FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Meadowbank Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Meadowbank Small Business Loans
Meadowbank unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months and cash flow-friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What makes this Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
The application to get this Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes via the internet or over the phone, receive a same day response and the money could be available in just 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an interest rate per annum as well as other fees and charges. Our company loan is a pre-paid loan therefore you’ll be aware in advance of the total amount to be paid, including the interest, fees and charges. Then, it is divided into weekly or daily payment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any company use, including cash flow management, business improvements, advertising for purchasing inventory or new equipment, or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used for personal use.
About the Larger Meadowbank Business Loans
What is the Larger Meadowbank Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund company expansion opportunities. The loan ranges from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly in order to accommodate your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is calculated at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit of this size the company needs to be trading for at least 3 years with an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able demonstrate at least 12 months of trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A large business loan can be used to fund almost every company need, including business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory, as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed to access funding over $150,000. It is usually by taking a charge over assets, and may include registration with the PPSR or making as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to pay off a credit line that is general in nature, rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable if the company the borrower fails to repay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central registry run by the New Zealand Government. It contains security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR grants preference over private property granted according to the date the security interest that is registered.
A caveat is a legal form of document to provide an official notice of a claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re applying for an enterprise loan that exceeds $250,000 we can offer an initial pre-approval to make the process. We might be able to get this done without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes answering a couple of financial health checks. It is not an offer or guarantee of finance. Acceptance without condition is subject to an extensive credit evaluation and any offer you might receive could have different terms.
Application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You can apply for a company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are at least 18 years old, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months of trading (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is quick and simple. Complete the online form in just a few minutes, and a dedicated business credit specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll require proof of identity (valid Driver’s License) and a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months worth of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Details of application, including credit approval, 6-12 months of IRD statements, bank statements (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K – $500K: Information on the application including credit consent twelve months bank statement, an IRD statement as well as the two most recent years’ financial statements, in addition to interim financial statements for the current year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K or more) we can often offer an answer within an hour if you apply at standard business timings and permit us to utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload copies of your banking statement, we’ll offer a decision in as little as an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be likely to provide the conditional pre-approval within six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is around 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply can be ensure you apply during standard business hours, and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload documents from your account statements it will take a little longer.
How fast will I get the cash?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide an answer in just one hour if you make your application in normal business times and allow us to use the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statement, we’ll provide a decision in as little as 1 business day.
If you are applying for Larger Business Loans ($100K to $500K) we could be in a position to provide you with conditional pre-approval in around 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval. However, it could be faster based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain deals have been approved within 24 hours.
The fastest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours and let us use the sophisticated bank verification link to verify your bank account information online. If you opt to upload copies of your bank statement, it takes a bit longer.
What is the maximum amount I can borrow?
We provide the loan amount between $5,000 to $500,000. When you submit an application for a certain amount, we will consider a number of elements that determine what is the well-being of your business and the level of repayments that your business is able to afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics the company.
When you make an application for a particular amount, we look at a range of factors to assess your well-being of the business and the level of the repayments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from the loan will be determined by the particulars the business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
When you make an application for one of our company loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment for your company and offer an individualised proposal that includes loan amount, term and interest rates. This business loan is an upfront priced loan so you will know the exact amount due, which includes any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the amount I’m charged?
Interest rates for business loans rates differ based on various factors including the amount borrowed, what business assets the funds will be used for, the industry the business is in, how long the company is in operation, how long the business has enough cash flow to fund the loan, and overall health as well as creditworthiness business.
What are the fees?
There are no hidden costs with our company loans, and you’ll know exactly how much it is that you be required to pay and at what time, from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and no extra fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You are able to request a credit loan absolutely no upfront cost and no commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee is the cost associated in establishing and managing the loan. You are only charged this cost if you take out the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of the loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can repay the entire amount of the loan in full at any time.
If you decide to pursue this option, please speak to our friendly business loan professionals. They’ll provide you with the details of your repayment and an early payment figure. This will be calculated as the sum of the principal remaining plus any accrued interest as of the time of the early payout and 1.5% of the remaining principal and any fees that remain unpaid.
What is the process for repayments?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work your cash flow cycle we provide repayments either daily or weekly. They are automatically deducted from the nominated business account.
Security & privacy
Will my information be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being upfront about the ways we gather information, use it, and exchange it, as well as safeguard your data, is of huge importance and is a crucial part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to secure your personal, sensitive financial information and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our clients and security. We utilise a sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online, allowing us to provide quick responses.
About business loans
What is asset-based borrowing (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a company owner uses an asset they own to obtain the funding. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home or a business asset such as a truck or other piece of machinery.
The vast majority of lenders, even the big banks, tend to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, then your asset may be taken over by the lender. In essence it is means of securing additional financing using the value of what you already have.
What do I need security to secure a business loan?
For loans of up to $150K, the requirement for asset security is not required upfront to access the money, however we do require a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with the terms of your loan (as detailed in the loan contract) Asset security will never be required. For loans of over $150K generally, you are able to get a personal ensure and security that is in the form the charge of assets.