Live Oak Banking Company

Live Oak Bank Review 2026

Name: Live Oak Bank
Brand: Live Oak Banking Company
Rating: 3.9 (1 reviews)

The broadest SBA product menu here — a disclosed average rate on its small-balance Express product, plus 504 financing up to $15M.

Quick answer

Live Oak Bank offers the widest SBA menu in this roundup — SBA 7(a) up to $5M, SBA 504 up to $15M, and a small-balance Live Oak Express product (up to $350K) with a disclosed average APR of 9.25%-10.25% and funding in as few as 15 days. It requires 680+ FICO for standard 7(a) and 2+ years in business for Express, but doesn't publish a rate spread for its larger standard SBA products.

Who Live Oak Bank is best for

Businesses with strong credit (680+ FICO) that want a small-balance SBA 7(a) option with a disclosed average rate and timeline, or large-project SBA 504 financing.

At a glance

Loan amount: Up to $5M (SBA 7(a)) / up to $15M (SBA 504) / $10K–$350K (Live Oak Express)
Rates (Live Oak Express average APR): 9.25%–10.25% APR, on average
Term: Fully amortized, no balloon payments (7(a)); up to 10-year term (Live Oak Express)
Min credit: 680 personal FICO (standard 7(a))
Time in business: Not publicly disclosed (standard 7(a)/504); 2 years (Live Oak Express)
Funding speed: Standard 7(a): ~1 week to approval, funds in 24 hrs after closing. Express: 48-hr average decision, funds in as few as 15 days.

Pros

+Only lender in this roundup with a specifically disclosed average APR range (9.25%-10.25%) on its small-balance SBA product
+Widest loan-size range: from a $10K Express loan up to $15M in SBA 504 project financing
+Fastest, most specific funding timeline disclosed in this set (48-hr average decision, funds in as few as 15 days for Express)
+SBA Preferred Lender designation and long SBA specialization

Cons

−680 minimum FICO is one of the higher published credit bars in this roundup
−Standard 7(a)/504 pages do not publish a rate spread — only the smaller Express product discloses pricing
−No revenue minimum published anywhere on Live Oak's SBA pages, so budget expectations are unclear until you apply

Live Oak Bank requirements

Recommended credit:680+ personal FICO

Time in business:2+ years (Live Oak Express); not disclosed for standard 7(a)/504

Loan amount:$10K–$350K (Express); up to $5M (7(a)); up to $15M (504)

Down payment:Typically 10% (SBA 504)

680+ personal FICO (standard 7(a))
2+ years in business (Live Oak Express)
Revenue minimum not publicly disclosed

Live Oak Bank alternatives

Top alternatives worth comparing from Best SBA Loan Lenders 2026.

Celtic Bank Corporation

Celtic Bank

Businesses seeking a mid-to-large SBA 7(a) or 504 loan ($350K-$5M) at one of the lowest published starting rate spreads here.

Apply at Celtic Bank Corporation→ Read review →

TD Bank, N.A.

TD Bank

Businesses that want a large, well-capitalized national bank offering all three core SBA products, including uncapped first-mortgage 504 project financing.

Apply at TD Bank, N.A.→ Read review →

Byline Bank

Businesses in Illinois or the Chicago area that want a bank with a specific, SBA-data-backed regional track record in 7(a) lending.

Apply at Byline Bank→ Read review →

Ready to apply?

Application takes minutes. Pre-qualification (where available) uses a soft credit pull with no impact to your credit score.

Apply at Live Oak Banking Company→

Last verified at the issuer on 2026-08-20

The full lineup

See all picks in Best SBA Loan Lenders 2026

Editorial methodology + complete ranking criteria + side-by-side comparison of all picks.

Read the full guide →

Bottom line

Live Oak Bank scores 3.9 / 5 on the ClearValue Rating — a deterministic editorial composite from the product's own published fees, terms, and eligibility. Best for: Businesses with strong credit (680+ FICO) that want a small-balance SBA 7(a) option with a disclosed average rate and timeline, or large-project SBA 504 financing.

◆ How we scored it

The ClearValue Rating, broken down.

Cost: 35%
Fit & approval odds: 30%
Speed & terms: 20%
Transparency: 15%

Cost (35%), Fit & approval odds (30%), Speed & terms (20%), Transparency (15%) — scored consistently across every product, independent of compensation. Full methodology →

Related guides

Best SBA Loan Lenders 2026

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Independent editorial review. ClearValue Lending is a business & personal financing platform — not a lender, broker, or financial advisor. Some links are affiliate links; the issuer may pay a referral commission at no cost to you, which never changes the score. Specific product terms vary; verify with the issuer before applying. See privacy policy.

https://clearvaluelending.com/reviews/live-oak-bank-sbaloan