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Founded in 2009 and headquartered in St. Cloud, Minnesota, South End Capital is a direct commercial real estate, business, and equipment lender. Additionally, it operates as a preferred lender providing loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
The company also offers access to tech-powered marketplace lending through its network of lending partners in cases where it can’t provide in-house lending.
South End Capital could be a good choice if you or your business has a less-than-perfect credit history, or requires startup financing or a large working capital need, as it considers financing requests from those who have been turned down elsewhere. Additionally, the lender’s credit-building services could help you get your finances back on track if you have any blemishes on your file.
The company also offers equipment financing for both new and used machinery, which may be appealing if you want to minimize equipment costs.
The key features of your loan will depend on the type of product you choose. Below, we’ve highlighted the main features of each loan type.
Fast capital
South End’s fast capital loans can offer quick access to financing, with its streamlined application process requiring less documentation than traditional loans.
Credit line
With a line of credit, your business will have access to a set financing amount, which you can borrow at any time. You don’t need to borrow the full amount, and once you repay any funds you’ve borrowed, your line of credit will automatically replenish. You can then draw funds again in the future if needed.
Business
South End offers conventional business loans and preferred SBA Financing, with the latter guaranteed by the government’s Small Business Administration. You can use the funds for purposes such as buying commercial real estate, opening a new location, or consolidating debt.
Equipment
The lender offers personalized loans to help you meet the cost of most equipment needed for your business, with repayment plans based on your business’s cash flow.
Credit builder
South End Capital offers flexible programs for those with poor or slim credit. The aim is to help you create a strong record of on-time payments, which could boost your score and improve your chances of receiving financing down the road.
You can pre-qualify for a loan through the company’s website. This process varies depending on the type of loan you need, but you’ll typically need to provide information such as:
Note that the pre-qualification process won’t affect your credit score.
The documentation required during your application will also depend on your loan type but may include:
Unlike some lenders, South End Capital doesn’t charge upfront fees.
With equipment and marketplace loans, you may receive your funds in less than a day. Approval for other loans, such as SBA financing, may take a few weeks or months depending on the complexity of your financing request.
If you’re borrowing through a South End Capital marketplace lender, the exact process will depend on the lender.
The amount you can borrow will depend on the type of loan you need.
Fast capital: $1,000-$500,000+
Credit line: $1,000-$500,000+
Business: $25,000 to $15 million
Equipment: $5,000 to $5 million
The length of your repayment term will depend on the type of loan you choose. Business loans usually have terms of 1–25 years, while equipment loans have terms of up to 10 years. A line of credit refreshes every time you repay what you’ve already borrowed but will have a maximum term of up to 3 years.
South End Capital doesn’t include any information about interest rates on its website, but will provide estimated interest rate quotes upon request.
South End Capital is a division of Stearns Bank, which was founded in 1912 and has locations across Florida, Arizona, and Minnesota. The bank has received several industry awards and is recognized as one of the US’s top-performing banks by the Independent Community Bankers of America.
For cybersecurity, South End Capital uses SSL encryption on its website, which establishes a secure connection between its servers and your device. This measure safeguards any sensitive information you enter about your finances.
If you’re concerned about suspicious activity on your account, you can contact Stearns Bank’s dedicated fraud team.
Note that neither South End Capital nor Stearns Bank is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
Like all financial companies, South End Capital may collect information such as your social security number, details of your income and assets, and information about your credit history. For example, this may happen when you open an account or apply for a loan.
The company uses this information for its own day-to-day business and marketing purposes, but we recommend you directly review its privacy policy to understand how your information may be shared with third parties.
You can read the company’s privacy policy on its website.
You can contact South End Capital through phone, email, or social media. Customer support hours are Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm (EST). Unlike some competitors, the company doesn’t have an app or live chat service.
Phone: 320-202-6106
Email: southend@stearnsbank.com
Although the lender has FAQs on its website, these are fairly limited and could offer more details about its products and services.
In addition to English, the company’s website is available in a wide range of languages, including French, German, and Spanish.
At the time of writing, South End Capital has a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, which is classified as excellent. Many of those who rated the lender highly praised its customer service staff and their diligence in explaining the loan process. In contrast, less satisfied users complained of delays in receiving a response to their loan applications.
4191 2nd St. S., St. Cloud, MN 56301
Offering business loans of up to $15 million, South End Capital could be a good choice if you’re looking for a conventional business loan or are struggling to secure financing from traditional sources. In addition to offering loans to those who have been turned down for credit elsewhere, South End will consider loans for businesses in unconventional sectors such as cannabis. Although the company doesn’t display interest rates online, it currently has an excellent rating on Trustpilot.
We compiled this review by visiting the company’s website, testing its pre-qualification tool, reading online reviews, and following social media posts.
