Key Takeaways
- Bankable does NOT require a green card for business funding
- An active EAD (any category) is accepted as valid identification
- Revenue, not immigration status, is the primary qualification criteria
- U4U, CHNV, and Afghan parolees all qualify under the same EAD-based process
- Green card holders qualify too — but it's not a requirement
The Direct Answer: No Green Card Required
Bankable does not require a green card (Lawful Permanent Resident card) to access business funding. This is a deliberate design choice rooted in the reality that hundreds of thousands of productive business owners in the United States are operating legally with Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) rather than green cards.
Humanitarian parolees — Ukrainians under U4U, Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans under CHNV, and Afghans under Operation Allies Welcome — all receive EADs that authorize them to work and operate businesses in the United States. Those EADs are accepted by Bankable as valid primary identification.
What Bankable Does Require
Instead of a green card, Bankable requires:
- Active EAD: Your Employment Authorization Document must be current (not expired). If it's close to expiration, a renewal receipt notice is typically sufficient.
- Business bank statements: Three to six months of deposits from a business bank account in your business's name. This is the primary underwriting input.
- Business operating history: At least six months of active business operations, evidenced by the bank statement history.
- Minimum revenue: At least $10,000 per month in consistent business deposits to qualify for the smallest funding amounts.
- U.S. business bank account: The account must be in the business's name (LLC, corporation, or DBA).
You do NOT need a green card, U.S. citizenship, a Social Security Number with a long U.S. credit history, or a U.S.-citizen co-signer.
Why Bankable Doesn't Require a Green Card
The reason is straightforward: green card status does not predict whether a business will generate revenue. An Afghan parolee running a profitable restaurant chain is a better credit risk than a green card holder with an unprofitable business. Bankable's underwriting model is built on that insight — revenue predicts repayment, not immigration documents.
This is also why Bankable exists. The SBA and traditional banks require citizenship or permanent residency, creating a funding gap for productive parole-status business owners. Bankable fills that gap by underwriting on revenue alone.
What Happens to Your Loan If You Get a Green Card?
Nothing changes automatically. If you receive a green card while you have an outstanding Bankable loan, your repayment terms remain unchanged. However, once you have a green card, you become eligible for SBA financing, conventional bank loans, and other lower-cost products. Many Bankable clients who receive green cards choose to refinance their Bankable balance with a lower-cost SBA or bank loan. Bankable has no prepayment penalty, so you can pay off your balance any time without fees.
Check your Bankability Score now to see what you qualify for with your current EAD. Also review our SBA 7(a) alternative guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Bankable accepts an active EAD (Employment Authorization Document) as valid identification. Green card status is not required.
Bankable accepts active EADs from any humanitarian parole category: U4U (Ukrainian), CHNV (Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan), and Afghan parole programs. Other work-authorized statuses with EAD are also accepted.
In many cases, yes. A renewal receipt notice (I-797 or similar) combined with an expired EAD is typically sufficient to demonstrate valid work authorization pending the renewal.
Yes. Green card holders are welcome to apply and may also qualify for SBA and conventional bank products. Bankable's revenue-based model works regardless of whether you have an EAD or a green card.
An SSN is helpful but not always required. Many applicants use an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) in combination with their EAD. Contact Bankable to discuss your specific situation.
Yes. A renewed parole and fresh EAD are valid for Bankable applications. What matters is that your EAD is active and your business has at least 6 months of revenue history.
Bankable's funding application is a commercial process. Review Bankable's privacy policy for details on data handling. Immigration information provided during the application is used for identity verification only.
Notify Bankable immediately if your EAD category changes. In most cases, any valid EAD that authorizes business operation is acceptable, regardless of the specific category code.