How Long Does It Take to Get a Business Line of Credit?

Quick Answer

Getting approved for a business line of credit takes 1 day to 3 weeks, depending on the lender type, your business profile, and the credit amount requested. Online lenders offer the fastest approvals (sometimes within hours), while traditional banks and SBA-backed lines require more extensive underwriting.

Approval Timeline by Lender Type

Lender Type	Application Time	Approval Time	Funding Time	Total Timeline
Online lenders (Bluevine, Kabbage)	15–30 minutes	24–48 hours	Same day–2 days	1–3 days
Credit unions	30–60 minutes	3–7 days	2–5 days	5–12 days
Community banks	30–60 minutes	5–10 days	3–5 days	8–15 days
Large national banks	1–2 hours	7–14 days	3–7 days	10–21 days
SBA CAPLines	1–3 hours	14–30 days	5–10 days	19–40 days

Lender Comparison

Lender	Credit Line Range	Min. Credit Score	Min. Revenue	Time in Business	Approval Speed
Bluevine	$6K–$250K	625	$120K/year	24 months	24 hours
Kabbage (via Amex)	$2K–$250K	640	$36K/year	12 months	Same day
Fundbox	$1K–$150K	600	$100K/year	6 months	Same day
OnDeck	$6K–$100K	625	$100K/year	12 months	1–3 days
Wells Fargo	$5K–$1M+	680	$250K/year	24 months	1–3 weeks
Chase	$10K–$500K	680	$250K/year	24 months	1–3 weeks
Bank of America	$10K–$1M+	700	$250K/year	24 months	1–3 weeks
SBA CAPLines	Up to $5M	680	Varies	24 months	3–6 weeks

Application Process Steps

Step	Online Lender	Traditional Bank
1. Pre-qualification	5 minutes (soft pull)	Not always available
2. Full application	15–30 minutes	1–2 hours
3. Document submission	Upload digitally	Upload or deliver in person
4. Underwriting review	Automated, 1–48 hours	Manual, 5–14 days
5. Approval decision	Same day–2 days	1–3 weeks
6. Account funding	Instant–2 days	3–7 days

Documents Typically Required

• Business and personal tax returns (1–2 years)
• Bank statements (3–12 months)
• Profit and loss statement
• Balance sheet
• Business license or registration
• Articles of incorporation
• Personal identification (driver’s license, SSN)

Factors That Affect Approval Speed

Factor	Faster Approval	Slower Approval
Credit score	700+	Below 650
Time in business	3+ years	Under 1 year
Annual revenue	Above lender minimum	Near the threshold
Document readiness	All documents prepared	Missing or incomplete paperwork
Line amount	Under $100K	Over $250K
Collateral	Unsecured (simpler review)	Secured (requires appraisal)

How to Speed Up Approval

1. Prepare documents in advance – Have tax returns, bank statements, and financial statements ready before applying.
2. Check your credit first – Review both personal and business credit reports for errors that could delay underwriting.
3. Start with online lenders – If speed is the priority, online lenders offer the fastest path to funding.
4. Apply where you already bank – Existing banking relationships can expedite the review process at traditional banks.
5. Keep the request reasonable – Requesting a line that matches your revenue level gets approved faster than an outsized request.

Secured vs. Unsecured Lines

Feature	Secured	Unsecured
Collateral required	Yes (real estate, inventory, equipment)	No
Approval time	Longer (appraisal needed)	Shorter
Credit limits	Higher (up to $5M+)	Lower (typically under $250K)
Interest rates	Lower (5%–12%)	Higher (8%–25%)
Best for	Established businesses, large lines	Quick access, smaller amounts

Key Takeaway

Online lenders can approve a business line of credit in as little as 24 hours, while traditional banks take 1–3 weeks. Having your financial documents prepared and a strong credit profile are the biggest factors in speeding up the process.