Relationship-based lending means we look at the full picture of your business, not just your credit score or collateral. We take time to understand your goals, challenges, and day-to-day operations. This helps us make fair lending decisions based on the health and potential of your business, not just traditional bank rules.

We can’t guarantee an exact time frame — it depends on the size and complexity of your loan. You can help speed things up by: Letting your loan officer know if you have a specific deadline. Gathering your documents early. Working with your accountant or banker ahead of time. In ideal situations, most loans are approved in about three weeks.

When you apply for a small business loan, lenders often review your personal finances to get the full picture of your ability to repay. For many small businesses—especially newer ones—your personal finances and your business finances are closely connected. This helps us understand your overall stability and make a fair lending decision.

The checklist is a starting point, but every business is unique. Sometimes we need extra details to better understand your situation or meet specific funding requirements. If we ask for more, it’s usually to help move your loan forward and make sure everything is in place for approval.

Our application is online, and you’ll get email updates as your loan moves through the process. If you don’t have easy access to a computer, you can use our free computers at the Tucson Small Business Center. We also offer one-on-one help during our weekly Open Office Hours. Right now, the application is available in English and Spanish. If you need another language, let us know — we’ll work with you to find a solution.

Your loan will be managed through our online portal, where you can view statements and make payments. We set up automatic payments to keep things simple and make sure you never miss a due date.

We don’t use your credit score to decide if you qualify for a loan. We ask for it to help us understand your full financial picture and to meet certain reporting requirements from our funders. Your credit score will not prevent you from being approved.

A UCC filing is a public notice that you have a loan with us. It’s not necessarily the same as taking your property as collateral, though some UCC filings do include lien information. At the most basic level it’s simply a way for lenders to let others know that you have an active loan.

Many lenders require collateral before they approve a loan. Our process is different — we don’t want collateral requirements to keep you from getting funding. However, in some cases, if you use our loan to buy equipment, we may take a lien on that item. This means if the loan isn’t repaid, the equipment could be returned to us. It is a way to ensure that we can continue to lend out to other small businesses.

A personal guarantee is a promise that you’ll repay the loan, even if your business can’t. It’s simply an extra commitment that shows you’re invested in the success of your business. We ask for it because many small businesses are closely tied to their owners, and it helps us keep our loan program strong for other entrepreneurs.