FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Westminster Small Business Loans
Tell me about the Westminster Small Business Loans
Westminster unsecured loans provides amounts between $5,000 and $100,000. Terms range from 3 and 24 month and cash flow-friendly repayments that are either per day or weekly.
What makes what makes the Unsecured Loan different from the traditional company loan?
It is possible to apply to get the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes on the internet or over the phone, receive an immediate response, and the funds could be on your account within 24 hours. Traditional company loans are based on an annual interest rate as well as other fees and charges. Our business loan is a loan that is priced upfront which means you be aware of the total amount due, which includes any interest, fees or charges. This is then divided into a daily or weekly amount to be paid back.
What can the Small Business Loan be used for?
It is a Small Business Loan can be used for virtually any business reason, such as the management of cash flow, business remodeling, marketing, to purchase inventory or new equipment, for general working capital, and much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
About the Larger Westminster Business Loans
What is the Larger Westminster Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger amount of loan to help business growth opportunities. Loans range from $100,000 to $500,000 with a fixed-term for up to 36 months. Repayments are weekly or fortnightly depending on your cash flow.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
A Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, which is determined at 2.5 percentage of the loan amount.
Do I qualify for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit in this amount, your business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and generate an annual revenue of $700K. The applicant must also be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) with a minimum age of 18 years old and have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able of proving at the least 12 months of operating.
What can the funding be used for?
A Larger Business Loan can be used for almost all company use, including business renovations, to purchase equipment or inventory as well as for general working capital, and much more. The loan is not available for personal purposes.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that is secured?
Asset security is needed for funding of more than $150,000. It’s in the form of a charge against assets and can include registering this through the PPSR or the registration of as a caveat.
A personal or director’s ensure is a guarantee to repay credit that is general in nature, rather than defining the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the ensure is personally responsible if the company creditor is unable to re-pay the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online 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 the priority of personal property granted depending on the date that a registration of a security interest.
The caveat can be described as a formal document filed to offer an official notice of a claim to property.
What exactly is a preapproval without Credit Check?
If you’re requesting the Larger Business Loan that is greater than $250K, we may offer an initial pre-approval in order to ease the process. We might be able to get this done without credit checks and within six hours of your initial application. The pre-approval is based upon an initial evaluation that involves the answer to a series of financial well-being questions. It’s not an offer of credit or guarantee of finance. A conditional approval is subject an exhaustive credit evaluation, and any offer you receive could be based on different conditions.
Application process
Can I be eligible for funding?
You can apply for a company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, own a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- must show at least six months of business (for for the unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K up to $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is fast and simple. Just fill out the online application within a few minutes and a dedicated company expert in lending will call you to guide you.
For a loan of up to $100,000 you’ll require the right identification documents (valid Driver’s Licence) and a valid NZBN/IRD as well as at least six months of bank statements.
Otherwise, for larger loan sizes, you’ll require:
$100K-$250K: Application requirements, including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if loan above $150K).
$250K to $500K: Information on the application including credit consent, 12 months bank statement, an IRD statements, last 2 years finalised financial statements, and interim financial statements for the current year as well as Aged Payables and Receivables Summary.
How soon will I hear an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we usually offer an answer within an hour – as long as you make your application during quality company hours and allow us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements we can provide the decision in just the span of one business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K and up) we might be capable of provide the conditional pre-approval within about six hours. Once you have signed the pre-approval, the turnaround time is approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval. However, this may be quicker depending on the circumstances of each application. Some deals have been approved in just 24 hours.
The fastest way for you to apply is make sure you apply during standard company hours. You can also allow us to use our modern bank verification to instantly check your bank’s information online. If you upload the copies of bank statements , it can take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K and up) we usually offer an answer within an hour, provided you apply in standard business timings and permit us to use the bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you choose to upload copies of your bank statements, we will be able to offer an answer within an business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) We may be likely to offer you with a conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed the pre-approval form, it will take approximately 2-3 days to receive final approval, however this could be shorter based on the specifics of each application. Some transactions have received approval in less than 24 hours.
The quickest method is to make sure you apply during normal business hours, and allow us to use our advance bank verification link to instantly confirm your bank details online. If you choose to upload the copies of bank statements 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 health of your company as well as the amount of repayments that your company is able to afford. The total amount of the loan will be determined by the specifics the company.
When you submit an application for a specific amount we consider a variety of variables to assess how much we can lend you such as well-being of the business and the level of repayments that your business will be able to support. The total amount of your loan will be contingent on the specifics of your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for the cost of a business loan?
If you decide to make an application for one of our company loan, we’ll assess the risk assessment of your company and offer you with a tailored offer that includes the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront-priced loan so you will be aware of the total amount payable including any charges, interest rates or fees.
What determines the rate that I’m charged?
Interest rates for company loans rates depend on a variety of factors like the amount of money of money borrowed, the company assets the money will be used for and the sector the business is in, how long the business has been operating and how long the business has enough cash flow to cover the loan, and also the general health and creditworthiness of the business.
What are the fees?
There aren’t any hidden costs with our company loans. You’ll know exactly how much it is that you be required to pay, and when, starting from day one. There’s no compounding interest, and no extra fees (as long as you are able to make your payments on time).
We do not charge an application fee. You can make an application for loans without any upfront costs or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee includes the expenses associated 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 percentage of the loan amount.
Can I pay off the loan earlier?
You may choose to pay back the total amount of your loan at any point in time.
If you choose to pursue this option, please talk to one of our helpful company loan specialists. We will offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the total of the principal balance and any accrued interest at the date of early payout in addition to 1.5 percent of the principal amount remaining as well as any outstanding fees.
What are the repayment methods?
To help you avoid missing payments and to work your cash flow cycle we offer repayments that are either daily or weekly. These are automatically withdrawn from your designated company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
Security of your data, and being transparent about how we collect information, use it, and exchange it, as well as protect your information, is of huge importance and an integral part of our relationship with you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We make use of industry-standard encryption protocols to safeguard your personal, sensitive and financial data and our funders are ISO 27001 certified for our dedication to security for our customers and security. We employ a highly sophisticated bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account details online. This allows us to offer rapid response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
The term "asset-based" refers to borrowing where a company owner borrows from assets they own to obtain a loan. The asset can be either a personal asset like the family home or an company asset such as a vehicle or other piece of machinery.
The majority of banks, even the banks with the biggest size, prefer to make loans secured by assets. If you’re struggling to pay back the loan, the asset might be taken over by the lender. In essence it’s the process of securing new financing taking advantage of the value of what you already own.
Should I require security to secure an business loan?
For loans of up to $150,000, no asset security is required prior to the loan’s access However, we do require an individual guarantee. As long as you follow your loan obligations (as specified in your loan contract) Asset security is not required. If you take out loans in excess of $150,000 generally, there is personal ensure and security is provided in the form of an asset charge.