Business Loan from Bank of America

Requirements, Steps & Approval Guide

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Best for

Established businesses with a personal credit score that already maintain a Bank of America checking account and want to leverage relationship-based interest rate discounts.

Max loan amount $5mln
Min. time in business 6 Month
Min. interest rate 6,5%
Term length 6 months-25 years
Get Pre-Qualified in Minutes

Bank of America is a premier choice for established businesses seeking traditional, low-cost financing and long-term stability. The lender offers interest rate discounts of up to 0.75%, rewards and other benefits to Preferred Rewards for Business members.

As a member of the SBA Preferred Lenders Program, the bank has the authority to approve SBA loans in-house. Beyond government-backed loans, they offer a vast range of conventional options, including unsecured term loans and specialized lines of credit for professional practices.

While the application process is more rigorous than online alternatives—typically requiring two years in business and strong personal credit—eligible owners benefit from some of the most competitive rates in the market.

Pros&Cons

  • Competitive interest rates
  • Large loan amounts
  • Relationship interest discounts
  • Flexible repayment terms
  • Extensive branch network
  • Strict eligibility requirements
  • Slow funding times
  • High revenue thresholds
  • Documentation heavy process

What Types of Businesses Are Typically Financed?

Bank of America primarily targets profitable, established U.S. enterprises that demonstrate consistent cash flow and a strong credit history. Most approved borrowers fall into the following categories.

Business structure Business structure
LLCs, Corporations (C-Corp/S-Corp), Partnerships, and Sole Proprietorships.
Business stage Business stage
Established (2+ years) for most loans; 6 months for cash-secured options.
Minimum annual revenue Minimum annual revenue
$100,000 for unsecured; $250,000 for secured/equipment; $50,000 for cash-secured.
Industries Industries
Professional services (medical, dental), manufacturing, and wholesale.
Geography Geography
Must be physically located and operating within the United States.
Use of funds Use of funds
Working capital, inventory, equipment, real estate, or debt refinancing.
Financial profile Financial profile
Minimum $250,000 in annual revenue; requires "Debt Service Coverage" to prove repayment ability.
Ownership
U.S.citizens, foreign individualsv
Personal credit score Personal credit score
670+
U.S. bank account U.S. bank account
Required
EIN / SSN / ITIN EIN / SSN / ITIN
EIN for the business; SSN or Passport for all beneficial owners.

What Business Loan Products Are Available?

  • Business Advantage Credit Line

    Best For

    Ongoing cash flow and working capital needs

    Requirements
    • Personal credit above 700 FICO® Score is typically required
    • 2 years in business
    • $100,000 in annual revenue
    Apply now
  • Business Advantage Credit Line Cash Secured

    Best For

    Building business credit history

    Requirements
    • 6 months in business
    • $50,000 in annualized revenue
    • $1,000 refundable security deposit
    Apply now
  • Business Advantage Term Loan

    Best For

    Large one-time business investments

    Requirements
    • Personal credit above 700 FICO® Score is typically required
    • 2 years in business
    • $100,000 in annual revenue
    Apply now
  • Commercial real estate

    Best For

    Purchasing, refinancing, or expanding business property.

    Apply now
  • Equipment loans

    Best For

    Financing machinery, vehicles, or essential business equipment.

    Apply now
  • Secured business line of credit

    Best For

    Managing ongoing cash flow with asset-backed financing.

    Apply now
  • Secured business loans

    Best For

    Funding expansion or refinancing with collateral-backed borrowing.

    Apply now
  • Healthcare practice loans

    Best For

    Starting, growing, or upgrading a healthcare practice.

    Apply now
  • SBA loans

    Best For

    Businesses seeking flexible terms and easier qualification requirements.

    Apply now

What Documents Are Required to Apply?

The specific documentation required by Bank of America varies based on your business structure, the amount of funding requested, and whether the loan is secured. While many applications begin with basic information, established businesses should be prepared to provide several years of comprehensive financial history to secure the best rates.

Business Financials Business Financials
Annual gross sales and net profit records; list of all current outstanding business debts; most recent business tax returns; bank statements.
Owner Financials & Identity Owner Financials & Identity
Social Security number (SSN) or Passport (for non-citizens); date of birth and residential address; personal income verification; personal tax returns.
Legal & Tax Documents Legal & Tax Documents
Articles of Incorporation or Organization; business tax ID (EIN); filing/organizing documents; Certificate of Resolution (if applicable).
Loan Purpose & Operations Loan Purpose & Operations
The business plan or purpose of the loan; specific details on equipment/vehicles being financed; business name and street address (no P.O. boxes); number of employees; nature of the business; acquisition date of current ownership.
Real Estate & Collateral Real Estate & Collateral
Commercial real estate appraisal (for secured loans); security deposit (for cash-secured lines).

Create a Bank-Ready Business Plan in Minutes

40+ bank-approved structure 40+ bank-approved structure
Easily generate a financial plan   Easily generate a financial plan
60+ Page AI PDF in 5 Minutes 60+ Page AI PDF in 5 Minutes
Modern design, no extra editing Modern design, no extra editing
Generate Loan-Ready Plan
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How Does the Business Loan Application Process Work?

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Eligibility Check

Review business age, revenue, and credit profile.
1–2 Days
Applying before meeting minimum requirements

Choose Loan Type

Select the financing option that matches your needs.
1 Day
Choosing the wrong product for the funding purpose

Submit Application

Complete the application with business information.
1–2 Days
Missing or incomplete application details

Upload Documents

Provide tax returns, financials, and supporting documents.
1–3 Days
Missing documents or outdated financial statements

Underwriting Review

Lender reviews credit, cash flow, and repayment ability.
1–2 Weeks
Unexplained revenue changes or delayed responses

Approval & Funding

Sign agreements and receive funds in your account.
2–5 Business Days
Delays in signing or funding account setup
  • 01

    Eligibility Check

    Review business age, revenue, and credit profile.
    1–2 Days
    Applying before meeting minimum requirements
  • 02

    Choose Loan Type

    Select the financing option that matches your needs.
    1 Day
    Choosing the wrong product for the funding purpose
  • 03

    Submit Application

    Complete the application with business information.
    1–2 Days
    Missing or incomplete application details
  • 04

    Upload Documents

    Provide tax returns, financials, and supporting documents.
    1–3 Days
    Missing documents or outdated financial statements
  • 05

    Underwriting Review

    Lender reviews credit, cash flow, and repayment ability.
    1–2 Weeks
    Unexplained revenue changes or delayed responses
  • 06

    Approval & Funding

    Sign agreements and receive funds in your account.
    2–5 Business Days
    Delays in signing or funding account setup

What Do Customers Say?

Hector
Hector
Las Vegas, NV

Reloaded from payor on time every week. Card controls are excellent because you can stop any online or atm activity anytime. I feel my account is safe. You can only access accoun...

Read more
Rusti
Rusti
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

I have been a Bank of America customer for about 10 years. I have my checking, savings, auto and personal loans with them. They have always notified me when there was any abnorma...

Read more

Common Reasons for Loan Denial — and What to Do Next

A loan denial is not a permanent "no," but rather a signal to refine your business’s financial profile. Bank of America explicitly applicants to view a rejection as a starting point for a conversation with a small business specialist to identify and fix specific weaknesses.

Reason for Denial
What to Do
Insufficient cash flow
01
Improve your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) by cutting non-essential expenses or increasing net revenue.
Low credit score
02
Review credit reports for errors and focus on paying down existing balances to lower your utilization rate.
Limited business history
03
Apply for the Bank of America "Cash-Secured Line of Credit" to build a track record over 6–12 months.
Excessive existing debt
04
Consolidate high-interest loans or pay off smaller balances to improve your debt-to-income ratio.
Inadequate collateral
05
Consider an unsecured loan product or investigate SBA-backed loans which have more flexible collateral requirements.
  • Reason for Denial
    Insufficient cash flow
    What to Do
    Improve your Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) by cutting non-essential expenses or increasing net revenue.
  • Reason for Denial
    Low credit score
    What to Do
    Review credit reports for errors and focus on paying down existing balances to lower your utilization rate.
  • Reason for Denial
    Limited business history
    What to Do
    Apply for the Bank of America "Cash-Secured Line of Credit" to build a track record over 6–12 months.
  • Reason for Denial
    Excessive existing debt
    What to Do
    Consolidate high-interest loans or pay off smaller balances to improve your debt-to-income ratio.
  • Reason for Denial
    Inadequate collateral
    What to Do
    Consider an unsecured loan product or investigate SBA-backed loans which have more flexible collateral requirements.

How Growexa Helps You Get Approved Faster

Bank evaluates business loan applications through structured underwriting, where cash flow, debt load, and loan purpose must align clearly. Growexa helps you prepare a Bank-ready business plan that matches how the bank reviews applications during underwriting.

Pre-qualification before applying
Pre-qualification before applying Validate cash flow, debt capacity, and loan size before approaching the bank.
Matching with the right lender
Matching with the right lender Position your business plan based on lender criteria and loan type.
Reducing rejection risk
Reducing rejection risk Align financials, projections, and loan purpose into one coherent, bank-ready plan.
Working with multiple banks at once
Working with multiple banks at once Use the same structured business plan across multiple lenders without reworking it.
  • Pre-qualification before applying
    Pre-qualification before applying Validate cash flow, debt capacity, and loan size before approaching the bank.
    Matching with the right lender
    Matching with the right lender Position your business plan based on lender criteria and loan type.
  • Reducing rejection risk
    Reducing rejection risk Align financials, projections, and loan purpose into one coherent, bank-ready plan.
    Working with multiple banks at once
    Working with multiple banks at once Use the same structured business plan across multiple lenders without reworking it.
Growexa app screenshot

Growexa helps you prepare a bank-ready business plan that speaks the language of lenders—so you can move through underwriting faster and with fewer rejections.

Growexa app screenshot

FAQ

01 Is a Bank of America business account required to explore financing options?

Not necessarily. You can discuss lending options with a Bank of America business specialist without an existing account. However, online applications for certain unsecured products require access to Small Business Online Banking.

02 Will Bank of America lend to newly established businesses?

Most traditional business lending programs are designed for companies with an established operating history. Businesses under current ownership for less than two years may need to explore SBA-backed financing or other specialized programs.

03 Are online applications available for business loans or credit lines?

Online applications are available for select unsecured lending products. Eligibility to apply online depends on having active Small Business Online Banking credentials.

04 When is funding typically available after approval?

Funding timing varies based on loan structure, documentation requirements, and closing conditions. Once approval is granted, the lending team coordinates final steps to complete disbursement as efficiently as possible.

05 How do SBA-backed loans work?

SBA loans are issued by participating lenders, with the U.S. Small Business Administration providing a partial guarantee. This structure helps lenders extend financing to businesses that might not otherwise meet conventional lending criteria.