Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
Randa Kriss is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
Randa Kriss is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
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Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
Randa Kriss is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Senior Writer & Content Strategist | Small business, business banking, business loans
Randa Kriss is a senior writer and NerdWallet authority on small business. She has nearly a decade of experience in digital content. Prior to joining NerdWallet in 2020, Randa worked as a writer at Fundera, covering a wide variety of small-business topics and specializing in the lending and banking spaces. Her work has been featured by The Washington Post, The Associated Press and Nasdaq, among others. Randa earned a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish at Iona University (formerly Iona College).
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
Sally Lauckner has over a decade of experience in print and online journalism. Before joining NerdWallet, Sally was the editorial director at Fundera, where she built and led a team focused on small-business content. Her prior experience includes two years as a senior editor at SmartAsset, where she edited a wide range of personal finance content, and five years at the AOL Huffington Post Media Group, where she held a variety of editorial roles. She has a master's in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's in English and history from Columbia University. Email: slauckner@nerdwallet.com.
NerdWallet's content is
fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness, and relevance by humans.
It undergoes a thorough review process involving writers and editors to ensure
the information is as clear and complete as possible. Learn more by checking
our
Editorial Guidelines.
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small business and personal finance.
50+ categories of the best business loan selections.
NerdWallet's small-business loans content, including ratings, recommendations and reviews, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in business lending. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity to ensure accuracy and fairness in our coverage.
Advertiser disclosure
You’re our first priority.
Every time.
We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with
confidence. And while our site doesn’t feature every company or
financial product available on the market, we’re proud that the guidance
we offer, the information we provide and the tools we create are
objective, independent, straightforward — and free.
So how do we make money? Our partners compensate us. This may influence
which products we review and write about (and where those products
appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or
advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Our
partners cannot pay us to guarantee favorable reviews of their products
or services. Here is a list of our partners .
altbanq - Online term loan
Overview
The bottom line:
Altbanq offers short-term loans up to $10 million — more than most competitors. These loans can be a good option for businesses with strong credit and at least 12 months of operating history. Keep in mind, though, that repayment terms are capped at 24 months.
Loan details
Min. Loan Amount
$100,000
Min. APR
0%
Max Loan Amount
$10,000,000
Max Term Length
24 months
Max APR
44%
Qualifications
Min. credit score
650
Min. Time in Business
12 months
Min. Annual Revenue
$100,000
Pros & Cons
Pros
Same-day funding available.
Prepayment discounts available.
Large maximum funding amounts.
Accessible to startups.
Cons
Higher credit score requirement than some online lenders.
Repayment terms max out at 24 months.
Charges an origination fee.
Altbanq is an online lender that offers business term loans. These small-business loans can be used for a variety of purposes and are well-suited for entrepreneurs who need quick access to funds.
Known for its large loan amounts (up to $10 million) and streamlined underwriting process, Altbanq allows you to apply in minutes and, in some cases, receive financing as soon as the same day.
Editor’s note: Altbanq also offers a payment processing solution, but this review will focus on its business loan offering.
Here’s what you can expect from Altbanq’s business term loan:
Loan amount
$100000 to $10 million.
Estimated interest rate
Up to 44%
Fees
Origination fee: 2% of the loan amount.
Terms
Up to 24 months.
Repayment schedule
Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly.
Funding speed
Approval and funding as fast as the same day.
Altbanq business loan requirements
To qualify for a business term loan from Altbanq, you’ll need to meet the following minimum requirements:
Time in business: 12 months.
Annual revenue: $100000.
Credit score: 650.
You’ll also need a business checking account and to be located in the U.S.
Where Altbanq stands out
Large maximum funding amount
Altbanq offers term loans up to $10 million — making it a good option for entrepreneurs who need to make large investments in their businesses. Altbanq’s funding maximum is much higher than similar competitors. National Funding and iBusiness Funding, for example, each offer business term loans of up to $500,000. However, you’ll likely need strong credentials to qualify for larger loan amounts.
The lender offers a simple, streamlined application process that took NerdWallet only minutes to complete. To apply, you’ll provide basic information about yourself and your business and then upload three months of business bank statements. You also have the option to connect to your bank via Plaid.
Altbanq uses artificial intelligence to help underwrite your application and can approve and fund loans as soon as the same day.
Startup-friendly
Altbanq only requires that your business has been operating for at least 12 months to qualify for funding, putting it on par with or lower than many competitors. Additionally, Altbanq’s term loan doesn’t require physical collateral, making it a good option for startups that don’t have substantial assets. (The lender does, however, file a UCC lien on your business.)
Taking out a loan from Altbanq can also help your startup build business credit, which may improve your chances of qualifying for additional financing in the future. The lender automatically reports to the major commercial credit bureaus, allowing you to grow your business credit through on-time payments.
Where Altbanq falls short
Not a good option for bad-credit borrowers
Altbanq requires a minimum personal credit score of 650 to qualify for financing. This threshold is higher than some online competitors, such as National Funding and Fora Financial. National Funding requires a minimum credit score of 600, while Fora Financial’s requirement is just 570. If your credit score is lower than 650, you’ll need to consider other lenders.
Altbanq’s repayment terms are capped at 24 months, while competitors like Fundation and iBusiness Funding offer terms up to 48 and 60 months, respectively.
With shorter repayment terms, your monthly payments will be higher than they would be with a longer loan term. For example, a $500,000 loan with a 10% interest rate repaid monthly over 24 months results in a sizable monthly payment of $23,072.46.
By contrast, repaying the same loan over 60 months would lower the monthly payment to $10,623.52. While a longer-term loan results in more interest paid over time, the lower monthly payments may be more manageable for some businesses.
Altbanq does not provide any information about its interest rates or fees on its website. You’ll have to submit an application or reach out to a sales representative to find out more about loan costs. Providing these details up front can save borrowers time and make it easier for them to compare offers.
NerdWallet gathered interest rate and origination fee information directly from the lender.
Altbanq customer service
Altbanq offers customer support by phone and email.
Although its online presence is limited, the lender has overwhelmingly positive reviews on Trustpilot, as of this writing. Reviewers highlight the speed and ease of the process, as well as the professionalism of its representatives. Many borrowers even mention staff by name, noting that they are responsive and knowledgeable.
When NerdWallet called Altbanq’s customer service line, we were given two options: speak to an operator or access the company directory. We chose to speak to an operator, who answered within 30 seconds. The representative was polite and professional. When we asked about typical interest rates, we were told they are qualification-based and depend on each applicant’s financial situation.
Overall, the representative was responsive and likely would be helpful for borrowers applying for a loan. However, the menu options could be more useful, especially since Altbanq offers two different products.
Alternatives to Altbanq
SBA 7(a) loan
If you want lower interest rates and longer repayment terms than Altbanq offers, consider an SBA 7(a) loan. SBA 7(a) loans offer rates from 10.25% to 13.75% and repayment terms up to 25 years.
Like Altbanq, SBA 7(a) loans offer large loan amounts — up to $5 million — but you may need to meet stricter requirements to qualify. To get an SBA 7(a) loan, you’ll likely need good credit, strong revenue and at least two years in business. Plus, SBA 7(a) loans can be slow to fund, taking anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
Accion
Accion can provide longer repayment terms than Altbanq but generally funds faster than an SBA 7(a) loan. Accion offers repayment terms up to 60 months and can issue loans in an average of seven days. Although its maximum loan amount is lower ($350000) compared with Altbanq, Accion may offer more affordable funding, with interest rates ranging from 8.49% to 24.99%.
Accion can also be a good option for borrowers with lower credit scores or businesses that are still building their revenue. The lender only requires a minimum credit score of 600 and $50000 in annual revenue, compared with Altbanq’s 650 and $100000 requirements.