SmartBiz Loans

What SmartBiz Loans does

SmartBiz Loans is a U.S. small business lending platform that, following its March 2025 acquisition of Centrust Bank, now operates as SmartBiz Bank, N.A., a nationally chartered, FDIC-insured bank headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois with a founding office in San Francisco. The company combines a digital SBA loan application platform with a network of SBA-preferred lending partners and, post-charter, direct balance-sheet origination, offering SBA 7(a) loans, bank term loans, and revolving lines of credit to U.S. small business owners. Core technology is a streamlined four-step online application (eligibility check, SBA specialist engagement, document submission, funding) augmented by a free 5-minute soft-credit pre-qualification, an SBA Loan Calculator, and dedicated SBA loan specialist support that guides borrowers from application through closing.

The business generates revenue through transaction-fee economics on loan origination (origination fees and net interest margin now that it is a chartered bank) across a horizontal SMB base. The go-to-market is hybrid: self-service digital application at app.smartbizbank.com supplemented by inside-sales phone support, a $500 referral incentive program, content marketing (Small Business Blog, Business Stories), and a partner network. The company reports $9 billion delivered to small businesses and 230,000+ business owners funded, with 45% of funded customers using SBA 7(a) loans to refinance debt at an average annual savings of over $70,000, and holds a 4.7/5 Trustpilot rating from 16,366 reviews. The company employs 51-100 staff and has raised approximately $37M total equity from investors including Baseline Ventures, First Round Capital, Investor Growth Capital, Venrock, and PayPal across rounds dated 2009-2013.

Name

SmartBiz Loans

Legal name

SmartBiz Bank, N.A.

Website

https://SmartBizLoans.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SmartBiz Bank, N.A. (formerly SmartBiz Loans) is a U.S. chartered bank and digital lending platform that originates SBA 7(a) loans, term loans, and lines of credit for small businesses, combining an online application with dedicated SBA specialist support. The company has delivered $9B in financing to 230,000+ SMBs since 2009.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Commercial Banking (522110), Depository Credit Intermediation (5221)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), National Commercial Banks (6021), Federal & Federally-Sponsored Credit Agencies (6111)

akta.pro primary industry

SBA/Government-Backed & Development Finance Loans (FSAKAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI), Small Business Banking (Microbusiness/Sole Proprietor) (FSABAAAI), SME Credit Risk, Underwriting & Financial Data (B2B Fintech Data/Decisioning) (FSAGAJAM)

Keywords

• SBA lending
• Small business loans
• Term loans
• Line of credit
• Loan marketplace

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. SBA Loan Origination: SmartBiz facilitates SBA 7(a) loans for small businesses, working with lenders in the SmartBiz network. Revenue generated through loan origination fees and potentially the spread between origination and lending rates
2. Bank Term Loans: Traditional term loans with flexible terms and fixed rates for small business growth and expansion
3. Lines of Credit: Flexible revolving credit facilities for managing cash flow and day-to-day business expenses

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SmartBiz Loans operates a digital small business lending platform offering SBA 7(a) loans, bank term loans, and lines of credit to U.S. small business owners. The company combines a streamlined online application and 5-minute soft-credit pre-qualification with dedicated SBA specialist support, working with a network of SBA-preferred lenders and, following the 2025 Centrust Bank acquisition, lending directly through SmartBiz Bank, N.A.

Product overview

SmartBiz Bank operates as a digital small business banking platform offering a portfolio of financing products centered on SBA loans, supplemented by term loans and lines of credit. The platform combines an online application system with dedicated SBA specialist support, guiding borrowers from pre-qualification through funding. Key products include SBA 7(a) loans, bank term loans, and lines of credit, supported by tools like an SBA loan calculator. The company positions itself as 'SBA Loans Made Easy' with a streamlined digital application process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartBiz Advisor: Financial advisory service mark of SmartBiz Bank, N.A.
• SBA Loans Made Easy

Products and services

• SBA Loans Small Business Administration loans offered through the SmartBiz platform, including SBA 7(a) loans for small businesses with competitive rates and longer repayment terms. The company reports $9B delivered to small businesses and 230K+ business owners funded.
• Term Loans Bank term loans providing stable funding for business growth with flexible terms and fixed rates, designed for small businesses seeking predictable financing.
• Line of Credit Flexible revolving credit facility allowing small business owners to access funds on demand for managing cash flow and day-to-day operational expenses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of funded customers use SBA 7(a) loans to refinance and consolidate debt, saving an average of over $70,000 per year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Lenders in SmartBiz NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSmartBiz works with a network of SBA-preferred lenders to facilitate loan origination and funding. The company serves as an intermediary connecting small business borrowers with lending partners, providing technology platform and customer support while lenders provide capital.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Credibly: Credibly provides SMB working capital loans and lines of credit through a digital platform. It is an emerging player in SMB online lending competing with SmartBiz's term loan and working capital offerings.
• Currency: Currency (formerly BizEquity) operates an SMB lending marketplace and valuation platform. It is comparable as an SMB financing intermediary connecting borrowers with lenders, similar to SmartBiz's marketplace roots.
• Accion Opportunity Fund: Accion Opportunity Fund is a CDFI providing SBA 7(a) microloans and small-business financing with a community-development lens. It is comparable as an SBA-focused small-business lender with a more mission-driven go-to-market.

Broad incumbents

• Live Oak Bank: Live Oak Bank is a leading SBA-focused national digital bank and one of the largest SBA 7(a) lenders by volume. It is a broad incumbent competing directly with SmartBiz Bank in SBA origination at greater scale.
• Kabbage / American Express Business Blueprint: Kabbage, now integrated into American Express, provides SMB working capital and credit products to a massive cardholder base. It is a broad incumbent in digital SMB lending competing for similar SMB credit demand.

Direct peers

• Lendio: Lendio is an SMB loan marketplace connecting borrowers to a network of lenders, with a strong emphasis on SBA loan products. It is the closest direct competitor to SmartBiz's original marketplace model and targets the same small-business owner persona.
• BlueVine: BlueVine provides small-business lines of credit, term loans, and invoice factoring through a digital platform. It overlaps directly with SmartBiz's lines of credit and term loan products for the same SMB customer segment.
• Biz2Credit: Biz2Credit is an SMB financing marketplace matching borrowers with banks and alternative lenders, with a notable SBA loan focus. It competes directly with SmartBiz in SBA loan intermediation for small businesses.
• Funding Circle US: Funding Circle operates an online SMB lending marketplace offering term loans and lines of credit. It is comparable to SmartBiz as a digital-first SMB loan originator and competes for similar working-capital use cases.
• OnDeck (Enova International): OnDeck provides short-term SMB term loans and lines of credit online. It is comparable to SmartBiz's non-SBA term loan and line of credit products for small businesses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SmartBizLoans
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartbizloans
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartbiz-loans

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors8 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SmartBiz Loans