Celtic Bank: Direct Lender & Big Loans But No Visible APRs
Celtic Bank isn't available on Finder right now.
- Min. Amount
- $25,000
- Max. Amount
- $10,000,000
- APR
- Starting at prime + 2.75%
Our verdict
A direct lender offering large loan amounts, long terms and soft credit checks — but no APRs posted online.
Celtic Bank provides a wide variety of business loan types, ranging from $25,000 to $10 million. It’s a Small Business Administration preferred lender (and a top 10 SBA lender), which helps speed up the application process for SBA loans. You can see if you qualify by filling out a preliminary application with no hard credit check required. But APRs aren’t published online, and borrowers with low credit scores may not qualify.
Best for: Business owners who want to prequalify without a hard credit check.
Pros
-
Offers various types of business loans
-
Loan amounts up to $10 million
-
Available in all 50 states
Cons
-
No APRs advertised on its website
-
Customer service may be hard to reach
-
Low ratings from some customers
Is Celtic Bank legit?
Yes, Celtic Bank is a legitimate provider of business loans. Founded in 2001, Celtic Bank has provided more than $4 billion in loans to over 10,000 small businesses. It is an SBA preferred lender, which means it’s authorized to make SBA loan decisions in-house without waiting for SBA review. The company follows federal security guidelines to protect customer data, using a combination of secure servers, encrypted connections and strict access controls.
What makes Celtic Bank shine?
The best thing about Celtic Bank is its wide range of loan products. Some of its offerings include SBA 7(a) loans, real estate loans, equipment loans, working capital loans, SBA 504 loans, franchise financing and business acquisition loans. Plus, borrowing amounts are versatile from $25,000 up to $10 million, depending on what you need.
It’s an SBA preferred lender, which speeds up the application and disbursement process for SBA loans. It has also consistently been among the top 10 SBA loan providers in the country since 2013. You can prequalify with just a soft credit pull, allowing you to check rates and eligibility without harming your credit. The company is also somewhat flexible on its requirements, so you may be approved at Celtic Bank even if other lenders have turned you down.
Where Celtic Bank falls short
The biggest downside to Celtic Bank is the lack of transparency, as APRs aren’t listed on its site. Reviews are mixed, too, with some customers saying it’s hard to reach support. And, since Celtic is a direct lender, you’ll only get one offer. If you want to compare multiple loan options, a loan marketplace like Lendio or Fundera might be a good option, allowing you to view options from more than one business lender.
Celtic Bank loan details
| Loan amount | $25,000 to $10 Million |
| Terms | Up to 25 years |
| APR | Varies by loan type Starting at prime + 2.75% for SBA loans |
| Turnaround | Varies by loan type Could be as soon as 48 hours |
| Minimum credit score | 700+ is preferred but not required |
| Other requirements | Be US-based Be a for-profit business Have owner equity No delinquent debt with US government 2+ years in business preferred No recent bankruptcies, foreclosures, charge-offs or settlements preferred No criminal record preferred |
| Fees | Fees vary by loan type Origination fees may apply |
| Availability | Available in all states |
Celtic Bank contact information
| Phone number | 801-363-6500 |
| Customer service hours | Weekdays: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. MT |
| help@celticbank.com | |
| X, formerly Twitter | @celticbank |
How to qualify for Celtic Bank
Some criteria may vary based on the type of loan you get, but the basic requirements include:
- Be a for-profit business based in the United States
- Have equity in the business
- Demonstrate need for the loan
- Use the funds for business purposes only
- Not be delinquent on any debt to the US government
Other qualifications that are preferred (but not required) include:
- Have a credit score of 700+
- Be in business for two years or more
- Be profitable
- Have no criminal history
- Have no recent bankruptcies, foreclosures, charge-offs or settlements
For some loans, you may need to pledge personal assets.
How to apply
The Celtic Bank application begins with prequalifying online, but you’ll need to speak to a customer service agent to complete the full application. Here’s how the process works:
- Go to the Celtic Bank website and select the Apply Now button.
- Provide some basic information, including how much you want to borrow, how you intend to use the funds, when your business began, how much you earn in annual revenue and your estimated credit score.
- Create an account by providing your name, company name, phone number and email address, then creating a password.
- Complete the rest of the preliminary application to see if you’re pre-approved.
- Talk to a Celtic Bank customer service representative and provide supporting documentation to finalize the application. Required documents may include:
- Six months’ worth of business bank statements
- Last year’s personal and business tax returns
- Profit and loss statement
- Balance sheet
- Proof of Employer Identification Number (EIN)
- Debt schedule for the business
- Wait for a decision. If approved, you’ll need to sign loan documents before loan funds are disbursed. Application and disbursement times vary depending on the type of loan you take out.
How Celtic Bank compares to other lenders
Compare other products
We currently don't have that product, but here are others to consider:
How we picked theseWhat is the Finder Score?
The Finder Score crunches 12+ types of business loans across 35+ lenders. It takes into account the product's interest rate, fees and features, as well as the type of loan eg investor, variable, fixed rate - this gives you a simple score out of 10.
To provide a Score, we compare like-for-like loans. So if you're comparing the best business loans for startups loans, you can see how each business loan stacks up against other business loans with the same borrower type, rate type and repayment type.
Celtic Bank reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | C |
| BBB customer reviews | 1.2 out of 5 stars, based on 21 customer reviews |
| BBB customer complaints | 213 customer complaints |
| Trustpilot Score | 2.5 out of 5 stars, based on 5 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 19 November 2025 |
Few customers have left feedback about Celtic Bank online, and those who have give it low ratings. On the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, the primary complaint seems to be about credit cards, not business loans. More customers on Trustpilot mention business loans, with complaints about being turned down for a loan being the most common issue cited. Other complaints include difficulty reaching customer service and high APRs.
What do people on Reddit say?
Most conversations that refer to Celtic Bank business loans start because a Reddit poster asks if anyone has used Celtic Bank for a business loan, or they ask for SBA lender recommendations. Redditors who comment on the post give mixed reviews. Some highly recommend Celtic Bank because it’s one of the top SBA lenders in the country, while others point out its poor online reviews and warn against it.
Frequently asked questions
Your reviews
Christi Finder
Contributor
Hi there, looking for more information? Ask us a question.
You are about to post a question on finder.com:
- Do not enter personal information (eg. surname, phone number, bank details) as your question will be made public
- finder.com is a financial comparison and information service, not a bank or product provider
- We cannot provide you with personal advice or recommendations
- Your answer might already be waiting – check previous questions below to see if yours has already been asked
Finder only provides general advice and factual information, so consider your own circumstances, or seek advice before you decide to act on our content. By submitting a question, you're accepting our finder.com Terms of Use and Privacy and Cookies Policy.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.