H-1B holders can get equipment financing without a green card through Bankable's revenue-based tranche funding. Traditional equipment lenders — including bank-affiliated equipment finance companies, independent equipment leasing firms, and manufacturer captive financing programs — typically require permanent residency or citizenship for commercial equipment loans above $50,000. The SBA 504 program, which offered 10 to 20 year equipment financing at extremely favorable rates, is now fully closed to H-1B applicants under the March 2026 citizenship rule.
Bankable's approach is fundamentally different: we fund equipment purchases as part of revenue-based business tranches. The equipment's value is not the collateral — your business's revenue is. This means H-1B holders whose businesses generate documented revenue can access equipment capital that traditional equipment lenders deny them.
Equipment Categories H-1B Business Owners Fund Through Bankable
- Medical and Dental Equipment: MRI machines, CT scanners, digital X-ray systems, dental chairs, laser aesthetic systems. Typical range: $50,000 to $2M.
- Restaurant Kitchen Equipment: Commercial ovens, refrigeration, hoods, dishwashers, POS systems. Typical range: $30,000 to $200,000.
- Manufacturing Machinery: CNC machines, injection molding equipment, industrial HVAC. Typical range: $100,000 to $2M.
- Construction Equipment: Excavators, lifts, concrete pumps. Typical range: $100,000 to $500,000.
- Commercial Vehicles: Trucks, vans, forklifts. Typical range: $30,000 to $200,000 per unit.
- Technology and IT Hardware: Servers, networking infrastructure, specialized computing. Typical range: $20,000 to $500,000.
Equipment Financing vs. Revenue-Based Funding: When to Use Which
Traditional equipment financing (when available) uses the equipment as collateral and often has lower rates. Revenue-based funding from Bankable does not require citizenship but reflects different pricing. For H-1B holders who cannot access traditional equipment financing due to residency requirements, Bankable's revenue-based approach provides equipment capital access that would otherwise be unavailable.
For industry-specific equipment guidance, visit our H-1B funding hub and select your industry. Start with the Bankability Assessment to see your equipment funding capacity in 30 seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, through Bankable. Traditional equipment lenders often require permanent residency. Bankable's revenue-based funding does not.
Equipment purchases are funded as part of revenue-based tranches. The business's monthly revenue determines the tranche size, which can be applied to any business capital need including equipment.
Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA 504 program requires 100% US citizen ownership. H-1B holders are fully excluded from SBA equipment financing.
Equipment leasing (as opposed to purchasing) may be available from some equipment lessors who are less restrictive than lenders on immigration status. Leasing does not require Bankable — contact equipment vendors directly about lease options.
Equipment financing is limited by the business's overall tranche capacity — typically 1 to 3 times monthly revenue for the initial tranche. Businesses generating $50,000+/month can access $100,000 to $500,000 in equipment-applicable funding.
No. Bankable has zero residency requirements. H-1B, L-1, O-1, and other work visa holders all qualify for funding assessment based on business revenue alone.
Effective March 1, 2026, the SBA requires 100% US citizen or national ownership for all 7(a) and 504 programs. H-1B holders are completely excluded regardless of revenue or credit history.
48 hours from completed application. The Bankability Assessment at /bankability-score/ takes 30 seconds and gives a preliminary range immediately.