SmartBiz Bank

What SmartBiz Bank does

SmartBiz Bank, N.A. is a nationally chartered bank and bank holding company headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, with additional administrative offices in Austin and San Francisco. The company provides technology-enabled SBA 7(a) loans ($50,000–$350,000), bank term loans, and lines of credit to U.S. small business owners, having facilitated more than $9 billion in loans to 230,000+ business owners over the last ten years. Its core technology combines a streamlined digital self-serve application (app.smartbizbank.com) with automated document capture, E-Tran-based SBA eligibility scoring, real-time application tracking, and dedicated SBA specialist support throughout the underwriting and funding process. Distribution occurs through three coordinated channels: a direct self-serve/inside-sales motion, a partner referral network (CPAs, financial consultants, software companies earning $500 per funded referral via the Partner Assist portal), and bank-platform partnerships (Sunflower Bank, City National Bank of Florida).

The company transitioned from SmartBiz Loans (an SBA lending marketplace founded circa 2010–2011) to a chartered bank in March 2025 via the acquisition of Centrust Bank, N.A., which now operates as a community banking division. Revenue is generated through interest income and origination fees on SBA-backed loans, fixed-rate bank term loans, usage-based lines of credit, and partner referral commissions. The customer base is horizontally segmented across U.S. small business owners (typically 3+ years in operation), with no enterprise concentration; 45% of funded customers use SBA loans to refinance higher-cost debt, with an average claimed savings of over $70,000 per year. Loan servicing is outsourced to Windsor Advantage, and bank-account linking during application uses Plaid. The company holds registered trademarks (SmartBiz, SmartBiz Bank, SBA Loans Made Easy, SmartBiz Advisor) and earned SBA Bronze Tier and Top SBA Lender recognition in FY2025, alongside prior industry awards including LendIt's 2021 Top Small Business Lending Platform and American Banker's 2022 Best Place to Work in Fintech.

Name

SmartBiz Bank

Legal name

SmartBiz Bank, N.A.

Website

https://smartbizbank.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2025

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SmartBiz Bank, N.A. is a nationally chartered bank and bank holding company that uses a technology-enabled platform to originate SBA 7(a) loans, bank term loans, and lines of credit for U.S. small business owners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Small Business Lending (SBA)

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Loan Brokers (6163)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

SBA/USDA Government-Backed Loan Intermediation (FSAEAEAI)

Keywords

• SBA 7(a) loans
• Small business lending
• Bank term loans
• Small business line of credit
• SBA lending platform

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SBA 7(a) Loans: SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $50,000 to $350,000 for small businesses. Interest rates are variable based on the Prime rate. Revenue is generated through interest income and origination fees on these government-backed loans.
2. Bank Term Loans: Fixed-rate term loans offered through the SmartBiz network of lenders for small businesses that may not qualify for SBA loans or need funds more quickly.
3. Lines of Credit: Flexible credit lines for managing cash flow. Offered as an alternative financing option for qualifying businesses.
4. Partner Referral Commissions: SmartBiz pays partners (CPAs, financial consultants, software companies) commissions when referred businesses successfully fund loans. Referrers receive $500 per successful funded loan referral.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SmartBiz Bank originates SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $50,000 to $350,000, fixed-rate bank term loans, and lines of credit for U.S. small business owners, delivered through a digital lending platform combined with dedicated SBA specialist support from application through funding. The bank complements direct lending with a partner referral channel for CPAs, financial consultants, and software companies that earn commissions on successfully funded referrals.

Product overview

SmartBiz Bank is a unified small business banking platform offering SBA 7(a) loans, bank term loans, and lines of credit to small business owners across the United States. The company operates as a single integrated platform combining an online digital application with dedicated SBA specialist support throughout the loan process. Core products include SBA 7(a) loans ($50,000–$350,000) and bank term loans for businesses that don't immediately qualify for SBA financing. The platform is complemented by an SBA loan calculator, a partner referral program with the Partner Assist portal for tracking referrals, and the annual State of Small Business: Industry Pulse research report. Founded as SmartBiz Loans, the company acquired Centrust Bank in 2025 and became SmartBiz Bank, N.A., adding a community banking division while maintaining its technology-enabled lending platform for small businesses.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SBA 7(a) Loans Primary lending product of SmartBiz Bank: SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $50,000 to $350,000 with variable interest rates tied to the Prime rate, offered to U.S. small business owners for working capital, equipment purchases, debt refinancing, and expansion. Each application is supported by a dedicated SBA specialist from application through funding.
• Bank Term Loans Fixed-rate term loans offered through SmartBiz's network of bank lenders, providing small business owners with stable funding for growth using flexible terms and fixed rates. Available as an alternative to SBA loans for borrowers who need faster funding or do not immediately qualify for SBA products.
• Line of Credit Flexible revolving credit line for small business owners, providing on-demand access to funds for managing cash flow and day-to-day operational expenses, with interest charged only on amounts drawn.
• Partner Program Referral program through which CPAs, financial consultants, accountants, and software companies refer small business clients to SmartBiz Bank for SBA loans. Partners earn $500 per successfully funded referral, gain access to a dedicated success team and real-time application tracking via the Partner Assist portal, and the referred business receives $500 off closing costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 45% of funded SmartBiz customers use SBA 7(a) loans to refinance and consolidate debt, saving an average of over $70,000 per year, or nearly $6,000 per month
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Centrust BankflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 March 2025SmartBiz acquired Centrust Bank, N.A. and received regulatory approval to become a bank and bank holding company. This acquisition transformed SmartBiz Loans into SmartBiz Bank, N.A., combining SmartBiz's SBA lending expertise with Centrust's community banking excellence. The combined entity now operates as SmartBiz Bank with Centrust as a division.
• Sunflower BankcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2023Sunflower Bank, N.A. launched a new small business lending platform in partnership with SmartBiz. SmartBiz provides its technology platform and SBA lending expertise while Sunflower Bank provides the banking infrastructure and regulatory framework for originating SBA loans.
• City National Bank of FloridacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2022Key partnership announced with City National Bank of Florida to provide SBA lending services to small business customers through SmartBiz's technology platform.
• Windsor AdvantagecoreTechnology or IntegrationWindsor Advantage handles loan servicing for SmartBiz Bank. Customers are directed to [email protected] for statements, loan documents, rate changes, and re-amortization questions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bluevine: A fintech providing small-business banking, lines of credit, and term financing, overlapping with SmartBiz's SMB banking and working-capital products.
• Fundbox: A fintech lender offering lines of credit and term loans to small businesses with fast digital underwriting, comparable to SmartBiz's SMB credit products.

Direct peers

• Celtic Bank: A leading SBA 7(a) lender that partners with fintechs to originate small-business loans, overlapping with SmartBiz's SBA lending and platform-partner strategy.
• Biz2Credit: An online small-business lending platform offering SBA and term financing with technology-driven underwriting, directly comparable to SmartBiz's digital lending experience.
• Live Oak Bank: A digitally focused national bank and one of the largest SBA 7(a) lenders in the U.S., directly comparable to SmartBiz's technology-enabled SBA lending bank model.
• Fundera (by NerdWallet): An online marketplace connecting small businesses to SBA loans, term loans, and lines of credit, matching SmartBiz's product set and SMB borrower focus.
• Lendio: A small-business lending marketplace matching owners to SBA and term loans, mirroring SmartBiz's original marketplace/partner-network approach to SMB financing.
• Newtek Bank: A national bank and top SBA 7(a) lender serving small businesses, closely aligned with SmartBiz's post-charter SBA-focused banking model.

Broad incumbents

• Huntington Bank: One of the nation's largest SBA 7(a) lenders as part of a full-service commercial bank, competing broadly with SmartBiz for SBA borrowers.
• Ready Capital: A non-bank lender that is a major SBA 7(a) originator for small businesses, overlapping with SmartBiz's core SBA lending niche at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SmartBizBank
• Facebookfacebook.com/smartbizbank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartbiz-bank

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about SmartBiz Bank