At Grow America, we’ve made the small business loan experience better for borrowers. Through our combination of industry-leading technology combined with a human touch, our goal is to make it easier for you to start, track, and complete your small business loan application. We offer the convenience of a simpler online application so you can track your progress at every step, with guidance and support from our lending team.
In this article, we’ll walk you through how our approach makes business financing more accessible and less stressful, whether you’re expanding your café, upgrading your equipment, or taking your first steps as an entrepreneur.
Getting a small business loan shouldn’t be stressful
At Grow America, we think that getting a loan should be exciting, not stressful! While some loan applications can feel time-consuming and leave you wondering about your status, we’ve created a refreshingly different experience. Our streamlined approach puts you in control, keeping you informed every step of the way as your business plans move closer to reality.
We leverage the time-saving capabilities and convenience of our lending software, called Spark, to handle your application efficiently and securely while enabling you to see your application’s progress online.
But we don’t let technology replace human connections. Our loan officers are available when you have questions, to talk through concerns, or if you just need reassurance during the process. The result is a smoother application experience, without stress and uncertainty.
Here are more ways that Grow America creates a better experience for you.
Clear document dashboard
If you’ve ever applied for a loan, you know that it’s hard to find out exactly what’s happening at any given point. With Grow America, that’s no longer the case. Through our online dashboard, you can see:
- Which documents are required for your specific loan
- What you’ve already submitted
- What’s still needed to complete your application
- Where your application progressed to – whether in underwriting, closing or funding
This information is also available to your Grow America team so that you’re always on the same page and nothing falls through the cracks.
Secure communication
Our enhanced and encrypted technology includes a secure messaging system that connects you directly with your Grow America loan officer and uploads your documents securely.
24/7 access to your application
We believe your loan information should be available whenever you are—and with Grow America, it is. You can:
- Access your application and check its status anytime, day or night
- Upload documents when it’s convenient for you
- Receive real-time updates as your application progresses
Simple, straightforward, and transparent
When you apply for funding with Grow America, you’ll experience:
- Easy-to-use technology that works best because of the humans behind it: If you’ve ever started an application but given up before completing it because it was confusing or intimidating, Grow America is here to help you get to the finish line. Our technology simplifies the process and our loan officers are always available to help, so you never have to feel frustrated, stuck, or intimidated.
- A simplified application process: We’ve streamlined the application and approval processes to make it easier for you to complete.
- Significant time savings: With clear instructions and the ability to upload documents digitally, you’ll spend less time on paperwork and more time growing your business.
An example: Maria’s Café
Here’s a fictitious, but relatable, example of how Grow America’s experienced team and technology can help. Let’s look at Maria, the owner of a thriving café. When an opportunity arises to expand into a vacant space next door, she knows she needs financing—fast.
- Starting the application: After an initial conversation with a Grow America loan officer to learn about her business, vision, and goals for financing, Maria receives an email invitation to our online platform. After closing her café that evening, she logs in and completes the basic application in about 15 minutes. Her dashboard immediately shows the documents she’ll need to provide.
- Document collection: The next day, after the morning rush, Maria uses her phone tto upload securely her business tax returns for the past three years. A green checkmark appears on her dashboard, confirming these documents are now complete.
- Questions arise: While reviewing the remaining requirements, Maria isn’t sure which additional personal tax forms are needed. That night, she sends a quick message to her Grow America loan officer through our secure messaging system.
- Quick resolution: In the morning, her loan officer calls to talk through her questions. They clarify which tax forms are needed and Maria uploads the files that evening.
- Application complete: Over the weekend, Maria finalizes her application by uploading the remaining documents. Her dashboard shows “Application Complete” and provides a timeline for the next steps in the review process. When the application is approved, Maria receives notification of the great news and information about next steps.
Maria never had to leave her café during business hours or wonder about the status of her application. Grow America’s easy-to-use technology—and easy-to-access human team—made the entire experience transparent and convenient.
We’re here to help your business grow
At Grow America, we use decades of experience in small business lending to help you have a personalized and positive loan experience with less stress, and we use technology to help make every step easier and more convenient.When your business is ready to grow to the next level, Grow America is here to help make it a reality. Contact us to learn more.