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Community National Bank & Trust loans review
Last updated:
SBA loans, FSA loans and more are on offer for local businesses and farmers.
Bottom line: Farmers and business owners in other industries can access hard-to-find financing options from this local lender — including FSA loans.
SBA loans, working capital financing, standby letters of credit, industrial revenue bonds, accounts receivable financing, agricultural loans, personal loans, auto loans, HELOCs, mortgages
Types of loans available
No
Online applications
Details
| Types of loans available | SBA loans, working capital financing, standby letters of credit, industrial revenue bonds, accounts receivable financing, agricultural loans, personal loans, auto loans, HELOCs, mortgages |
|---|---|
| Online applications | No |
| Number of branches | 38 |
| Branch hours | Varies by branch, usually 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays |
| Customer service hours | Not stated |
| Customer service options | Contact your local branch |
| Mobile app | Yes |
| Routing number | Not stated |
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
Community National Bank & Trust might be best for businesses in the agriculture industry — though other local business owners can also benefit from this community bank. It’s authorized to fund loans backed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Small Business Administration (SBA). And it offers financing like letters of credit and industrial revenue bonds.
But it doesn’t have any online customer reviews, and at least one employee reported that it takes a long time to fund loans. Ask around to other business owners in your area to get a picture of what to expect before you sign up yourself.
What is Community National Bank & Trust?
Several community banks use the name Community National Bank. This review is about Community National Bank & Trust (CNB) based in Kansas, with branches in Missouri and Oklahoma. While it has a relatively far reach, it's still involved in the local community. This includes partnering with local schools, civic organizations and scholarship funds for residents in the area that it serves.
Looking for the Community National Bank in Chattanooga? Read our review of the local Tennessee bank.
Types of loans available at Community National Bank & Trust
This community bank offers some hard-to-find loan options for small businesses and individuals.
- SBA loans. CNB offers funds backed by the Small Business Administration — which makes it easier to qualify if you don't have the personal assets to guarantee the loan yourself. But it doesn't specify which programs are available.
- Standby letters of credit. A guarantee from CNB that the bank will pay a supplier if you default on an agreement — helpful when starting a new relationship.
- Industrial revenue bonds. A government bond issued on the behalf of a business for a less-expensive bank loan alternative for large projects and purchases.
- Accounts receivable financing. Typically an advance on your unpaid accounts receivables, either in the form of a short-term loan or a line of credit.
- Working capital financing. While CNB doesn't specify which options it offers for working capital expenses, these are typically lines of credit.
- Agriculture loans. CNB offers financing backed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and revolving lines of credit to cover the operating expenses that come with running a farm.
- Personal loans. Unsecured financing to invest in yourself, such as home improvements or debt consolidation.
- Auto loans. You can find financing for a wide range of vehicles, from cars, boats, campers and even aircrafts.
- Home mortgage loans. Funds to buy a new home, refinance a current mortgage or tap into your home's equity to finance a personal expense.
CNB specializes in agriculture lending
While CNB can be great for multiple industries, it can be an especially good resources for businesses in the agriculture industry. It's a preferred Farm Service Agency (FSA) lender, meaning that it can streamline USDA loan applications and has experience working with farmers and other agriculture businesses. And it has a dedicated lending and banking department for the industry.
How borrowing works
Like most community banks, you'll have to meet with a CNB loan officer to get started on your application. During that meeting, you usually go over your finances and discuss which options are the best fit for your business's needs. While CNB doesn't give an estimate of the turnaround time — community banks rarely do — the whole process can take several weeks.
Fast funding is not a strong point for most local lenders. Or, at least not at first. But as CNB gets to know your business, your loan officer might be able to anticipate financing needs before you're aware you need it.
How to get started
The best way to start your application is to set up an appointment at a branch in your area. Follow these steps:
- Go to the CNB website.
- Click Locations.
- Enter your address or ZIP code and hit Submit.
- Find the location you'd like to use and call the phone number listed for it.
Pros
- Preferred FSA lender
- Offers uncommon options like industrial revenue bonds
- Mobile app
Cons
- Most branches closed Saturdays
- No dedicated customer service line
- No customer reviews
See more business loans
Compare CNB against online lenders to see what options will best fit your business.
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Community National Bank & Trust reviews and complaints
| BBB accredited | No |
|---|---|
| BBB rating | A+ |
| BBB customer complaints | 1 customer complaints |
| Glassdoor | 3.3 out of 5 stars, based on 11 customer reviews |
| Indeed | 3.6 out of 5 stars, based on 14 customer reviews |
| Customer reviews verified as of | 30 November 2020 |
CNB doesn't have enough online reviews to determine the quality of service you'll find with this lender. This is relatively normal for community banks, especially those located in rural communities. Ask farmers and other business owners in your area to get a gist of what to expect if you sign up for a CNB loan.
What do employees say?
Employees give CNB mixed reviews. Many enjoy the work environment, but some complain about a lack of training or a slow turnaround on loan approvals. Several also mention that the pay is low compared to other similar positions.
These could be signs of a moderate turnaround rate — especially if there are community bank jobs elsewhere that pay more. High employee turnover means there's a chance you won't work with the same loan officer for every loan.
More products available at Community National Bank & Trust
If you decide to work with this lender, consider moving over other accounts. Signing up for one or more of the following products can make managing your finances easier and speed up loan applications.
- ACH and wire transfer initiation
- Agricultural appraisal
- Business cash management services
- Checking and savings accounts
- Credit cards
- Investment and trust services
- Merchant cash management
Community National Bank & Trust history
CNB was chartered in 1987 in Chanute, Kansas by the same group of shareholders that run it today. It's grown to 38 branches thanks in part to acquisitions of other community banks.
Recent acquisitions include Farmer's Bank of Lincoln in 2020 and Heritage State Bank in 2018. It doesn't appear to have any more mergers on the way — but it's possible it'll expand to serve more areas in the future.
Compare CNB to our list of the best business lenders to make sure it's the right choice for your business.