Long-term business financing

For an established business looking for low interest rates and favorable terms, traditional brick-and-mortar banks, government-backed programs, and top-tier fintech lenders offer the most competitive packages.

Best Long-Term Business Loans

1. SBA 7(a) Loans
   • Why it’s great: Widely considered the gold standard for long-term small business financing. Backed by the U.S. Small Business Administration, they offer terms up to 10 years for working capital/equipment and up to 25 years for commercial real estate, with interest rates statutorily capped at low margins over the prime rate.
   • Best for: Major expansions, real estate acquisition, or debt refinancing.
   • Where to look: Top SBA preferred lenders like Live Oak Bank or major commercial banks like Chase and Wells Fargo.lendingtree.com
2. Traditional Commercial Bank Term Loans
   • Why it’s great: If your business has robust annual revenues, clean financials, and a strong credit profile (typically 700+), traditional regional and national banks offer conventional term loans with the lowest baseline interest rates available on the open market.
   • Best for: Equipment purchases, large inventory buildups, or structural upgrades.
   • Where to look: Major institutions like Bank of America or Wells Fargo.
3. Funding Circle
   • Why it’s great: Known as a premier marketplace and fintech partner for streamlined, lower-interest term loans tailored to established companies that might want a faster turnaround than a traditional bank.
   • Best for: Established businesses needing a faster path to fixed-rate term funds.
   • Where to look: Explore options directly through Funding Circle.bankrate.com

Best Business Lines of Credit

1. Traditional Bank Lines of Credit (e.g., Wells Fargo BusinessLine or Bank of America)
   • Why it’s great: Traditional revolving lines from major banks typically price right at or slightly above the Prime rate for well-qualified applicants. They feature renewable access to capital, lower overall borrowing costs, and minimal or no monthly maintenance fees if managed correctly.
   • Best for: Ongoing cash-flow management, seasonal gaps, or agile purchasing.wsj.com+1
2. Bluevine Line of Credit
   • Why it’s great: Frequently rated as a top digital/fintech line of credit for established small-to-midsize businesses, Bluevine offers high credit limits and competitive interest structures relative to fast online alternatives.
   • Best for: Fast-access revolving credit without the grueling paperwork of a legacy bank.
   • Where to look: Check qualification criteria on Bluevine.
3. American Express Business Line of Credit
   • Why it’s great: Offers transparent fee structures (often monthly fees rather than compounding interest depending on draw terms) with swift decision-making, tailored heavily toward existing Amex business ecosystem users.
   • Best for: Short-to-medium revolving draws with predictable fee caps.
   • Where to look: Review terms via American Express.

If you share your approximate annual revenue, credit score range , and how much capital you need , I can help narrow down whether a bank or a fintech lender fits your specific growth stage.

For an established business in the U.S., I would start with traditional bank financing and SBA-backed loans for long-term borrowing, then compare bank lines of credit for working capital. These options generally offer more competitive pricing than fast online lenders, especially if your business has strong cash flow, good credit, and several years of operating history.www.nerdwallet.com+2

The best choice depends on whether you need a large lump sum for expansion or a revolving credit line you can draw from as needed.

Best options to compare in 2026

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1. SBA 7(a) loan program

(Best overall)

Long-term financing • Up to $5 million

Often a strong fit for established small businesses that need working capital, expansion funding, equipment, acquisitions, or refinancing. Repayment terms can extend up to 10 years for many business purposes and 25 years for qualifying real estate financing. Interest rates are capped under SBA rules.www.sba.gov+1

Explore:SBA Lender Match

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2. SBA 504 loan program

Best for commercial property and major equipment

Designed for qualifying fixed-asset projects, with 10-, 20-, and 25-year maturity options and long-term fixed-rate financing. It is not intended for ordinary working capital. The financed property or equipment generally serves as collateral.www.sba.gov+3

Explore:SBA 504 loans

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3. Traditional bank term loan

Best for strong financials and potentially low rates

Compare your existing business bank with other banks and credit unions. Conventional loans may have competitive rates, particularly for profitable businesses with established credit, strong debt-service coverage, and collateral. Fixed-rate and variable-rate structures may be available.

Explore: Bank of America business financing or request a proposal from your current bank.www.nerdwallet.com+2

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4. Bank business line of credit

Best for recurring cash-flow needs

Draw money when needed, repay it, and potentially borrow again up to your credit limit. This can work well for payroll timing, inventory, receivables, and seasonal fluctuations. Compare the interest rate, annual or maintenance fees, renewal terms, and whether the rate is variable.

Explore: Wells Fargo small-business financing or ask your existing bank for a secured and unsecured quote.www.nerdwallet.com+2

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5. Equipment financing

Best when purchasing machinery, vehicles, or other business equipment

The equipment itself often serves as collateral, which may help an established company secure competitive financing without tying up as much other business collateral. Compare bank equipment loans with specialist lenders and SBA options.

Explore: SBA loan programs.www.nerdwallet.com+2

What interest rates should you target?

Published lender rates are useful for screening options, but your actual offer will depend on creditworthiness, collateral, revenue, profitability, loan size, and fees.

Sources:www.nerdwallet.com+2

These are reference figures, not guaranteed offers. In particular, SBA 504 rates apply to a specialized financing structure, so they are not directly comparable with a conventional working-capital loan.

How I would approach the applications

1. Get a quote from your current bank first. Your existing deposit history and financial relationship may help with underwriting.
2. Compare two or three conventional lenders. Ask for both a term loan and a revolving line of credit if either could meet your needs.
3. Check SBA eligibility. Use SBA Lender Match for a 7(a) loan or find a Certified Development Company for a 504 project.
4. Compare the total cost, not just the advertised rate. Request APR, origination and annual fees, collateral requirements, personal guarantees, prepayment penalties, and fixed versus variable terms.
5. Prepare your financial package. Have recent business tax returns, year-to-date financial statements, balance sheets, debt schedules, bank statements, and cash-flow projections ready.

For an established business with strong financials, I would generally prioritize a conventional bank offer and an SBA 7(a) offer side by side before choosing an online lender.

Let’s narrow this down to the best lenders for your business

The right shortlist changes significantly with the amount, intended use, and business financials.

Share whatever you know; estimates are fine.

1. What financing do you need?

Long-term term loan

Revolving line of credit

Both

Commercial real estate or equipment

Refinance existing business debt

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2. How much do you want to borrow?

Under $100,000

$100,000–$250,000

$250,000–$1 million

$1 million–$5 million

Over $5 million

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3. Preferred repayment period

1–3 years

3–5 years

5–10 years

10–25 years

Revolving credit line, no fixed amortization preference

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4. Approximate owner's personal credit score

750+

700–749

650–699

Below 650

Not sure

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5. Annual business revenue

Under $500,000

$500,000–$1 million

$1 million–$5 million

$5 million–$20 million

Over $20 million

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6. Would you consider collateral?

Yes, if it lowers the rate

Prefer unsecured financing

Real estate or equipment available

Not sure

[Find my best lender options]

With those details, I can narrow this down to a practical lender shortlist with current rate references, likely qualification requirements, and direct application links for both long-term loans and business lines of credit.

For an established business seeking low-interest, long-term financing, I would prioritize established commercial banks, SBA Preferred Lenders, and credit unions over online business-financing companies.

The strongest options generally fall into two categories:

1. Business lines of credit: Revolving credit that you can draw from, repay, and reuse. Best for cash flow, inventory, payroll, and expansion.
2. Long-term business loans: Fixed financing with longer repayment periods. Best for expansion, acquisitions, equipment, real estate, and refinancing existing debt.

Here are the lenders I would put on your shortlist based on their financing options and published lending information.

1. Best lenders to investigate

Hawaii-based lenders

If your business operates in Hawaii, these are particularly worth approaching because they offer local commercial lending and SBA financing.

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1. First Hawaiian Bank

(Strong option)

• SBA Preferred Lender.
• Business term loans and revolving credit lines.
• Business FirstLine has a three-year revolving term.
• Does not require an existing bank relationship to apply.

Website: Business and SBA lending.www.fhb.com+1

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2. Central Pacific Bank

(Strong SBA option)

• SBA Preferred Lender.
• SBA 7(a) loans and credit lines.
• Financing for working capital, equipment, inventory, expansion, and eligible debt refinancing.
• Offers fixed-rate term loan options.

Website: SBA lending.www.cpb.bank

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3. Hawaii National Bank

• Business term loans with flexible repayment terms.
• Revolving business credit lines up to $250,000.
• SBA 7(a), CAPLines, Express, and 504 financing.
• Particularly interesting for working capital and business expansion.

Website: Business financing.hawaiinational.bank

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4. American Savings Bank

• Unsecured business lines up to $100,000.
• Secured lines from $50,000 to $250,000.
• SBA loans and commercial real estate financing.
• Commercial real estate terms up to 10 years, generally amortized over as long as 25 years.

Website: Compare business loans and credit lines.www.asbhawaii.com

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5. Bank of Hawaii

• Commercial business lines of credit.
• Business term loans.
• Commercial real estate and equipment financing.
• Customized commercial lending for established businesses.

Website: Commercial and corporate banking.www.boh.com+1

National lenders

Sources: www.nerdwallet.comwww.nerdwallet.com.

2. Best financing programs for low rates and long terms

These are worth comparing before selecting a lender.

www.sba.govwww.sba.govlegacy.sba.govwww.nerdwallet.com

My recommendation: Start by comparing SBA 7(a) financing against conventional bank financing.

• SBA 7(a) is particularly attractive for working capital, expansion, acquisitions, and refinancing eligible business debt.
• SBA 504 is generally better for purchasing commercial property or major equipment.
• A conventional revolving credit line is preferable if you need continuing access to funds rather than one lump-sum loan.

SBA-backed loans have interest-rate caps, which can help protect borrowers from excessively high rates. Actual pricing depends on loan size, lender, and whether the rate is fixed or variable.

3. What interest rates should you target?

As a starting point, published lender comparisons in 2026 show:

• Traditional bank financing can offer some of the lowest rates to highly qualified businesses.
• SBA 7(a) loans have regulated maximum interest rates.
• Online lenders can be considerably more expensive, even when their advertised rates initially look attractive.

For context, published comparisons list Wells Fargo business lines starting around 8.75%, while other products can have substantially higher APRs. These are advertised starting rates, not guaranteed offers.www.nerdwallet.com+1

4. What lenders will want to see

For an established business, prepare:

• Two to three years of business tax returns.
• Current profit-and-loss statement.
• Business balance sheet.
• Business bank statements.
• Current outstanding business debt.
• Personal credit and financial statements for owners.
• Desired loan amount and intended use.

Strong revenue, positive cash flow, good credit, and a demonstrated repayment history can improve your negotiating position.

5. My suggested shortlist

I would initially approach:

1. First Hawaiian Bank.
2. Central Pacific Bank.
3. Hawaii National Bank.
4. Wells Fargo.
5. Live Oak Bank.

Request competing proposals rather than accepting the first offer.

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6. Let me narrow this down to the best financing options

There are a few details that would make a substantial difference in which lenders I recommend.

1. How much financing are you seeking?

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2. What will you use the financing for?

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3. What repayment period would you prefer?

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4. Approximately how much annual business revenue?

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5. Approximate personal credit score of the owners?

[Find my best financing options]

I can then narrow this down to lenders offering the most competitive rates, longest repayment periods, and largest credit facilities for your business.

For an established business seeking low-interest, long-term financing or revolving credit lines, traditional banks and government-backed programs remain the gold standard. While online alternative lenders provide rapid funding, their terms are typically shorter and interest rates significantly higher.

The top-tier categories of lenders and specific institutions suited for established, revenue-generating businesses include:

1. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Preferred Lenders

• SBA 7(a) Loans: Widely considered the best option for long-term, low-interest financing. They offer repayment terms of up to 10 years for working capital or equipment, and up to 25 years for commercial real estate, with interest rates federally capped.lendingtree.com
• Top Lenders: Major national institutions like Bank of America and Wells Fargo operate as SBA Preferred Lenders, streamlining the government-guarantee process.

2. Traditional National & Regional Banks

• Why they fit: Traditional commercial banks offer the lowest baseline interest rates (often tied to the Prime Rate) and structured multi-year term loans or renewable credit lines. They favor businesses with 2+ years of history, strong cash flow, and solid credit scores.
• Bank of America: Noted for competitive rates on secured credit lines, unsecured term loans (ranging from 12 to 60+ months), and comprehensive relationship-banking discounts.
• Wells Fargo: Excellent for high-revenue and well-established operations, providing secured business lines of credit scaling up to several million dollars with annual renewal options.

3. Curated Loan Marketplaces (For Multi-Lender Comparison)

• If you want to compare bank-level low-interest products side-by-side without submitting separate applications everywhere, online marketplaces aggregate traditional and vetted banking partners.
• Lendio: Connects established businesses with a network of over 75 financial partners, ranging from traditional low-interest term loans to SBA options.
• Biz2Credit: Specializes in matching established companies (typically requiring $250k+ in annual revenue) with commercial term loans and lines of credit up to $500,000.

To help narrow down the ideal financial partner, please share:

• The intended use of funds (e.g., real estate, equipment, or general working capital)
• Your approximate annual revenue and time in business
• Whether you prefer an installment term loan or a revolving line of credit