Lendistry is a Los Angeles-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 2015 and minority-led that has emerged as one of the most impactful online lenders in the United States — having funded $10B+ to 639,000+ businesses through loans and grants including massive COVID-era PPP and EIDL programs. As both a CDFI (certified by the US Treasury) and an SBA Preferred Lender, Lendistry sits at the intersection of mission-driven lending and institutional capability. Its term loan APRs — starting at WSJ prime +2% (approximately 8.75% in 2026) — are among the most competitive available from any non-bank online lender, significantly below alternative lenders and comparable to SBA rates. The mission focus on minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and businesses in low-income communities is genuine: CDFI certification requires it. Businesses that meet qualifying criteria unlock subsidized capital that purely private lenders cannot offer. Best for established businesses (2+ years, $250K+ annual revenue, 650+ credit) that meet CDFI qualifying criteria or want SBA-backed financing at competitive rates through a fully online process.
Lendistry is a Los Angeles-based Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) founded in 2015 and minority-led that has emerged as one of the most impactful online lenders in the United States — having funded $10B+ to 639,000+ businesses through loans and grants including massive COVID-era PPP and EIDL programs. As both a CDFI (certified by the US Treasury) and an SBA Preferred Lender, Lendistry sits at the intersection of mission-driven lending and institutional capability. Its term loan APRs — starting at WSJ prime +2% (approximately 8.75% in 2026) — are among the most competitive available from any non-bank online lender, significantly below alternative lenders and comparable to SBA rates. The mission focus on minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned, and businesses in low-income communities is genuine: CDFI certification requires it. Businesses that meet qualifying criteria unlock subsidized capital that purely private lenders cannot offer. Best for established businesses (2+ years, $250K+ annual revenue, 650+ credit) that meet CDFI qualifying criteria or want SBA-backed financing at competitive rates through a fully online process.
CDFI-subsidized rates, SBA Preferred Lender status, and nationwide online access make Lendistry the lowest-cost online lending option for qualifying businesses in 2026.
Lendistry is best suited to established businesses that meet CDFI criteria or want SBA-backed financing at the most competitive rates available online.
Access below-market rates for minority, woman, veteran-owned businesses or businesses in low-income census tracts through Lendistry’s CDFI-subsidized programs.
Fund new locations, major equipment, or growth initiatives with term loans up to $5M at WSJ prime +2% rates.
Finance owner-occupied commercial property purchase or refinancing through SBA 7(a) or CRE loan products.
Access longer-term working capital at CDFI-competitive rates when the standard alternative lender options are too expensive.
For businesses in underserved markets, access SBA Community Advantage loans up to $350K at SBA-capped government rates through Lendistry’s direct program.
Lendistry’s startup loan program is available for businesses with less than 2 years of history — unusual for a CDFI and rare among online lenders at competitive rates.
All Lendistry products are accessible through a fully online application. A loan specialist guides documentation and program selection.
Fixed-rate term loans at WSJ prime +2% to +6% APR. 12–60 month terms. Monthly or weekly repayment. Requires 2+ years in business, 650+ credit, $250K+ annual revenue.
Government-backed at SBA-capped rates. Lendistry is a Preferred Lender and approves in-house. Terms up to 25 years for real estate. Faster than standard SBA lenders.
Government-backed specifically for CDFIs serving underserved markets. SBA-capped rates. Best for minority, woman, veteran, and rural businesses that want the lowest available rates.
Commercial real estate acquisition or refinancing. CDFI-competitive rates for qualifying borrowers. Longer terms available for eligible properties.
For businesses with less than 2 years of history. Terms up to 10 years in some programs. Below-market rates for qualifying startups in underserved communities.
Complete Lendistry’s online application. Unlike most CDFIs, the entire process is digital. If you received PPP through Lendistry, much of your documentation is pre-populated.
Prepare 2–3 years of business and personal tax returns, profit and loss statements, 6 months of bank statements, and a personal financial statement. Business plan required for loans over $250K.
Lendistry evaluates your revenue, cash flow, debt-to-income ratio, and community qualification alongside credit score. More holistic than purely algorithmic underwriting.
Approval and funding timelines depend on product type. Term loans: days to 2 weeks. SBA loans: 2–6 weeks. CRE: longer. Faster for returning borrowers with data on file.
|
Lendistry
|
Fundivi
|
Fora Financial
|
OnDeck
|
Credibly
|
Kapitus
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility | ||||||
| Loan Amount | $1K – $5M | $10K – $5M | $5K – $1.5M | $5K – $400K | $5K – $600K | $10K – $5M |
| Time in Business | 12+ Months | 9+ Months | 6+ Months | 12+ Months | 6+ Months | 12+ Months |
| Monthly Revenue | $8K+ | $30K+ | $12K+ | $8,333+ | $15K+ | $21K+ |
| Min. Credit Score | 600+ | None | 500 | 625+ | 500+ | 600+ |
| Loan Details | ||||||
| Funding Speed | Varies by Product | Same Day | 72 Hours | Same Day | 24 Hours | 24–48 Hours |
| Approval | — | Within 3 Hours | — | — | 4 Hours | — |
| Rating | ||||||
| Rating | ||||||
| BBB Rating | A+ | A- | A+ | A+ | A+ | N/A |
| Apply Now | Apply | Apply | Apply | Apply | Apply | |
A Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) is a lender certified by the US Treasury Department to serve economically distressed communities. CDFIs receive government subsidies that allow them to offer below-market rates — especially for minority-owned, woman-owned, veteran-owned businesses and those in low-income census tracts. Lendistry is one of the only online CDFIs serving all 50 states.
Term loan rates start at WSJ prime +2% — approximately 8.75% in 2026 with prime at 6.75%. Rates range to WSJ prime +6% (approximately 12.75%) depending on product and borrower profile. SBA 7(a) and Community Advantage loans follow SBA-capped rates. Full rates are disclosed after review — some programs don’t publish exact rates upfront.
Most Lendistry loan products require a minimum credit score of 640–650. SBA loans for businesses with less than 2 years of history require 700+. Startup loan programs may have different thresholds. Lendistry’s CDFI status means it evaluates credit more holistically than traditional banks.
Yes. While Lendistry prioritizes minority, woman, veteran-owned, and low-income community businesses — and CDFI-subsidized rates apply primarily to these groups — Lendistry offers conventional term loans and SBA loans to established businesses regardless of community location. Non-qualifying businesses receive standard (non-subsidized) rates.
Lendistry is slower than alternative lenders but faster than most traditional bank SBA processes. Term loans: typically 1–2 weeks. SBA 7(a): 2–6 weeks. Returning borrowers with data already on file (PPP, EIDL) experience significantly reduced documentation burden and faster timelines.
Yes. Lendistry is a US Treasury-certified CDFI, SBA Preferred Lender, and member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Los Angeles, it has funded $10B+ to 639,000+ businesses and is widely recognized as one of the largest and most impactful CDFIs in the United States. BLIQ has verified Lendistry as an active, operating CDFI lender.
Lendistry is the most mission-aligned and rate-competitive non-bank lender in this review series. For minority, woman, veteran-owned businesses and businesses in low-income census tracts, CDFI-subsidized rates starting at WSJ prime +2% represent a genuine cost advantage of 30–80% versus comparable alternative lenders — translating to thousands of dollars in annual interest savings on the same loan amount. $10B+ funded, SBA Preferred Lender status, all 50 states through a fully online platform, and startup loan access are all genuinely differentiated.
The tradeoffs are clear: $250K+ annual revenue, 650+ credit, 2+ years in business for most products, and 2–4 week timelines versus same-day alternative lender options. Lendistry is not a fast-capital provider — it is a competitively priced capital provider for businesses that can qualify and can wait. If you need capital today and have strong credit, look at SoFi or Funding Circle. If you can wait 2–3 weeks and want the cheapest available online lending rates, Lendistry should be your first call.
Visit LendistryShare your Lendistry experience. All submissions are moderated before publishing.