TL;DR
Live Oak Bank ranks #28 in our 2026 funder ranking. Best for established merchants (24+ months, 680+ credit) in live oak's specialty industries (vet, dental, funeral, storage, agriculture, hospitality) needing $250k-$5m+ at sba rates. The strength: Largest SBA 7(a) lender in the US by dollar volume for 7+ consecutive years. The watch-out: Long underwriting timeline (45-90 days typical).
Live Oak Bank rate card 2026
| Category | Bank lender |
| Best for | SBA 7(a) and 504 loans for niche industries |
| Amount range | $25,000 – $25,000,000+ |
| Cost (factor / APR) | SBA 7(a) APR prime + 2.75% to 4.75%; 504 fixed long-term rates |
| Speed to fund | 30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA standard) |
| Min time in business | 24 months |
| Min monthly revenue | $20,000+ |
| Min credit score | 680+ typical |
The strength — what Live Oak Bank does better than anyone
Largest SBA 7(a) lender in the US by dollar volume for 7+ consecutive years. Industry-specialty teams (veterinary, dental, funeral homes, self-storage, agriculture, hotels). Deep understanding of niche-vertical underwriting. Dramatically cheaper than MCA for qualifying merchants.
The watch-out — what Live Oak Bank doesn't put in marketing
Long underwriting timeline (45-90 days typical). Requires strong credit (680+), 2+ years operating, clean financials. Industries outside their specialty get less attention.
Who Live Oak Bank is best for
Established merchants (24+ months, 680+ credit) in Live Oak's specialty industries (vet, dental, funeral, storage, agriculture, hospitality) needing $250K-$5M+ at SBA 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 Live Oak Bank actually makes sense.
How Live Oak Bank compares to the rest of the top 10
| Funder | Category | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live Oak Bank (this funder) | Bank lender | SBA 7(a) APR prime + 2.75% to 4.75%; 504 fixed long-term rates | 30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA 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 Live Oak Bank 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 Live Oak Bank a direct funder or a broker?
- Live Oak Bank 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 Live Oak Bank will fund?
- Live Oak Bank's published floor is $20,000+ in average monthly revenue, with 24 months minimum time in business. Credit score floor is 680+ typical. These are box minimums — actual approval requires bank statements showing consistent daily deposits and acceptable NSF history.
- How fast can Live Oak Bank fund?
- Live Oak Bank's public speed quote is 30 – 90 days underwriting (SBA 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 Live Oak Bank 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 Live Oak Bank, 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 Live Oak Bank's biggest weakness vs alternatives?
- Long underwriting timeline (45-90 days typical). Requires strong credit (680+), 2+ years operating, clean financials. Industries outside their specialty get less attention.
Related reading
- The full 2026 ranking of 10 MCA funders — where Live Oak Bank sits and why.
- How factor rates actually work — the math behind SBA 7(a) APR prime + 2.75% to 4.75%.
- How to qualify for an MCA in 2026 — the 7 things underwriters check.
- Take the fundability quiz — find your tier in 2 minutes.