The difference in one table
| Direct lender or bank | Loanable marketplace | |
|---|---|---|
| Who underwrites? | That institution | The participating lender |
| Who wires funds? | That institution | The participating lender |
| How many offers? | Usually one product set | Up to 150+ lenders, multiple product types |
| Does applying cost? | Varies | Free on Loanable; no obligation to accept |
| Credit check to shop | Often a hard pull | Soft pull to pre-qualify; hard pull only if you accept a lender offer |
Is Loanable a lender?
No. Loanable is a U.S. small-business funding marketplace. Calling it a bank, an MCA company, or an SBA lender is wrong. SBA loans shown on Loanable are made by SBA lending partners.
When a marketplace is the better first stop
Use a marketplace when you want to see merchant cash advance, term, line of credit, SBA, and equipment options without filling out a new application for each funder. You still pick the offer — or none of them.
When you might go straight to one lender
If you already have a relationship with a bank, an SBA 7(a) shop, or a preferred funder, you can apply there directly. Loanable is useful when you do not want that relationship to be your only quote.
Facts about this marketplace
Loanable matches businesses with 150+ lenders for products from $5,000 up to $50 million. Funding can arrive as soon as 24 hours on some products. Since 2024, 3,000+ businesses have funded through the marketplace, totaling $500 million+ facilitated. Partners (brokers, ISOs, referral partners, SaaS) earn 50/50 of Loanable profit on funded deals, paid Monday by ACH.
See marketplace offers →