Live Oak Bank Review: Explore SBA & Business Loan Options

Pros

• High borrowing amounts
• Rates tend to be inexpensive
• Long-term financing options available
• Financing is suited for business growth needs

Cons

• Borrower qualifications may be hard to meet
• Collateral is required (in some cases)
• The application process is slow and involved
• Website advertising is not informative

Live Oak Bank Business Loans Overview

Live Oak Bank is an FDIC-insured bank offering term loans and SBA loans to small businesses. Live Oak Bank was also a participant in the PPP COVID-relief small business lending program.

As a relatively young bank, Live Oak is less traditional than many of its competitors, offering speed and convenience to prospective lenders in all 50 states. However, the convenience comes with some trade-offs, including a limited breadth of products available to a small number of industries. Live Oak also emphasizes its SBA loans and is, in fact, one of the biggest originators of that type of loan in the country. As an SBA Preferred Lending Partner, it’s able to process those loans more quickly than your typical lender (don’t expect blazing speeds, though; it’s still an SBA loan).

Not sure if Live Oak Bank is the right lender for you? Read on.

Business & SBA Loan Services Offered By Live Oak Bank

• SBA Loans: Live Oak Bank offers SBA 7(a) and SBA 504 loans to small businesses. The bank has Preferred Lender Status and was ranked #1 SBA 7(A) Lender by dollar amount for FY 2021.
• USDA Loans: U.S. Department of Agriculture loans are government-backed loans for agricultural businesses. In 2021, Live Oak Bank was named the leading USDA lender by volume for its Business & Industry (B&I) guaranteed loan program. Live Oak Bank also participates in the Community Facilities (CF) loan program, the Water and Environmental (WEP) loan program, and others.
• Term Loans: Live Bank also offers conventional (non-government-backed) business term loans for various purposes, including business acquisition loans, franchise loans, and others.

Live Oak Bank Borrower Requirements

Here are the borrower qualifications for getting a loan from Live Oak Bank:

Live Oak lends to all 50 states and is willing to work with all types of businesses, but it specializes in lending to the above sectors.

Live Oak Bank Interest Rates & Fees

Here are some rate and term details for the main loan types Live Oak Bank offers to small businesses.

Term Loans

Live Oak breaks its loan products down by industry, with variations in terms depending on the type of business it’s lending to. Here are the terms for Live Oak’s business term loans, broadly speaking:

Live Oak offers term loans for a variety of business purposes. The bank doesn’t disclose too many specifics about its loans beyond term lengths and borrowing limits. Instead, it stresses flexibility catered to the borrower’s industry and speed.

There are no prepayment penalty fees for loans with terms shorter than 15 years.

SBA Loans

These are the terms and fees for Live Oak Bank’s SBA loans:

Live Oak Bank is an SBA Preferred Lender, a designation that allows the lender to process SBA loans more quickly. In fact, the bank has developed a reputation for being an unusually fast SBA lender, with turnaround times of under two months being possible.

The two most popular SBA loans are the 7(a) and 504 loans. The Small Business Administration partially guarantees these loans, which allows the borrower to access better rates and terms than they would otherwise be able to.

Application Process

You can start your application online with or without an existing business account or submit a form requesting contact from a loan specialist. Estimates for Live Oak’s small business loan decisions run as short as ten days. While the bank has taken great pains to speed up the SBA loan approval process, be prepared to wait a month (at minimum) for processing, with 45 days being the typical turnaround. You should also be prepared to submit the extensive documentation the SBA requires.

Sales & Advertising Transparency

Live Oak presents a minimal amount of product information on its website. The small business loans section is broken down by industry but, with a few exceptions, doesn’t present much unique information in any of those subheadings.

Customer Service & Technical Support

You can reach Live Oak Bank through email, via the contact form on the company website, by phone, or through social media (YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn).

Client reviews of Live Oak’s customer service are mixed, trending toward positive.

Live Oak Bank Reviews, Complaints, & Testimonials

Negative Reviews & Complaints

Live Oak Bank has an A+ rating on the BBB, with just one complaint on file. Customer reviews are scattered across various aggregators and social media sites. Some of the more common complaints we’ve found in Live Oak Bank reviews include:

• Slow Processing: Checking and savings account customers have complained about the speed at which their deposits were credited to their accounts.
• Opaque Website: Some customers complained about the difficulty of getting concise information about Live Oak’s products.
• Specialized By Industry: While the list above isn’t exhaustive, you’ll stand a much better chance of being approved if you fall into one of the industries that Live Oak Bank specializes in lending to.

Positive Reviews & Testimonials

Live Oak Bank does offer several advantages to potential borrowers:

• Available Nationwide: Live Oak Bank lends to businesses in all 50 states, a rarity for banks.
• Preferred SBA Lender: Live Oak Bank is one of the fastest SBA partners in the business.
• Non-Traditional Bank: Live Oak offers many of the advantages of a traditional bank with some alternative lender conveniences.

Final Verdict: Is Live Oak A Good Bank For Your Business Loan Needs?

Live Oak Bank offers many advantages to businesses looking for a modern bank with geographically decentralized conveniences. Companies seeking SBA loans, in particular, should give Live Oak a closer look, as the lender seems to have honed the application process down to a science. However, if you’re looking for lines of credit or are in an industry that doesn’t fall within Live Oak’s specialty portfolio, there’s not much here for you.

Need alternatives? Compare small business loans or check out our comprehensive reviews of business credit cards.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Live Oak Bank	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Live Oak Bank for yourself.

The Merchant Maverick Seal of Approval 🏆

Live Oak Bank	Visit Site

After hours of in-depth research and evaluation, we can confidently recommend this brand to our readers. Get started today and see Live Oak Bank for yourself.