Is CIT (First Citizens) a direct funder or a broker?

CIT (First Citizens) is a direct funder — they underwrite and deploy capital from their own balance sheet (or institutional credit facility), not by routing your file to other lenders. This matters because direct funders are accountable for the terms they quote.

What's the minimum revenue CIT (First Citizens) will fund?

CIT (First Citizens)'s published floor is $25,000+ in average monthly revenue, with 24 months minimum time in business. Credit score floor is 650+. These are box minimums — actual approval requires bank statements showing consistent daily deposits and acceptable NSF history.

How fast can CIT (First Citizens) fund?

CIT (First Citizens)'s public speed quote is 5 – 21 days standard. In practice, clean files (consistent revenue, no NSFs, no second position) fund at the fast end of that range. Files needing additional documentation, second-position deals, or larger amounts ($250K+) take longer.

Should I go directly to CIT (First Citizens) or through a broker?

Going direct gets you a single quote with no broker commission baked into the factor rate. Going through a broker (like Fundnode) gets you scored against multiple funders, including CIT (First Citizens), with full disclosure of how we earn. There's no universal right answer — but if you only want one quote, going direct saves the broker's cut.

CIT (First Citizens) Review 2026 — Rates, Terms, Honest Verdict

Best for: Equipment financing + commercial lending at scale. Amount range: $25,000 – $50,000,000+. Speed: 5 – 21 days standard. Below: the rate card, the watch-out, alternatives we'd compare against, and the honest verdict.

TL;DR

CIT (First Citizens) ranks #93 in our 2026 funder ranking. Best for mid-market businesses ($500k+ annual revenue) needing equipment financing or commercial term loans at bank rates. The strength: Major commercial lender now part of First Citizens Bank after 2022 merger. The watch-out: Mid-market and up — too large for typical SMB applicant.

CIT (First Citizens) rate card 2026

Category	Bank lender
Best for	Equipment financing + commercial lending at scale
Amount range	$25,000 – $50,000,000+
Cost (factor / APR)	Equipment APR 6 – 18%; commercial term rates competitive
Speed to fund	5 – 21 days standard
Min time in business	24 months
Min monthly revenue	$25,000+
Min credit score	650+

The strength — what CIT (First Citizens) does better than anyone

Major commercial lender now part of First Citizens Bank after 2022 merger. Strong equipment leasing + commercial lending programs. Industry verticals: healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, energy.

The watch-out — what CIT (First Citizens) doesn't put in marketing

Mid-market and up — too large for typical SMB applicant. Conservative underwriting. Lengthy approval process.

Who CIT (First Citizens) is best for

Mid-market businesses ($500K+ annual revenue) needing equipment financing or commercial term loans at bank rates.

Who shouldn't apply

Merchants with less than 24 months in business will get an automatic decline — try Accord (3 months) or Greenbox (6 months) instead. Established multi-location operators may get better terms at OnDeck or NewCo Capital Group. As with any MCA decision, the cheapest money is the money you don't borrow — start with the calculator at /calculator to see if the deal you'd take from CIT (First Citizens) actually makes sense.

How CIT (First Citizens) compares to the rest of the top 10

Funder	Category	Cost	Speed
CIT (First Citizens) (this funder)	Bank lender	Equipment APR 6 – 18%; commercial term rates competitive	5 – 21 days standard
Credibly	MCA + multi-product	Factor 1.11+ (MCA); APR varies for term + LOC	As fast as 4 hours
Greenbox Capital	Multi-product	Factor varies; published up to 19% ISO commission	24 – 48 hours
Accord Business Funding	MCA specialty	Factor varies by paper grade (often 1.40+)	Next-day for approved files
Bluevine	LOC	APR 6.2% – 27%	1 – 3 business days
OnDeck	Term + LOC	Term APR 27%+; LOC APR 30%+	Same-day for approved files

What to ask CIT (First Citizens) before signing

"What's the APR-equivalent on this deal?" A funder who can't or won't quote it has something to hide. Required disclosure in five states as of 2026.
"Is there a prepayment discount?" Some funders charge the full factor regardless of payoff speed. Get the discount in writing before you sign.
"What's the reconciliation policy if my revenue drops?" The best funders adjust the daily ACH downward when deposits drop. Many won't. Ask in writing.
"Will you stack on top of an existing position?" Stacking is one of the top reasons MCA merchants default. If a funder accepts second/third position freely, that's a yellow flag for the merchant.

Frequently asked questions

Is CIT (First Citizens) a direct funder or a broker?: CIT (First Citizens) is a direct funder — they underwrite and deploy capital from their own balance sheet (or institutional credit facility), not by routing your file to other lenders. This matters because direct funders are accountable for the terms they quote.
What's the minimum revenue CIT (First Citizens) will fund?: CIT (First Citizens)'s published floor is $25,000+ in average monthly revenue, with 24 months minimum time in business. Credit score floor is 650+. These are box minimums — actual approval requires bank statements showing consistent daily deposits and acceptable NSF history.
How fast can CIT (First Citizens) fund?: CIT (First Citizens)'s public speed quote is 5 – 21 days standard. In practice, clean files (consistent revenue, no NSFs, no second position) fund at the fast end of that range. Files needing additional documentation, second-position deals, or larger amounts ($250K+) take longer.
Should I go directly to CIT (First Citizens) or through a broker?: Going direct gets you a single quote with no broker commission baked into the factor rate. Going through a broker (like Fundnode) gets you scored against multiple funders, including CIT (First Citizens), with full disclosure of how we earn. There's no universal right answer — but if you only want one quote, going direct saves the broker's cut.
What's CIT (First Citizens)'s biggest weakness vs alternatives?: Mid-market and up — too large for typical SMB applicant. Conservative underwriting. Lengthy approval process.

CIT (First Citizens) — honest 2026 review.