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Commerce Bank business loans review
Loans tailored to your business's specific needs from this midwestern regional bank.
- Best for working out the right financing solution with an expert.
- Pick something else if you need quick one-off funding.
First, do I qualify?
Not all Commerce Bank branches offer business term loans. You must be located in one of the following states to qualify for a business term loan:
- Colorado
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Missouri
- Oklahoma
Commerce Bank doesn't disclose other requirements — which might be a good thing. Most banks set cutoffs for credit score, time in business and the amount of debt your business has. But smaller banks might be willing to bend these rules if it thinks your business is a good fit.
What makes Commerce Bank business loans unique?
Commerce Bank offers a wide range of different types of loans, which means that you might be able to find financing that's a better fit for you — and that you hadn't even considered.
It offers the standard term loans, lines of credit, real estate financing and two types of Small Business Administration (SBA) loans — 7(a) and 504 loans. But you can also find less-common SBA programs like SBA Express and SBA Export Working Capital, as well as bond financing and international financing. It also has industry-specific programs including those for manufacturing, distribution, dentistry, nonprofits, aviation and more.
Pros and cons
Commerce Bank isn't right for every small business — especially if you aren't near the areas it serves.
Pros
- Less-common financing like SBA Export Working capital
- Industry-specific financing programs
- Loans tailored to your business's specific needs
Cons
- Only available in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma
- Almost no information about loans online
- No online application
Compare other business loan options
Before you decide to apply with Commerce Bank, see how it stacks up to other lenders. Select the ranges for your loan amount, revenue, time in business and personal credit score. Then hit Show loans to get a breakdown of providers your business might qualify with.
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How do I apply?
Commerce Bank doesn't offer an online application. You'll have to speak with a lender to learn more about its loans program. You can get connected with a loan officer by filling out a contact form on the Commerce Bank website.
- Go to the Commerce Bank website and select Business in the main menu.
- Scroll down and click the green and white Contact us button.
- Fill out the form with your contact information and some basic information about your company. Click Contact Us one more time.
A representative should reach out to you to set up an appointment and discuss your needs. You might be able to get started over the phone or you might have to come in and discuss your loan in person.
Typically these types of applications can take weeks from start to finish. But once you have a relationship with a lender, it can often help anticipate future financing needs and plan accordingly.
What documents do I need to apply?
That depends on the customer. You might need to provide some or all of the following documents:
- Personal and business annual taxes for the past two years
- Balance sheet for the past two years
- Profit and loss statement
- Business plan
Ask what documents you'll need to bring when you talk to a Commerce Bank representative.
How do repayments work?
Your specific repayment plan depends on the type of financing you have. But typically you'll receive fixed monthly repayments on a term loan. You can find out how much you owe, when your repayments are due and how often you need to pay in your loan documents.
If you're concerned about missing a repayment, reach out to your contact at Commerce Bank as soon as you can. They may be willing to adjust the terms to better meet your business's needs.
Check our our business loans guide to learn about more financing options.
Review by
Anna Serio
anna.serio@finder.comAnna Serio is a trusted lending expert and certified Commercial Loan Officer who's published more than 1,000 articles on Finder to help Americans strengthen their financial literacy. A former editor of a newspaper in Beirut, Anna writes about personal, student, business and car loans. Today, digital publications like Business Insider, CNBC and the Simple Dollar feature her professional commentary, and she earned an Expert Contributor in Finance badge from review site Best Company in 2020.
Expert review
Commerce Bank doesn’t disclose much about its business loans — which is typical for a small regional bank. You’ll have to set up an appointment and go over your business’s finances with a loan officer before even deciding what type of loan to take out.
This can be great if you want to develop a long-term relationship with a banker. But with little information online about, rates, loan amounts or even requirements, it’s hard to tell if it’s a good fit until you reach out. It only serves five states in the midwest — but this is also typical of a regional bank. Look into other options if your business isn’t located in Colorado, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri or Oklahoma.