FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
More about the Meadowbank Small Business Loans
Let me know about the Meadowbank Small Business Loans
Meadowbank unsecured loans offers amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000, with terms ranging from 3 and 24 months, cash flow friendly repayments, which are either daily or weekly.
What is the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional business loan?
It is possible to apply for your Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an answer within the same day and the money could be in your account in 24 hours. Traditional company loans reference an annual rate of interest together with additional fees and charges. This business loan is a cash-based loan therefore you’ll be aware of the amount you will have to pay, including any interest, fees or charges. Then, it is broken down into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost any business need, such as managing cash flows, company remodeling, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, to fund general working capital and so much more. The loan is not available for personal reasons.
Concerning Larger Meadowbank Business Loans
What is the Larger Meadowbank Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger loan size to support business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a term fixed for up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly, depending on your situation.
How is the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee which is calculated at 2.5 percent of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit that is this large, your business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) who is over the age of 18 and have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to prove at minimum 12 months of continuous trading.
What can I use the funding for?
A Larger Business Loan is a great option for almost all business purpose including business renovations, purchase of inventory or new equipment or as general working capital and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan a secured loan?
Asset security is necessary to obtain funding above $150,000. This can be done by way of charge over assets, and may include the registration of this on the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A director’s or personal guarantee is a guarantee to repay a loan which is general in nature, rather than specifying the security of a specific asset. The person signing the ensure is personally responsible if the business creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is an online central register run by the New Zealand Government. It reflects security interests which are registered with respect to personal property (including objects or assets). The PPSR gives the priority of personal property granted in accordance with the date on which a security interest was registered.
The caveat can be described as a formal document that is filed to provide the legal claim on a property.
What is a pre-approval that does not require Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K it’s possible to offer an initial pre-approval in order to smooth out the process. We may be able to apply for this without a credit verification and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is based on a preliminary assessment which includes you answering some financial well-being questions. This is not an offer of credit or guarantee of financing. A conditional approval is subject an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer that you receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Are I eligible for funding?
You are eligible to apply for a company loan if you:
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are over 18 years, have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months’ worth of transactions (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or three years of trade (for the Larger Business Loan $100K to $500K)
How do I apply?
The process for applying is fast and easy. Just complete the online application in few minutes and a dedicated business lending specialist will call you to guide you through the process.
For a loan of up to $100,000, you’ll require identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) and an NZBN/IRD that is valid and at least 6 months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Information about the application including credit approval, 6-12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if you have a loan of more than $150K).
$250K to $500K: Details for application including credit consent and 12 months of bank statements, IRD statements and the last two years’ finalised financial statements, plus interim current financial year financials such as age-related payables and aged Receivables reports.
How quickly will I receive a decision?
For an unsecured loan ($5K and up) we can often provide an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application in standard company time and you allow us to utilise the bank verification system to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statements we can offer a decision in as little as the span of one company day.
If you are applying for a Larger Business Loan ($100K up to $500,000) we might be capable of provide you with conditional pre-approval within 6 hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is about 2-3 days for final approval, however this can be quicker based on the specifics of each application. Some offers have been approved within 24 hours.
The quickest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and let us use the modern bank verification link to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you opt to upload the copies of bank accounts, it takes a bit longer.
How quickly will I receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K or more) We can usually provide a response in one hour – provided you submit your request in standard business timings and allow us to use the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank’s information online. If you decide to upload copies of your banking statements, we will be able to offer a decision in just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) we could be capable of offer you with pre-approval conditional to your application in about six hours. After you’ve signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this can be faster depending on the specifics of each application. Some agreements have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The most effective method for you to apply is ensure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our sophisticated bank verification to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to send us the copies of bank accounts, it can take a bit longer.
What’s the minimum amount I can borrow?
We offer loans ranging from $5,000 and $500,000. When you make an application for a certain amount we look at a variety of variables in order to assess your health of your company and the level of the repayments your company can afford. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics for your company.
When you submit an application for a specific amount we take into consideration a variety of aspects to determine your health of your business and the amount of payments your company will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particulars of your business.
Fees & repayments
How do you charge for a business loan?
If you decide to make an application for one of our company financing, we’ll assess the risk profile the business and provide you with a customised offer including the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. A company loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you know the exact amount payable including any interest rates, fees or charges.
What determines the amount I will be charged?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of factors such as the amount that is of money borrowed, the business assets the funds are used to purchase and the sector the business is in, how long the business has been in operation, what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to support the loan, and the overall well-being and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the cost?
There are no hidden fees for our company loans. You’ll be aware of the amount you’ll be required to pay and when, starting from the very first day. There’s no compounding interest and there are no additional charges (as as long as you pay your payments punctually).
We don’t charge an Application Fee. You can make an application for loans with absolutely no upfront cost and no any obligation to sign up.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with setting up and managing the loan. You are only charged this fee if you choose to proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5 percent of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan early?
You can choose to repay the entire amount of your loan in full at any time.
If you choose to do this please speak to our friendly business loan professionals. They’ll provide you with details for repayment as well as an early payout amount. This is calculated as the sum of the principal amount remaining and accrued interest to the time of early payment in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal remaining plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work your cash flow schedule, we provide repayments either daily or weekly. These are automatically deducted from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Making sure that your information is secure, and being clear about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as secure your information, is of paramount importance and an integral part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption techniques to protect your sensitive, personal and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to security for our clients and privacy. We make use of an advanced bank verification system that allows you to instantly confirm your bank account information online. This allows us to provide a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing occurs when the company owner makes use of assets they own to get the funds for a loan. The asset may be an individual property, such as the family home, or a business asset such as a truck or piece of equipment.
The vast majority of the lenders including the largest banks, are inclined to secure loans against an asset. If you are having difficulty paying back the loan, your assets could be offered for sale by the lender. In essence it’s means of securing new funding taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Are I need security to get a company loan?
For loans of up to $150K, there is no requirement for asset security in advance to gain access to the funds, however we do require an individual guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan commitments (as detailed in the loan contract), asset security will never be required. For loans over $150,000 generally, there is personal ensure and security in the form a charge over assets.