Church loans
Your church can own its building. We place conventional and no income verification church loans with lending partners who understand how ministries are funded.
The pre-qualification form takes about a minute.
Programs that fit church property
Many congregations rent for years because they assume a bank won’t lend to a church. Ownership is often more reachable than that. Two programs cover most church deals.
- Conventional commercial loans. For churches with documented financials. Loan-to-value (LTV) — the loan as a share of the property’s value — is generally 80%. Conventional loans also cover construction of a new church.
- No income verification loans. For churches whose giving is real but hard to document the way a bank expects. LTV is normally around 70%.
To refinance an existing church mortgage or pull out equity, see commercial refinance loans.
SBA loans are not an option for church property through our lending partners, so conventional and no income verification are the two paths.
The minimum loan on commercial real estate programs is $250,000.
What lenders look at
How long the church has existed
The date of inception matters. A longer history shows lenders the congregation and its giving have lasted through leadership changes and hard years.
Internal financials
Lenders review the church’s income and expenses, usually tithes, offerings and any other regular revenue. On a conventional loan, expect to provide full financial statements. On a no income verification loan, internal financials still matter, just in a lighter form.
Membership
The number of members signals how stable giving is likely to be. A growing or steady congregation supports the loan.
Cash flow against the payment
On conventional loans, lenders compare the church’s available income to the annual loan payments. This is the debt service coverage ratio (DSCR). A ratio above 1.0 means income covers the debt.
Down payment
At 70% to 80% LTV, plan for a 20% to 30% down payment, or equivalent equity in the property on a refinance. Building funds and capital campaigns often cover this.
Construction plans
For a new building, lenders review plans, a construction budget and the builder. They also expect a clear plan for how the church will carry the payment once it moves in.
Refinancing an existing loan
Many churches carry a short-term or variable-rate loan from when they first bought. Refinancing into a longer fixed-rate loan can lower and steady the monthly payment. Lenders look at the same factors as a purchase, plus your payment history on the current loan.
Not sure which path fits? Share the church’s founding date, recent financials and membership count with your loan expert. They can tell you which program is the better match.
How it works
- Apply online. Complete the 1-minute pre-qualification form with the property and loan request.
- Talk to your loan expert. You are assigned one Standout loan expert who reviews the church’s situation and identifies the programs that fit.
- Compare your options. Your loan expert presents the best available options from our lending partners.
- Close. We package the file for the lending partner you choose and guide you through to closing.
For more detail, read church financing loan options explained.
Common questions
Can a church get an SBA loan?
No. SBA loans are not available for churches. Church financing goes through conventional commercial loans or no income verification loans.
Can a church loan be approved without income verification?
Yes. No income verification church loans are available, with loan-to-value normally around 70%.
Without income verification, what do lenders look at?
The church's date of inception, its internal financials and the number of members.
What loan-to-value can a church get on a conventional loan?
Generally 80% of the property's value, depending on the church's financials and the property.
Can we finance construction of a new church?
Yes, through a conventional commercial construction loan.
Explore the programs
All loan programs- Loan program Conventional commercial loans Bank and credit-union financing. For strong credit and full documentation, usually the lowest-cost path. Banks and credit unions
- Loan program No doc commercial loans No tax returns or pay stubs. Approval rests on your credit, your assets and the property. No tax returns needed
- Loan program Commercial real estate refinance loans Pull out equity, pay off a seller note or short-term loan, or swap a variable rate for a fixed one. Cash-out or rate change
Ready to take the next step?
Apply in about a minute. Your loan expert will guide you from there.