Key Takeaways
- SBA approves 0% of non-citizen business owners after March 1, 2026—the baseline for comparison
- Bankable approves 92% of businesses with $150K+ annual revenue and 12+ months of operating history
- CDFIs have flexible approval criteria serving businesses with limited credit history or lower revenue
- Fintech lenders (Kabbage, OnDeck) approve 60-80% of applicants meeting their revenue thresholds
- Higher approval rates at Bankable (vs. SBA's historical 50-65%) mean fewer non-citizens are left without capital
Approval rates are the most practical metric for non-citizen business owners choosing a funding source. The SBA's rate for non-citizens is definitively zero—that is the policy. Every other lender has a higher approval rate than SBA for non-citizens by definition.
But approval rates vary significantly among the alternatives, and understanding them helps you target the right lender for your business's specific situation.
SBA vs. Alternatives: 2026 Comparison
| Option | Citizenship | Max | Decision | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | 100% required | $5M | 30-90 days | Blocked for non-citizens |
| CDFIs | No | $250K | 2-4 weeks | Open, limited capacity |
| Bankable | No requirement | $5M | 48 hours | Fully open, 92% approval |
Approval Rate Comparison: All Major Non-Citizen Lenders
| Lender | Approval Rate (Non-Citizens) | Primary Qualifier | Minimum |
|---|---|---|---|
| SBA 7(a) | 0% (blocked) | US citizenship | N/A (excluded) |
| Bankable | 92% | Business revenue | $150K/yr revenue |
| Platform Lending | 95%+ for platform merchants | Platform transaction volume | 6+ months on platform |
| OnDeck | ~65-75% | Revenue + credit | $100K/yr, 600 FICO |
| Kabbage | ~70-80% | Revenue + credit | $50K/yr, 600 FICO |
| MCA Providers | ~70-80% | Card volume | $10K/mo in cards |
| CDFI Microloans | ~65-75% | Mission criteria + viability | Flexible ($10K/yr) |
| Traditional Banks | ~20-40% | Credit + collateral + citizenship | 680+ FICO |
Why Bankable's 92% Rate Is Notable
Bankable's 92% approval rate is high because our qualification criteria are precisely calibrated to our funding model. We do not evaluate factors that are not relevant to repayment capacity—like citizenship, credit score (primarily), or collateral pledging. We evaluate what matters: consistent business revenue. Businesses that meet our revenue threshold have a very high probability of being able to repay based on the same revenue patterns we evaluated.
Factors That Affect Approval Rates
- Revenue level: Higher revenue relative to funding amount = higher approval rate
- Revenue consistency: Stable monthly deposits = higher approval rate than highly variable revenue
- Business age: Longer history = stronger approval rate
- Existing debt: High existing obligations reduce approval probability
- Industry: Some high-risk industries (e.g., cannabis) may have lower approval rates regardless of citizenship
Check your specific approval probability. Check your Bankability Score in 5 minutes.
The approval rate question has a clear answer for non-citizens: Bankable's 92% is the highest available for large amounts. Apply today.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bankable's overall approval rate is 92% for businesses meeting our criteria ($150K+ annual revenue, 12+ months of history). This rate applies equally to all nationalities and immigration categories—citizenship is not evaluated.
SBA's approval rate for non-citizens is 0%—all non-citizen-owned businesses are categorically excluded from SBA 7(a), 504, Express, and all other SBA loan programs as of March 1, 2026.
Bankable's criteria are specifically calibrated to our revenue-based underwriting: if your business meets the revenue threshold, you very likely qualify. Other lenders evaluate additional factors (credit score, collateral, industry risk) that can result in additional declines even for revenue-qualified businesses.
Approximately 8% of Bankable applicants do not receive offers. Primary reasons: revenue below $150K annual threshold, business history under 12 months, existing debt load too high relative to revenue, or industry-specific restrictions.
Bankable's initial Bankability Score assessment uses a soft credit inquiry, which does not affect credit scores. A hard inquiry may occur later in the underwriting process, which has minimal temporary impact on credit scores.
CDFI microloans typically approve 65-75% of non-citizen applicants. CDFIs use holistic review—business plan, owner character, community impact—which benefits some applicants but introduces more subjectivity than Bankable's revenue-based model.
Yes. Building revenue above $150K, demonstrating 12+ consecutive months of business history, reducing existing debt obligations, and maintaining consistent monthly deposits all improve your Bankability Score and approval probability.
If Bankable declines, we can suggest alternative paths based on your specific situation. Businesses under $150K revenue can explore CDFIs and Kiva. Businesses with credit challenges can work with CDFIs that specialize in credit-challenged borrowers.
Yes. Bankable's 92% rate reflects the precision of revenue-based underwriting. When the primary qualification factor is objective (monthly bank deposits), approval rates can be accurately predicted. The 92% rate applies across all non-citizen categories because revenue transcends immigration status.
No. Bankable's approval rate does not vary by visa type, immigration category, or citizenship status. H-1B, E-2, green card, TPS, DACA, and all other categories have the same 92% approval rate for businesses meeting our revenue and history criteria.