If you hold a green card and need a business loan in 2026, the best options are: Merchant Fund Express (MFE) if you need capital fast based on your sales; Accion Opportunity Fund if you've been in business 2+ years and want a term loan from a CDFI; a bank or credit union if you have strong credit and time; OnDeck if you meet its 625 credit score and one-year minimums; and SBA microloans for small amounts, after confirming the lender's own policy.
The reason this list looks different from a year ago is a big rule change. Since March 1, 2026, the SBA requires 100% of the direct and indirect owners of a business applying for a 7(a) or 504 loan to be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals whose principal residence is in the United States. A lawful permanent resident can no longer own even a small slice of the applicant business. This guide covers what's still open, how to compare it and what to have ready.
Key takeaways
- Since March 1, 2026, SBA 7(a) and 504 loans require 100% of owners to be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals.
- Green card holders still have private options: revenue-based funding, CDFIs, banks and credit unions.
- Accion Opportunity Fund says on its site it accepts permanent residents, with a 2-year time-in-business minimum.
- Revenue-based funding is the fastest route and looks at your deposits, not just your credit score.
- If you qualify, a CDFI or bank loan usually costs less, so compare before you sign.
- This guide is not immigration advice. Talk to an immigration attorney about your situation.
What changed at the SBA in 2026, and who it affects
The SBA set the rule in Procedural Notice 5000-876626, tied to SOP 50 10 8. Since March 1, 2026, for the 7(a) and 504 programs:
- 100% of the owners, direct and indirect, must be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals.
- Those owners must have their principal residence in the United States.
- Lawful permanent residents (LPRs, green card holders) can no longer own any part of the applicant business, not even a small percentage.
In practice, that shuts the door on the two loans that used to be the default for buying a building, refinancing debt or acquiring another business. It also hits mixed partnerships: if your partner is a citizen and you hold a green card, the business's 7(a) application no longer qualifies while you're an owner.
What did not change: your business can keep operating, open accounts, build business credit and apply for private financing. Private funders and CDFIs set their own rules, and several accept permanent residents. For the full picture, see our guide to the best SBA loan alternatives.
This article explains financing options. It is not immigration advice. If you have questions about your status, or how taking on debt could affect a pending application, talk to an immigration attorney about your situation.
How we picked these options
We don't use numeric ratings. We compared every option on the same criteria, explained in how we rank business funding options:
- Status accepted: whether the funder's official site says it accepts permanent residents as owners.
- Speed: how long the decision and the deposit usually take.
- Minimum time in business and published minimum revenue.
- Published minimum credit score.
- The documents they ask for, and whether they accept an ITIN or only an SSN.
- Amounts and collateral.
We only include competitor details we verified on their official sites in October 2026. If a detail wasn't published, we didn't make it up. We tell you to confirm it.
The best business loans for green card holders
Merchant Fund Express (recommended funder). Best for: permanent residents who need capital fast and have steady sales. It reviews your sales and bank deposits, not just your score. It offers $5,000 to $5,000,000, decisions often come in 2 to 4 hours, and it works with credit from FICO 500. Collateral is not required in most cases, applying is free with no impact to your credit, and it offers Spanish-speaking support. It's the option we recommend when the SBA is off the table and you need the money in days, not months.
Accion Opportunity Fund. Best for: businesses with 2+ years looking for a CDFI term loan. It's a nonprofit lender (a CDFI). According to its site, checked in October 2026, it lends up to $250,000 on terms up to 36 months and requires all partners to be citizens or permanent residents. It asks for at least 2 years in business, $300,000 or more in annual sales, and an applicant who owns at least 20% of the business. It also offers coaching in English and Spanish. If you qualify, a CDFI usually costs less than revenue-based funding.
Bank or credit union loan. Best for: owners with good credit, a long track record and an existing banking relationship. Banks and credit unions set their own rules on loans without an SBA guarantee. Many accept permanent residents, but they usually want several years in business, tax returns and collateral. It's the cheapest route if you qualify, and also the slowest and most paperwork-heavy.
OnDeck (term loan). Best for: businesses with 1 year, good credit and $100,000 a year in sales. According to its site, checked in October 2026, OnDeck offers term loans from $5,000 to $400,000 with terms up to 24 months and daily or weekly payments. It asks for 1 year in business, $100,000 in annual revenue, a business checking account and a 625 personal FICO. We didn't find a specific permanent-resident rule on its site, so confirm before you apply.
SBA microloan. Best for: small amounts and owners who want coaching along with the money. The SBA funds nonprofit community lenders that lend up to $50,000; the average is around $13,000, per sba.gov. Each microlender makes its own credit decisions. The 2026 citizenship rule was published for 7(a) and 504, so ask the microlender directly about its policy for permanent residents.
Quick comparison
| Option | Published amounts | Minimum time | Minimum credit | Permanent resident |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MFE | $5,000 to $5,000,000 | Reviews sales and deposits | FICO 500+ | Reviews sales; Spanish-speaking support |
| Accion Opportunity Fund | Up to $250,000 | 2 years | No fixed minimum published | Yes, per its site |
| Bank or credit union | Varies | Often 2+ years | Usually high | Depends on the institution |
| OnDeck (term) | $5,000 to $400,000 | 1 year | 625 | Not published; confirm |
| SBA microloan | Up to $50,000 | Varies | Varies | Ask the microlender |
| SBA 7(a) and 504 | Up to $5 million (7(a)) | Varies | Varies | No, since March 1, 2026 |
How to read the table: if you have 2 years and strong sales, a CDFI like Accion Opportunity Fund usually comes out cheaper. If you're newer, rebuilding credit or need the money this week, revenue-based funding is the most realistic path.
What you'll be asked for (and how to prep your file)
With a green card you usually have an SSN, which opens more doors than an ITIN. Still, have these ready before you apply:
- Valid photo ID and your permanent resident card, in case the funder asks for it to verify identity.
- Your business EIN and formation documents (LLC or corporation), or your DBA if you're a sole proprietor.
- 3 to 6 months of business bank statements. For revenue-based funding, this is the document that matters most.
- Tax returns, business and personal. Banks and CDFIs almost always want them.
- A list of current debts: loans, advances, credit cards and leases.
Two habits that help a lot: run all your sales through the business account (not your personal one), and avoid negative-balance days in the months before you apply. If your business has partners, confirm each partner's status before you pick a program, because the SBA rule applies to 100% of owners. If any partner only has an ITIN, also read our guide to business loans for immigrants.
How to decide based on your situation
| Your situation | Where to start |
|---|---|
| You need capital within days for inventory, payroll or an opportunity | Revenue-based funding, such as Merchant Fund Express |
| You've been open 2+ years with $300,000+ in annual sales | Accion Opportunity Fund and your local bank |
| You want to buy a building or major equipment on a long term | A conventional bank or credit union loan; SBA 504 no longer applies if you're a permanent resident |
| You need a small amount plus coaching | A microloan, after confirming the lender's policy |
| Your partner is a citizen and you hold a green card | Ask lenders about conventional options; 7(a) doesn't qualify while you're an owner |
Common mistakes we see: applying to the SBA without knowing about the change and losing weeks; restructuring ownership just to qualify without first talking to an accountant and an attorney; and taking the first offer without comparing the cost in plain terms: how much you pay, how often and for how long.
For the wider immigrant list, see the best business loans for immigrants. And if speed is your priority, you can apply with Merchant Fund Express: the review is based on your sales and deposits. Leer en español.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an SBA loan with a green card in 2026?
For the 7(a) and 504 programs, no. Since March 1, 2026, the SBA requires 100% of direct and indirect owners to be U.S. citizens or U.S. nationals whose principal residence is in the country. That excludes permanent residents, even with a small ownership share. For microloans, ask the lender about its policy directly.
Which business loans accept permanent residents?
Many private funders set their own rules. Accion Opportunity Fund says on its site that all partners must be citizens or permanent residents, so it accepts you. Banks and credit unions decide case by case. Revenue-based funders, like the one we recommend, review your deposits and sales history rather than relying only on your credit score.
Can I get a business loan with a green card if my partner is a citizen?
For a 7(a) or 504 loan, not while you own any part of the business, because the rule covers 100% of owners. For private loans, it may be possible. Don't restructure your company just to qualify without first talking to an accountant and an attorney, since ownership changes have tax and legal consequences.
Will taking a business loan affect my green card or citizenship application?
This guide does not give immigration advice. A business loan is commercial debt, but every immigration case is different. If you're in the middle of a process, such as naturalization, talk to an immigration attorney about your situation before you sign any financing agreement.
Do I need collateral for a business loan as a green card holder?
It depends on the product. Banks often want collateral or a personal guarantee. Revenue-based funding doesn't require collateral in most cases, though it usually asks for the owner's personal guarantee. Ask exactly what you're signing and what happens if your sales drop.
How fast can I get the money?
A bank can take weeks. Online funders usually decide in hours or days. With the funder we recommend, decisions often come in 2 to 4 hours when your bank statements are complete. Having your documents ready is what speeds up any option the most.