FAQ: business lending & business loans for business owners
Business Loans Frequently Ask Questions
About The Westminster Small Business Loans
Tell me more about Westminster Small Business Loans
Westminster unsecured loans provides amounts of between $5,000 and $100,000. The terms range between 3 and 24 months. They also offer cash flow-friendly repayments that are either daily or weekly.
What makes how is the Unsecured Loan different from a traditional company loan?
You can apply for the Small Business Loan in under 10 minutes online or over the phone. You’ll get a same day response and have the funds available in just 24 hours. Traditional business loans refer to an interest rate per annum together with additional fees and charges. This company loan is a cash-based loan therefore you’ll know ahead of time the total amount to be paid, including any fees, interest or charges. Then, it is divided into a daily or weekly installment amount.
What can you use the Small Business Loan be used for?
A Small Business Loan can be used to fulfill almost every business reason, such as the management of cash flow, company renovations, marketing for purchasing inventory or new equipment, as general working capital and much more. The loan is not available to fund personal expenses.
About Larger Westminster Business Loans
What is the Larger Westminster Business Loan?
The Larger Business Loan is a larger size of loan that can be used to fund business growth opportunities. Loans are between $100,000 and $500,000 with a fixed-term that can last up to 36 months. The repayments are made weekly or fortnightly, depending on the flow of cash.
How’s the Origination Fee determined?
The Larger Business Loan has an Origination Fee, calculated at 2.5 percentage of the amount of the loan.
Am I eligible for the Larger Business Loan?
To be eligible for a credit of this size, your business needs to have been trading for at least 3 years and have an annual turnover of $700,000. You must be a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident) at least 18 years old or have a New Zealand company (with a valid NZBN/IRD) and be able to demonstrate at minimum 12 months of business.
How can the funding be utilised?
A larger business loan is a great option for almost every company purpose including company improvements, purchasing new equipment or inventory, as general working capital and so much more. The loan cannot be used to fund personal expenses.
Is the Larger Business Loan one that requires security?
Asset security is necessary for accessing funds over $150,000. This can be done in the form of a charge against assets, and may include registration with the PPSR or the registration of a caveat.
A personal or director’s guarantee is a guarantee to repay a loan which is generally in nature rather than stating the security of a specific asset. The person who is signing the guarantee is personally liable in the event that the company creditor is unable to pay back the debt.
The Personal Property Securities Register (PPSR) is a central, national online register that is operated by the New Zealand Government. It records security interests that have been granted to individuals who own personal property (including the assets or goods). The PPSR allows priority over personal property to be assigned according to the date the security interest was registered.
Caveats are legal document filed to provide the public notice of a legal claim to property.
What is a pre-approval without Credit Check?
If you’re seeking larger company loans that is greater than $250K it is possible to offer a preliminary pre-approval to help make the process. We may be able to get this done without a credit check, and within 6 hours of the initial application. This pre-approval is made based on a preliminary assessment which includes the answer to a series of financial well-being checks. It is not an offer of credit or guarantee of funds. A conditional approval is subject a full credit assessment and any offer you receive could be on different terms.
The application process
Do I have the right to receive funds?
You can apply for a company loan if you;
- are a New Zealand Citizen (or Permanent Resident)
- are 18 years or older, have a New Zealand business (with a valid NZBN/IRD)
- you must prove at least 6 months worth of trade (for a unsecured loan $5K – $100K) or 3 years of continuous trading (for the Larger Business Loan $100K - $500K)
How do I apply?
The application process is simple and easy. Just fill out the online application in few minutes and a dedicated company credit specialist will call you to help you.
To apply for up $100,000, you’ll need identification details (valid Driver’s Licence) as well as a valid NZBN/IRD and at least six months of bank statements.
In addition, for larger loan sizes, you’ll need:
$100K – $250K: Application details including credit consent, 6 – 12 months of bank statements, IRD statement (if the loan is greater than $150K).
$250K-$500K: Details of the application, including credit consent and 12 month bank accounts, the IRD statements Last 2 years’ finalised financial statements, as well as interim financials from the current financial year including Aged Payables, Aged Receivables reports.
How fast will I get an answer?
For an unsecured loan ($5K up to $100,000) we typically provide an answer within one hour – as long as you apply within quality business timings and allow us to utilise the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank details online. If you want to upload copies of your banking statements , we will be able to provide a decision within just 1 business day.
For the Larger Business Loan ($100K or more) we may be in a position to provide the conditional pre-approval in about six hours. After you’ve signed your pre-approval, turnaround times are between 2 and 3 days for the final approval, however it could be faster based on the circumstances of each application. Some offers have been approved in less than 24 hours.
The quickest way to apply is to ensure you apply during normal company hours and let us use the advanced bank verification system to instantly verify your bank account information online. If you decide to upload the copies of bank accounts, it may take a bit longer.
What is the time frame to receive the money?
For the Small Business Loan ($5K to $100K) we can often provide an answer within one hour if you apply during standard business hours and permit us to make use of the advanced bank verification system link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us copies of your bank statement, we’ll offer an answer in just the span of one business day.
For Larger Business Loans ($100K up to $500,000) We may be likely to offer the conditional pre-approval in around six hours. Once you’ve signed your pre-approval form, it will take about 2-3 days for final approval, however this could be shorter based on the particular circumstances of each application. Certain offers have been approved within less than 24 hours.
The most effective method would be to make sure you apply during standard business hours. Also, let us use the advance bank verification link to instantly verify your bank information online. If you opt to send us duplicates of your banking statement, it takes a bit longer.
How much can I borrow?
We offer the loan amount between $5,000 and $500,000. If you apply for a certain amount, we consider a variety of elements to determine how much we can lend you health of your business as well as the amount of payments your business is able to afford. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the specific circumstances for your company.
When you apply for a particular amount, we take into consideration a variety of factors to determine the health for your company and the level of repayments that your business will be able to support. The amount you receive from your loan will depend on the particulars of your business.
Fees & repayments
How much should you charge for an company loan?
When you apply for the business loans, we’ll assess the risk assessment for your business and offer an individualised offer, including the loan amount, the terms and the interest rates. This business loan is an upfront-priced loan and you’ll be aware of the total amount you will have to pay, including costs, fees, or interest rates.
What determines the rate that I pay?
Business loan interest rates depend on a variety of variables like the amount to be borrowed, what company assets the funds will be used for in addition to the industry that the company operates in, how long the company has been operating and what percentage of the company has sufficient cash flow to cover the loan, and the overall health or creditworthiness of the business.
What are the costs?
There are no hidden fees with our business loans, and you’ll know exactly how much you’ll be required to pay and when, from the first day. There’s not any compounding interest and no additional fees (as as you make your payments on time).
We do not charge an Application Fee. You can request a credit loan no cost upfront or commitment to apply.
The Origination Fee covers the expenses involved with the setting up and management of the loan. You are only charged this fee if you proceed with the loan. Our Origination Fee is 2.5% of the amount of loan.
Do I have the option of paying off the loan in advance?
You may choose to pay back the entire amount of the loan in full at any time.
If you are deciding to pursue this option, please call our helpful company loans specialists. They’ll offer you with the details of your repayment and an early payout figure. This is calculated as the sum of the principal remaining and any accrued interest at the time of early payment and 1.5% of the principal balance plus any outstanding fees.
How do you make repayments work?
To help you avoid missing repayments and to fit in your cash flow schedule, we offer repayments either weekly or daily. These are automatically deducted from your company account.
Security & privacy
Will my data be secure?
The security of your personal information, as well as making it clear how we collect data, process, exchange and protect your information, is of paramount importance and a vital part of our relationship you.
Is it safe to link my bank account to the platform?
Yes. We employ industry-recognised encryption standards to protect your sensitive, personal as well as financial data. Our funders are ISO 27001 qualified for our commitment to customer security and privacy. We make use of an advanced banking verification system to immediately verify the bank account details online. This allows us to offer a fast response.
About business loans
How do you define asset-based lending (a secured loan)?
Asset-based borrowing is when a business owner borrows from the assets they have to make the loan. The asset may be an individual asset, such as the family home, or it could be a business property like a truck as well as a piece of machine.
The majority of the lenders not just the largest banks, are inclined to make loans secured by assets. If you’re having trouble paying back the loan, then the asset might be sold by the lender. In essence it’s a way of securing new financing by making use of the value of what you already have.
Do I require security to get an company loan?
Up to $150,000 in loans it is not necessary to secure assets upfront to access the money however, we require a personal guarantee. need a personal guarantee. So long as you comply with your loan obligations (as stated in the loan contract), asset security will never be needed. For loans over $150K generally, there is a personal guarantee and security in the form of the charge of assets.