Business Loans
We have many business borrowing options to meet the needs of your business. Because we are a credit union we return our earning to our members in the form of lower rates, higher interest on deposits, and lower fees. Our community profits as well as your business.
To begin the business loan application process please use the checklist below to gather all the necessary documentation.
We evaluate potential borrowers for business loans starting with the Five C’s of Credit.We encourage all applicants to complete a Business Plan and submit it along with the loan application. A well-written Business Plan is an invaluable tool for both the applicant and the lender. The Business Plan addresses areas such as the target market, projected cash flow,barriers to entry, competition, and marketing strategy.
Character:
For individual borrowers or Sole Proprietors, we begin with a credit report. The information contained in this report details an applicant’s payment history, number of delinquencies, number of accounts, and account balances. For corporate borrowers, we use Dun and Bradstreet Reports (D&B’s) which provide similar information to a personal credit report but on a corporate level. We also examine the applicant’s experience in the industry, past relationship with our Credit Union, and level of honesty displayed in the application process.
Cash Flow:
We examine past and projected ability to repay a loan. We may also ask for three years of individual and businessFederal Income Tax returns to analyze historical cash flow. This allows us to compile a detailed analysis of all the sources of income, offset by debt, to see if the applicant has the capacity torepay the loan.
Collateral:
All commercial loans must be secured with collateral – this is the security we hold for the loan in case of default. For example, if a commercial loan is made for the purchase of a tractor, we will require that the tractor be assigned to us. Collateral gives UFCU an additional level of protection should the loan not be repaid. In addition, UFCU also requires commercial loans to be protected by the personal guarantee of the owner(s).
Capital:
We view lending as a partnership, with both UFCU and the applicant investing in the business. We also assess whether the applicant has adequate resources to meet their other debt obligations and personal living expenses. This is important because UFCU does not extend 100% financing for the purchase of any assets. Typically the borrower must provide 20 – 30% of individual resources to fund the total purchase price.
Conditions:
The applicant’s ability to repay a loan may be affected by outside factors. Therefore UFCU analyses the competitors, industry regulations, targeted customer base, and the economic environment, in order to determine if there may be any roadblocks to success.