Alabama Hilton Portfolio Whole Loan”) that includes the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Mortgage Loan, and one pari passu promissory note (the “Companion Loan”) that is not an asset of the Issuing Entity. The Pooling and Servicing Agreement provides that the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Whole Loan is to be serviced and administered (i) until the securitization of the related controlling Companion Loan, under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, and (ii) from and after the securitization of the related controlling Companion Loan, under the pooling and servicing agreement entered into in connection with that securitization.

On June 29, 2021, the controlling Companion Loan related to the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Whole Loan was securitized pursuant to the Benchmark 2021-B27 securitization transaction. As of such date, the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Whole Loan, including the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Mortgage Loan, is being serviced and administered under the Pooling and Servicing Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2021 (the “Benchmark 2021-B27 Pooling and Servicing Agreement”), among Citigroup Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc., as depositor, Midland Loan Services, a Division of PNC Bank, National Association, as master servicer (in such capacity, the “Non-Serviced Master Servicer”) and as special servicer (in such capacity, the “Non-Serviced Special Servicer”), Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee, Citibank, N.A., as certificate administrator, paying agent and custodian, and Park Bridge Lender Services LLC, as operating advisor and as asset representations reviewer. The Benchmark 2021-B27 Pooling and Servicing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.

The terms and conditions of the Benchmark 2021-B27 Pooling and Servicing Agreement applicable to the servicing of the Alabama Hilton Portfolio Mortgage Loan are substantially similar to the terms and conditions of the Pooling and Servicing Agreement applicable to the servicing of the other Mortgage Loans, as described under “Pooling and Servicing Agreement” in the Prospectus filed by the Issuing Entity pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) with respect to the Certificates on March 24, 2020 (the “Prospectus”), however the servicing arrangements under such agreements will differ in certain respects, including the items set forth under “Pooling and Servicing Agreement—Servicing of the Non-Serviced Mortgage Loans—General” in the Prospectus and the following:

Section 9.    Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

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.