FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Fingal Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Fingal Small Business Loans
Fingal unsecured loans offers amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months and cash flow friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What is how is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
You can apply to get your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or by phone. You will receive an immediate response, and have the funds in your account within 24 hours. Traditional business loans reference an annual interest rate plus other fees and charges. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront therefore you’ll know ahead of time the amount you will have to pay, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly payment amount.
What could you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for nearly every company purpose including cash flow management, business renovations, marketing to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and much more. The loan is not available for personal use.
About Larger Fingal Business Loans
What is the Larger Fingal Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business expansion opportunities. Loans range between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, determined at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
In order to be eligible for a loan of this size, your business needs to have been in operation for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. It is necessary to be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) over 18 years and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost any business need, including business renovations, to purchase inventory or new equipment for general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. It is usually in the form of a charge against assets, which could also include registering this through the PPSR or registering a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a promise to repay credit that is generally based rather than stating the security for a particular asset. The person who signs the ensure is personally liable if the company creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR gives prioritisation over property that is personal to be assigned according to the date the security interest was registered.
A caveat is a legal document that is filed to provide the legal claim on a property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for an enterprise loan of more than $250,000 it’s possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help smooth out the process. We could be able to make this decision without a credit check and within 6 hours of your initial application. This pre-approval is made based on an initial assessment, which involves you answering some financial health checks. It’s not an offer or guarantee of finance. Unconditional approval is subject to an assessment of your creditworthiness and any offer you might receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Do I qualify for funds?
You may be eligible for a business loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K or $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Simply complete the online form within a couple minutes, and a dedicated company loan specialist will contact you to assist you.
To be eligible for up to $100,000 you’ll need the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as an active NZBN/IRD, and at least six months worth of bank statements.
If you’re looking for loans with larger sizes, you’ll also need:
$100K-$250K: Details of application, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details of the application, including credit consent as well as 12 months bank statement, an IRD statement Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, in addition to interim financials from the current financial year such as age-related payables and aged Receivables Summary.
How fast will I get a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually provide an answer within one hour if you submit your request in standard company timings and let us utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements , we’ll be able to offer a decision within an business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval document, you will require to wait about 2-3 days for final approval, however this may be quicker depending on the particular circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in 24 hours.
The most efficient method is to make sure you apply during normal company hours. You can also let us use the advance bank verification to confirm your bank details online. If you upload copies of your bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
How soon will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we can often offer a response in one hour if you make your application within standard business timings and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system to immediately verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide an answer in just one business day.
For the Larger Business Loans ($100K or more) we may be able to offer you with a conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved within 24 hours.
The fastest method for you to apply is make sure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the advance bank verification link to check your bank’s information online. If you choose to send us the copies of bank accounts, it will take a little longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer loans that range from $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we look at a variety of aspects for determining what is the well-being for your company and the level of the repayments your company can afford. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the specific circumstances for your business.
When you submit an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of variables to determine the health of your company and the amount of repayments your company can support. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics the company.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an company loan?
When you apply for our business loans, we will assess the risk profile of your company and provide an individualised offer that includes loan amount, term and the interest rates. A company loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know in advance the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I will be charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on several variables like the amount to be borrowed, the business assets the money will be used for as well as the field the business operates in, the long the company has been operating for, what percentage of the company has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and also the general health or financial standing of the business.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden costs for our company loans. You’ll know precisely what it is that you need to pay, and when, from the first day. There’s no compounding and no extra fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can apply for a loan no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the costs associated with setting up and managing the loan. This is only a fee if you decide to take the loan. The Origination Fee for us is 2.5 percentage of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan earlier?
You can repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you decide to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful company credit professionals. They will provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the sum of the principal remaining and any accrued interest at the date of early payout, plus 1.5 percent of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To make sure that you don’t miss due dates and also to be in line with your cash flow standard, we provide payments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your business account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be protected?
Protecting your information, and making it clear how we collect data, process, exchange and safeguard your data, is crucial and an integral part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We utilise industry-recognised encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to the security of our clients as well as their privacy. We use an advanced bank verification system link to instantly confirm your bank account information online, allowing us to provide rapid response.
About business loans
What’s an asset-based borrow (a secured loan)?
An asset-based loan is when an company owner borrows from assets they own to secure the funds for a loan. The asset can be either an individual asset, such as the family home or an business asset like a truck or piece of equipment.
The majority of lenders, not just the big banks, tend to secure loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan then the asset could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s an opportunity to secure new funding making use of the value of what you already have.
What do I require security to get a business loan?
For loans up to $150,000 no asset security is required before you can access the money, however we do require an individual guarantee. As long as you follow the loan terms (as specified in your loan contract document) Asset security will never be needed. For loans of over $150,000 typically, you will need personal ensure and security that is in the form an asset charge.