Is Stearns Bank a direct funder or a broker?

Stearns 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 Stearns Bank will fund?

Stearns Bank's published floor is $15,000+ 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 Stearns Bank fund?

Stearns Bank's public speed quote is SBA 30 – 60 days; equipment 5 – 10 days. 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 Stearns 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 Stearns 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.

Stearns Bank Review 2026 — Rates, Terms, Honest Verdict

Best for: SBA + equipment financing + specialty industries. Amount range: $25,000 – $10,000,000+. Speed: SBA 30 – 60 days; equipment 5 – 10 days. Below: the rate card, the watch-out, alternatives we'd compare against, and the honest verdict.

TL;DR

Stearns Bank ranks #66 in our 2026 funder ranking. Best for franchise owners and specialty-equipment-heavy businesses wanting sba-rate financing from a smaller, more attentive bank. The strength: Privately-held SBA 7(a) Preferred Lender. The watch-out: Smaller footprint than top-3 SBA banks.

Stearns Bank rate card 2026

Category	Bank lender
Best for	SBA + equipment financing + specialty industries
Amount range	$25,000 – $10,000,000+
Cost (factor / APR)	SBA 7(a) prime + 2.75% to 4.75%; equipment 8 – 18% APR
Speed to fund	SBA 30 – 60 days; equipment 5 – 10 days
Min time in business	24 months
Min monthly revenue	$15,000+
Min credit score	650+

The strength — what Stearns Bank does better than anyone

Privately-held SBA 7(a) Preferred Lender. Strong franchise and equipment financing programs. Will fund specialty industries other banks avoid (food trucks, fitness studios, salons).

The watch-out — what Stearns Bank doesn't put in marketing

Smaller footprint than top-3 SBA banks. Less brand recognition. Some industries get bank-direct attention only if you have substantial collateral.

Who Stearns Bank is best for

Franchise owners and specialty-equipment-heavy businesses wanting SBA-rate financing from a smaller, more attentive bank.

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 Stearns Bank actually makes sense.

How Stearns Bank compares to the rest of the top 10

Funder	Category	Cost	Speed
Stearns Bank (this funder)	Bank lender	SBA 7(a) prime + 2.75% to 4.75%; equipment 8 – 18% APR	SBA 30 – 60 days; equipment 5 – 10 days
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 Stearns 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 Stearns Bank a direct funder or a broker?: Stearns 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 Stearns Bank will fund?: Stearns Bank's published floor is $15,000+ 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 Stearns Bank fund?: Stearns Bank's public speed quote is SBA 30 – 60 days; equipment 5 – 10 days. 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 Stearns 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 Stearns 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 Stearns Bank's biggest weakness vs alternatives?: Smaller footprint than top-3 SBA banks. Less brand recognition. Some industries get bank-direct attention only if you have substantial collateral.

Stearns Bank — honest 2026 review.