Lender review
SmartBiz Loans Business Loans, Reviewed
A federally chartered bank built around SBA lending, offering some of the lowest rates on this network for businesses with two or more years of history.
Lender review
A federally chartered bank built around SBA lending, offering some of the lowest rates on this network for businesses with two or more years of history.
SmartBiz Loans, now chartered as SmartBiz Bank, has delivered more than $9 billion in capital to over 230,000 small businesses since 2009 by specializing almost entirely in SBA 7(a) lending. Its SBA rates, capped by the SBA itself, beat nearly everything else on this network, but that pricing comes with real strings attached: 2 or more years in business, a credit score in the 640 to 675 range depending on the product, and a process that moves in weeks rather than hours.
SmartBiz Loans specializes in SBA 7(a) loans for working capital and commercial real estate, along with bank term loans and lines of credit, through its own balance sheet and a network of partner banks.
What sets SmartBiz Loans apart is focus. Rather than spreading across a dozen loan types, it has built its entire process around making SBA lending faster and more predictable than a typical bank branch, with a streamlined online application and a dedicated SBA specialist assigned to every borrower from prequalification through closing.
Prequalify in minutes without affecting your credit score.
Exact rates and loan amounts vary by product and by applicant; see the product breakdown below for details on each one.
SmartBiz Loans concentrates on SBA lending, supplemented by bank term loans and a line of credit for businesses that do not fit the SBA mold.
| SBA 7(a) working capital loan | $30,000 to $350,000 for working capital, debt refinancing, or general business needs, with variable rates capped by the SBA and no prepayment penalty. |
| SBA 7(a) real estate loan | Up to $5 million for owner occupied commercial real estate, requiring a 675 or higher credit score and stricter use requirements than the working capital option. |
| Bank term loan | Financing for businesses that do not qualify for an SBA loan, with shorter terms of two to five years and rates set by SmartBiz’s partner banks. |
| Business line of credit | Revolving access to funds for businesses with more flexible credit profiles, matched through SmartBiz’s partner network. |
Rate, term, and amount figures are set per applicant during underwriting.
SmartBiz Loans’s bar reflects its SBA focus: stronger credit and a longer track record than most lenders on this network.
SmartBiz generally requires a 640 or higher credit score for its working capital SBA loan and bank term loans, and 675 or higher for its SBA real estate loan.
Most SmartBiz products require at least 2 years of operating history, with some sources citing a preference for 3 years on the strongest pricing tiers.
SmartBiz does not publish a strict revenue minimum, instead requiring proof of sufficient cash flow to support loan payments. Most approved businesses report annual revenues of $100,000 or higher.
You can prequalify in about five minutes with a soft credit pull, after which SmartBiz matches you to its own balance sheet or a partner bank based on your profile.
The application starts online, and SmartBiz Loans assigns a dedicated relationship manager to walk you through documentation and closing.
Complete SmartBiz’s short application. This uses a soft credit pull and takes about five minutes.
A dedicated SBA specialist reviews your file, requests documentation, and matches you to the right product and lender.
Once underwriting and closing are complete, funds are disbursed, typically within 14 to 30 days depending on the loan type.
Variable rates set at prime plus a fixed margin, capped by the SBA, undercut nearly every fast funding option on this network.
SmartBiz Bank, N.A. is an FDIC member, giving it a level of regulatory oversight that most online lenders do not carry.
One person guides you from prequalification through closing rather than a rotating support queue.
Working capital and debt refinance loans can be paid off early without an added fee.
Since 2009, SmartBiz has delivered more than $9 billion in capital, concentrated almost entirely in SBA lending.
Even with a streamlined process, funding takes 14 to 30 days, ruling this out for a cash flow emergency.
2 or more years in business and a 640 to 675 credit score depending on product exclude newer or credit challenged businesses.
SmartBiz does not offer short term loans, merchant cash advances, or other fast financing types found elsewhere on this network.
SmartBiz operates as SmartBiz Bank, a federally chartered bank, and also matches applicants to a network of partner banks for SBA and bank term loans.
SmartBiz generally requires a 640 or higher credit score for its working capital SBA loan, and 675 or higher for its SBA real estate loan.
Funding typically takes 14 to 30 days depending on the loan type, since SBA loans require full underwriting and documentation even with SmartBiz’s streamlined process.
SmartBiz offers an SBA 7(a) working capital loan up to $350,000, an SBA 7(a) real estate loan up to $5 million, bank term loans, and a business line of credit.
SmartBiz generally looks for 2 or more years in business, a credit score of 640 or higher, and sufficient cash flow to support loan payments, with most approved businesses generating $100,000 or more in annual revenue.
No. Prequalifying with SmartBiz uses a soft credit pull, which does not affect your credit score.
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