by | Nov 27, 2024 | Loans & Lending

Last Updated: December 4, 2024

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Are you looking for Nebraska’s best business loans & startup financing companies? For your small business in Cornhusker State, many banks, credit unions, and unconventional lenders are offering different loan types. Keep in mind that Nebraska has 182,684 small businesses. These businesses can access a wide array of funding options to stay in business and keep their employees.

Understand the unique features and benefits of different loan types to empower your business. That’s how you can choose the best lender for your business. Don’t forget that 99% of Nebraska’s businesses are small businesses. So, are you ready to learn how to get funded here? Consider these 10 business loans & startup financing options in Nebraska to get started:

1.  Swoop Funding

Swoop Funding is every Nebraska-based small company’s top startup financing option. It will offer entrepreneurs a range of funding solutions to meet their needs. You can access many loan types, including traditional term loans and innovative financing options with a simplified funding process. So, Swoop Funding is the #1 option for startups in Nebraska to stay alive & thrive!

2.  First National Bank of Omaha

The First National Bank of Omaha should be your go-to lender if you need ample funding for your business initiatives. It has a low rate of interest (4.13%), and the average loan amount is half a million bucks. For the last century and a half, FNBO has been serving small businesses in Nebraska. This lender offers solutions to support your long-term financing, business expansion, major purchases, and debt consolidation.

In short, the First National Bank of Omaha offers incredibly low rates along with 0 annual fees. You can contact this bank’s different branches to apply for the right type of Small Business Administration (SBA) loan based on your company’s unique requirements. If you apply for small business loans through FNBO, it offers these features:

  • Simplified application process
  • A single point of contact for services
  • An easy-to-follow payment schedule for lenders

3.  i3 Bank

The interest rate of this lender is 5.25%. The average payout amount is 918,000 dollars. Keep in mind that i3 prefers working with Nebraskan commercial and agricultural companies. This lender claims to support you throughout all stages of running a business. From starting a business to eventually selling it to someone else, i3 will support you throughout the whole duration of your business. They have been financing area farming operations since the bank opened. So, you’ll get funded easily if you want to afford:

  • Real estate
  • Business equipment
  • Agricultural machinery

4.  Midwest Bank

This bank helps Nebraska-based businesses get funded easily. What sets Midwest apart from other lenders is the fact that they have been operating in Nebraska for the past seven decades as a family-owned business. So, you can get these loan types from the Midwest Bank:

  • SBA 7(a): Up to $5 million in funding, with the term length being 10 years for machinery refinancing
  • Express: Up to $500k with a 10% equity requirement and quick access to funds
  • 504: Split financing or NEDCO (40%)

5.  GPS Bank

GPS or Great Plains State Bank will help your business get the much-needed funds to operate efficiently. Whether you need money to purchase office equipment, commercial real estate, or something else, you should rely on this lender’s service. So, this lender will give you access to essential funds with a Great Plains State Bank Business Line of Credit. This way, you can keep your business in Nebraska alive and thriving for more years to come.

6.  Arbor Bank

If you want another Omaha-based business to fund your business operations via loans, then you should get in touch with Arbor Bank. This lender has an interest rate of 4.50%, and the loan amount is often $550k (on average). The bank offers you these facilities as well:

  • Fixed and variable rates
  • Business growth and acquisitions
  • Equipment purchases and installation
  • Facilities purchases
  • Debt refinancing/restructuring
  • Working capital loans

7.  First State Bank Nebraska

This lender helps Nebraskan businesses afford to purchase office equipment. You get priority treatment if you run a rural business or if you’re a veteran entrepreneur. A First State loan will help your business move to a different location, establish a helpful line of credit to draw vital funds, acquire/produce more inventory, or buy essential business equipment. That’s why this lender is favored by minority-owned and female-owned businesses.

8. Platte Valley Bank

We’ve already mentioned this lender. Platte Valley Bank offers broad-ranging financing options to small businesses in Nebraska. You can apply for term loans, real estate loans, construction loans, etc. Also, you may open a new line of credit to make sure that your business has access to enough cash for payroll and vendor payments. Keep in mind that this lender operates not just in Nebraska but in Wyoming, too.

9. Heritage Bank

Heritage Bank often goes unnoticed in startup financing circles. However, it’s a great lender with flexible terms and competitive interest rates. When it comes to business & industry loans, there is no business size restriction, which means you can apply for up to $10 million per borrower via this lender. Terms are 7, 15, and 30 years, which means you can easily apply for a loan via this lender.

10. Pinnacle Bank

This lender has been mentioned before as well. After all, it operates in Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. If your startup has fewer than 30 debits and 50 deposited items each statement cycle, you can use Pinnacle Bank’s PinnCheck Small Business service to make sure that you have enough cash to keep your business vessel afloat. So, apply for loans and lines of credit through this lender at your earliest convenience.

Nebraska Government Resources

Check out these government resources about business grants/funding and startup financing options in Nebraska:

Top Cities in Nebraska for Business Loans

Curious to know which cities, towns, municipalities, or census-designated places (CDPs) in Nebraska are the best for business loans & startup financing? If you live in any of these 30 cities, then you can easily access SBA loans or other nontraditional financing means to embark on your entrepreneurial journey:

  1. Omaha
  2. Lincoln
  3. Bellevue
  4. Grand Island
  5. Kearney
  6. Fremont
  7. Hastings
  8. North Platte
  9. Papillion
  10. Columbus
  11. South Sioux City
  12. La Vista
  13. Gretna
  14. Scottsbluff
  15. Sidney
  16. Beatrice
  17. York
  18. McCook
  19. Broken Bow
  20. Chadron
  21. Seward
  22. Holdrege
  23. Plattsmouth
  24. Crete
  25. Norfolk
  26. Ravenna
  27. Ogallala
  28. Valentine
  29. Wahoo
  30. Elkhorn

Conclusion

Whether you’re a startup owner or founded a well-established business years ago, you have to choose the right financing partner and lender. That’s how you keep your business vessel afloat and key commercial operations running in Nebraska.

Choose a reliable lender that offers you flexible loan terms and interest rates. Check their online reputation, customer service, interest rates, and other factors. If nothing makes sense, get in touch with us at Sophisticated Investor to understand how to get your entrepreneurial dreams funded quickly.

Brandi Marcene

Brandi is a financial writer and entrepreneur with decades of expertise covering U.S. business and financial topics. Her work has been featured on Consumer Affairs, ASBN Small Business Network, Koho and many other top financial publications.