In a Nutshell
pros
- Customers select the loan terms
- Clear fixed repayment rates
cons
- Shorter repayment terms
- Stacking fees
LoanBuilder at a Glance
Loan types | Short-term business loans |
Loan amount | From $5,000 to $500,000 |
Repayment terms | 13 to 52 weeks depending on loan amount |
Minimum credit score | 550+ |
Minimum monthly revenue | $3,500 |
Time until funding | As fast as 1 business day |
Direct Lender or Marketplace | Direct lender |
Overview
LoanBuilder, A PayPal Service, is a product serviced by Swift Financial, which was acquired by PayPal in September 2017, with a goal of providing access to funding to more small businesses. The lender for LoanBuilder, A PayPal Service, is WebBank, Member FDIC. LoanBuilder has a unique approach as borrowers can apply for loan terms according to their needs and specific circumstances. LoanBuilder Loan eligibility and loan offers are evaluated based on an overall assessment of your business's health. If approved, loans can be funded as fast as 1 business day and are repaid on a weekly basis.
Suitable for?
- Unique businesses that need quick access to short-term funding
Prospective business borrowers can build and customize loans on the LoanBuilder website. The LoanBuilder Configurator enables businesses large and small to have more control when seeking the funding they need for a range of different functions. Subject to lender approval, if an applicant wants lower payments, they could select a longer term, or, if a lower fixed fee is preferred, they could select a shorter term.
- Businesses with weaker credit scores
Customers who turn to LoanBuilder with lower credit scores could still be approved for funding. Minimum eligibility requirements for the product include a 550 FICO score, and exploring potential loan options through the LoanBuilder Configurator will not affect the applicant’s credit score.**
Loan Features
When it comes to finding unique financing solutions, customers are in good hands with LoanBuilder, A PayPal Service. The service is designed to help applicants find the right combination of loan amounts /terms, and work with them to create a funding solution to meet their needs. Additionally, the loan’s broad range of funding amounts and short-term repayment periods may be a great solution to deal with unexpected costs, expansion projects, or emergency equipment purchases. The team at LoanBuilder also takes pride in relaying funding decisions generally within 24 to 72 hours. When it comes to paying down the balance, the loan terms require weekly automated repayments while customers benefit from the transparency of the single fixed-fee cost.
Highlights for LoanBuilder:
- Customizable short-term loans
- Receive funding as fast as one business day
- Loans from $5,000 to $500,000
- Single fixed-fee pricing
- Fixed weekly loan payments
The Application Process
The LoanBuilder application process is straightforward. LoanBuilder applicants must meet the following minimum requirements to be considered for approval:
- Be in business for a minimum of 9 months
- A personal credit score of the owner of 550 or higher
- A business located in the 50 states or Washington D.C.
- Annual revenues higher than $42,000
There are restrictions on which types of businesses are eligible for LoanBuilder. LoanBuilder’s website provides a full list of ineligible businesses, which includes, but is not limited to, gun stores, political organizations, non-profit organizations, and schools.
Loan Terms - Customizable and Transparent
LoanBuilder offers short-term financing options, with loan amounts starting as low as $5,000 and reaching up to $500,000. Subject to lender approval, borrowers can choose their amount on the company’s Loan Configurator and view their repayment in total terms as well as weekly payments.
LoanBuilder provides a single repayment option. Borrowers must repay their loans weekly, with LoanBuilder conducting weekly automated withdrawals on a day preset by the borrower. The cost of the loan is a single fixed-fee that is disclosed upfront and does not change. There is no origination fee, early payment fee or any other hidden fee. The only other cost is a $20 returned item fee that is only charged if a payment is returned.
Repayment Terms
Repayment is handled as a weekly automatic deduction, for a term from 13 to 52 weeks. Customers may pay off their loans early, but the same fixed fee will still apply.
How Safe Is It?
We were happy to see that the company protects customer information using industry-standard measures. The company does not sell personal information.
Help & Support
Those who need to contact LoanBuilder can do so by telephone or email. Although there is not around-the-clock customer service, representatives are available during business hours, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM EST, Monday through Friday plus 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM EST on Saturday. We experienced reasonable response times both via email and total phone wait time. Overall, we found that representatives were easily reachable and replied to all of our inquiries competently.
Deep Dive into Pros and Cons
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Receive funding fast | Higher rates |
Clear fixed repayments | Shorter repayment terms |
Mobile Access | |
Borrower can customize loan terms (subject to lender approval) |
There are a few areas where LoanBuilder could improve its offerings. The loan’s shorter repayment terms mean customers may have to pay higher weekly payments in some cases.
We were nonetheless appreciative of other aspects of LoanBuilder’s platform. The LoanBuilder Configurator made it extremely easy for customers to explore their loan options and have more of a say when it came to setting terms. LoanBuilder is quite transparent about the terms it provides and fixed repayments make it easy for customers to plan their loan repayment.
Summary
LoanBuilder, A PayPal Service, helps make it easier for customers to apply for business funding specifically catered to their unique circumstances. Apart from enabling prospective borrowers to customize terms, LoanBuilder’s design effectively helps businesses understand what to expect. LoanBuilder may be an excellent choice for businesses needing access to short-term cash injections with the flexibility to choose unique weekly repayment solutions.
Physical Address
Swift Financial, LLC
3505 Silverside Rd.
Wilmington, DE 19810