Bank of Montreal went online with the first digital credit application in 1997. That effort, from its mortgage division, was named to our Fintech Hall of Fame. Not only was it the first mortgage app online, it was the first online credit app of any kind.** Naturally, we were excited about it at the time, naming it the biggest innovation of the year.
Unfortunately, we didn’t track when the first business loan application went online, but it was likely a few years later, let’s call it 2000/2001. So, the capability has existed for 25 years. But as you can see from the chart below, the digital SMB lenders began in earnest during and immediately after the 2007/2008 financial crash. Eight of the 34 largest were started in the 2008 to 2012 period. And only two were founded in the past 6 years.
Digital Lenders: Year Founded
Prior to 2008 >>> 6 | 2008 to 2011 >>> 8 | 2012 to 2015 >>> 9 | 2016 to 2019 >>> 8 | 2020 or later >>> 2
Resources: Looking for digital banks, lenders, payment providers, insurance or digital accounting for small businesses? Check out our latest lists: Small Business (SMB) savings/treasury accounts (7) | SMB online lenders (33) | SMB challenger banks (15) | SMB insurers (15) | SMB credit cards/expense management (16) | Billpay & invoicing (16)| Payment processors (7) | SMB digital accounting/bookkeeping (21)
Top Digital Small-Business Lenders***
| Rank | Company | FAB Score* | Founded | HQ | Funding $M | Visits (Feb ’26) |
| 1 | Bluevine | 514 | 2013 | SF | 769 | 2,100,000 |
| ** | Clear Inc | 2019 | NYC | INA | 1,300 | |
| 2 | Fora Financial | 498 | 2008 | NYC | 483 | 110,000 |
| 3 | Uncapped | 301 | 2019 | London | 361 | 32,000 |
| 4 | CAN Capital | 284 | 1998 | Atlanta | 1177 | 2,800 |
| 5 | Clearco | 273 | 2015 | Toronto | 859 | 87,000 |
| 6 | Lighter Capital | 246 | 2010 | Seattle | 346 | 30,000 |
| 7 | Capchase | 243 | 2020 | NYC | 1060 | 45,000 |
| 8 | Lendistry | 231 | 2015 | Brea, CA | 305 | 47,000 |
| 9 | OnDeck | 202 | 2007 | NYC | 1200 | 300,000 |
| 10 | Pipe | 172 | 2019 | Miami | 437 | 70,000 |
| 11 | Nav | 137 | 2012 | Utah | 92 | 640,000 |
| 12 | FundBox | 86 | 2013 | SF | 554 | 92,000 |
| 13 | Lendio | 68 | 2011 | Utah | 109 | 290,000 |
| 14 | Biz2Credit | 58 | 2007 | NYC | 387 | 89,000 |
| 15 | BHG Financial | 43 | 2001 | FT Lauderdale | 29 | 140,000 |
| 16 | Arc | 39 | 2021 | SF | 181 | 51,000 |
| 17 | Novel Partners | 33 | 2018 | Overland Park, KS | 115 | 3,400 |
| 18 | HoneyComb Credit | 29 | 2017 | Pittsburgh | 33 | 32,000 |
| 19 | Fundera (NerdWallet) | 20 | 2013 | NYC | 19 | 99,000 |
| 20 | Credibly | 19 | 2010 | Detroit | 82 | 48,000 |
| 21 | IOU Financial | 16 | 2011 | Atlanta | 132 | 16,000 |
| 22 | SMBX | 15 | 2016 | SF | 15 | 12,000 |
| 23 | Revenued | 14 | 2015 |
New Jersey
|
72,000 | |
| 24 | QuickFI | 7 | 2018 |
Fairport, NY
|
21,000 | |
| 25 | BriteCap | 6 | 2003 | SF | 120 | 15,000 |
| 26t | Lendr | 4 | 2011 | Chicago | 25 | 23,000 |
| 26t | Upright (was Fund that Flip) | 4 | 2014 | NYC | 33 | 6,700 |
| 26t | SMB Compass | 4 | 2017 | Rye, NY | 0 | 8,900 |
| 26t | Salaryo | 4 | 2017 | NYC | 12 | 0 |
| 30 | Channel Partners | 1 | 2009 | Minneapolis | 50 | 2,800 |
| 31t | SmartBiz Loans | 0 | 2009 | SF | 37 | 1,500 |
| 31t | SnapCap (LendingTree) | 0 | 2012 | Charleston, SC | 0 | 11,000 |
| 31t | Lendinero | 0 | 2014 | Miami | 0.03 | 100 |
| 31t | Rapid Finance | 0 | 2005 | Bethesda, MD | 0 | 23,000 |
Source: Compiled by FintechLabs, 22 Mar 2026, from Crunchbase, SimilarWeb, SEMRush data
Social data from Oct 2025.
*(As nerds do) We have developed a proprietary score measuring the adoption of private digital financial services companies that do not release traditional metrics (# customers, loans, orginations, etc). We are calling it the FAB score, standing for Fintech Attention Barometer. It’s a work in progress, so expect changes in the formula.
**Several lenders pay Fintech Labs a referral fee for funded loans. Those fees may impact placement on our website.
***A defunct Canadian bank, Bayshore Trust, launched the first online loan application in March 1996.
Top 30 Digital Alt-Lenders for Small-to-Medium Businesses (SMB) in the United States
Rank (by FAB score)
1. Bluevine
FAB Score = 514
– HQ: San Francisco
– Founded: 2013
Traction:
– Raised: $769M prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 2.1 million (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 556 (Linkedin) vs. 543 in Oct ’25; 591 in May ’25; 618 in Sep ’24; 584 in Jan ’24; 578 in Nov ’23; 576 in May ’23
– LinkedIn: 65,000 followers (553 employees vs. 566 in May ’25; 590 Sep ’24; 608 in Jan ’24; 582 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.4 (9,o10 reviews vs. 8,380 in May ’25; 8,100 in Sep ’24)
2. Fora Financial
FAB Score = 498
HQ: NYC
Founded: 2008
Traction:
Web visits (Feb 2026): 110,000 (SimilarWeb)
Funding: $483M (Crunchbase)
3. Uncapped
FAB Score: 301
HQ: London
Founded: 2019
Traction:
Website visits (Feb 2026): 32,000
Funding: $361M
4. CAN Capital
FAB Score = 284 (up 86)
– HQ: Atlanta
– Founded: 1998
– Raised: $1.2B including $175M in 2024 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 2,800 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 395 (Pitchbook), unchanged since July ’23
– Articles: 92 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 14,000 followers (242 employees vs. 240 in May; 243 in Sep ’24; 246 in Jan ’24; 254 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.9 (1,190 reviews vs. 1,160 in May ’25; 1,130 in Sep ’24)
5. Clearco (formerly Clearbanc)
FAB Score = 273
– HQ: Toronto
– Founded: 2015
– Raised: $859M (including $169M in Oct 2023, $17M in 2022) (Crunchbase)
– Valuation: $2.0 billion (based on April 2021 round)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 87,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 175 vs. 166 in Oct. ’25; 171 in May ’25; 315 in Sep ’24 and Nov ’24; 500 in July ’24
– LinkedIn: 47,000 followers (169 employees vs. 179 in May ’25; 172 in Sep ’24; 168 in Jan ’24; 177 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.4 (343 reviews vs 342 in May ’25; 334 Sep ’24)
6. Lighter Capital
FAB Score = 246
– HQ: Seattle
– Founded: 2010
– Raised: $346M including $100M in Nov 2025; $130M in Aug 2023 & $100M in 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors (Feb 2026): 30,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 44 vs. 41 in Oct. ’25; 46 in Sep ’24 and July ’23
– Articles: 116 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 20,000 followers | 43 employees (was 40 Sep ’24; 44 Jan. ’24; 45 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA
7. Capchase
FAB Score = 243
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2020
Traction:
– Raised: $1.1B (including $110M in 2024, $480M in 2022) (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 45,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 101 vs. 143 in Oct. ’25; 145 in May ’25; 154 in Sep ’24; 152 in Nov ’23; 143 in May ’23
Social:
– LinkedIn: 22,000 followers (105 employees vs. 127 in May ’25; 156 in Nov ’24; 111 in Jan ’24; 147 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA
8. Lendistry
FAB Score = 23
– HQ: Brea, CA
– Founded: 2015
– Raised: $305M including $205M in Sep-Oct 2025; $5M in 2024; $90M in 2022 & $3.3M in 2023 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 47,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Linkedin): 277 vs. 337 in Oct ’25; 352 in Nov ’23
– Linkedin: 15,000 followers | 290 employees (was 309 Sep ’24; 337 Jan ’24, 352 Nov ’23)
– BBB: 4.6 (95 reviews)
9. OnDeck (acquired by Enova Oct 2020)
FAB Score = 202
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2007
– Raised: $1.2B prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Acquired by Enova in Oct 2020 for $120M
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 300,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 746 (Pitchbook), unchanged since Sep ’24
– LinkedIn: 30,000 followers (411 employees vs. 387 in May ’25; 321 in Sep ’24; 311 in Jan ’24; 319 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.7 (4,980 reviews vs. 4,490 in May ’25; 4,270 in Sep ’24)
10. Pipe
FAB Score = 172
– HQ: Miami
– Founded: 2019
– Raised: $437M (including $14M in Feb 2026; $100M in 2024, $300M in 2021, $7M in 2022) (Crunchbase)
– Valuation: Maxed out at $2B (based on March 2022 round) but has fallen to $200 million based on reported secondary transactions (July 2025)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 70,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 80 unchanged since Oct. ’25; 198 May ’25 through July ’23
– Linkedin: 28,000 followers | 461 employees (was 385 in May ’25; 341 in Sep ’24; 378 Jan ’24; 295 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA
11. Nav
FAB Score = 137
– HQ: Utah
– Founded: 2012
– Raised: $104M including $5M in July 2025 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 640,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 224 (Pitchbook), unchanged since Nov ’23, up 25 since July ’23
– Articles: NA (too many Net Asset Value citations mixed in)
– LinkedIn: 6,000 followers (171 employees vs. 174 in May ’25; 182 in Sep ’24; 222 in Jan ’24; 215 in Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.5 (476 reviews vs. 398 in May ’25; 350 in Sep ’24)
12. Fundbox
FAB Score = 86
– HQ: SF
– Founded: 2013
– Raised: $554M including $100M in 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors (Feb 2026): 92,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 250 (Pitchbook): 250 unchanged since May ’25; 201 in Jan ’24 & Nov ’23; 275 in July ’23
– Articles: 117 (Crunchbase)
– LinkedIn: 22,000 followers | 197 employees (172 May ’25; 169 in Sep. 24, 171 Jan ’24, 184 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.8| 4,180 (vs 4,000 in May ’25; 3,840 in Sep ’24)
13. Lendio
FAB Score = 68
– HQ: Salt Lake City, Utah
– Founded: 2011 (originally founded in 2006 as FundingUtah).
– Raised: $109M prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 290,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 470 vs. 449 in Oct 2025; 418 in May ’25; 420 in Sep ’24; 515 in Jan ’24; 578 in May ’23
– LinkedIn: 21,000 followers (459 employees vs. 433 in May ’25; 421 in Sep ’24; 441 in Jan ’24; 503 in Nov ’23)
14. Biz2Credit
FAB Score = 58
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2007
– Raised: $387M prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 89,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook), 800 vs. 750 Oct. ’25 through July ’23
– Citations: 165 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 75,000 followers | 595 employees (was 625 in Sep ’24, 685 Jan ’24, 660 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.7 (15,200 reviews, up 100 since Sep ’24)
15. BHG Financial
FAB Score: 43
HQ: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Founded: 2001
Traction:
Website visits (Feb ’26): 140,000
Funding: $29M
16. Arc
Fab score = 39
– HQ: San Francisco
– Founded: 2021
– Raised: $181M in 2022 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 51,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 32 vs. 45 in Oct ’25 through Nov ’23
– Articles: 2 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 13,000 followers (214 employees, down 108 since Sep ’24, up 82 since Jan ’24, up 104 since Nov ’23)
17. Novel Partners
FAB Score = 33
– Founded: 2018
– HQ: Overland Park, KS
– Raised: $130M including $15M in 2024, $115M in 2022 (Crunchbase)
– Website traffic (Feb 2026): 3,400 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Linkedin): 43 vs. 72 in Oct ’25
– Linkedin: 4,000 followers | 48 employees (was 72 in Sep ’24; 37 Jan ’24, 34 Nov ’23
18. Honeycomb Credit
FAB Score = 29
– HQ: Pittsburgh
– Founded: 2017
– Raised: $33.2M including $1.6M in Mar 2026; $11.5M in Mar 2025; $6M in 2024; $1.9M in 2021 & $8.8M in 2022 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors (Feb 2026): 32,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 35 vs. 45 in Oct. ’25; 33 in Jan ’24; 34 in July ’23
– Articles: 33 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 4,000 followers | 45 employees (45 in Sep ’24; 37 Jan ’24; 35 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.6 (95 reviews, up 10 since Sep)
19. Fundera (acquired by NerdWallet in Nov 2020)
FAB Score = 20
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2013
– Raised: $18.9M prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors (Feb 2026): 99,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 57 unchanged since Oct. ’25; 87 in Jan ’24 and Nov. ’23
– Articles: 66 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 7,000 followers | 59 employees (was 58 in Sep ’24; 57 Jan ’24, 56 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.3 (978 reviews, up 11 since Sep ’24)
20. Credibly
FAB Score = 19
– HQ: Detroit
– Founded: 2010
– Raised: $82M including $5M in Aug 2023 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 48,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 171 unchanged since Oct ’25; 167 in Jan ’24; 163 in Nov. ’23
– Linkedin: 15,000 followers | 180 employees (174 in Sep ’24; 166 Jan ’24; 171 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.8 | 2,140 reviews (up 230 since Sep ’24)
21. IOU Financial
FAB Score = 16
– HQ: Atlanta
– Founded: 2011
– Raised: $138M (including $200k in 2021) (Crunchbase)
– Market cap: $22M (19 July 2023), up $9M since 16 May 2023 (taken private in Sep 2023)
– $1.5B originated since inception (per company, Feb 2024)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 16,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 109 vs. 105 in Oct. ’25; 103 in Jan ’24; 85 in July ’23
– LinkedIn: 4,000 followers | 109 employees (was 106 in Sep ’24; 103 Jan ’24; 103 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.9 (879 reviews, up 87 since Sep)
22. SMBX
FAB Score = 15
– HQ: SF
– Founded: 2016
– Raised: $15.2M including $11.5M in 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors (Feb 2026): 12,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 24 (Linkedin)
– Articles: 16 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 3,100 followers | 24 employees (was 31 in Sep ’24; 35 Jan ’24; 35 Nov. ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA
23. Revenued
Fab Score = 14
– HQ: New Jersey
– Founded: 2015
– Raised: Unknown (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 72,000 (SEMRush)
– Employees (Linkedin): 36 vs 28 in Oct ’25
– Articles: 7 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 2,000 followers | 28 employees (was 27 Sep ’24; 29 in Jan. ’24)
– TrustPilot: 4.7 | 899 reviews (up 124 since Jan ’24)
24. QuickFI
FAB Score: 7
Founded: 2018
HQ: Fairport, NY
Traction:
Website visits (Feb ’26):
Funding: Unknown
25. BriteCap (was ForwardLine)
FAB Score = 6
– HQ: LA
– Founded: 2003
– Raised: $120M before 2020 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 15,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 105 vs. 86 in Oct. ’25; 75 Sep ’24; 65 Jan ’24; 67 Nov. ’23
– Articles: 2 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 4,000 followers | 90 employees (was 75 Sep ’24; 70 in Jan ’24, 69 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.6 | 646 reviews (was 561 Sep ’24; 459 Jan ’24)
26 (tie). Upright (was Fund that Flip)
FAB Score = 4
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2014
– Raised: $33M including $20M in 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 6,700 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: (Pitchbook): 101 unchanged since Sep ’24; 207 Jan ’24; 206 July ’23
– Linkedin: 5,400 followers | 90 employees (was 104 in Sep ’24; 150 in Jan ’24; 204 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA (2 reviews)
26(tie). Salaryo (acquired by Meitav Investment House in 2022)
FAB Score = 4
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2017
– Raised: $12.1M prior to 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): INA (SEMrush)
– Employees: 11 (Pitchbook), unchanged since Nov ’23
– Articles: 20 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 1,400 followers | 9 employees (unchanged since Jan ’24, down 2 since Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: NA
31 (tie). SmartBiz Loans (formerly BillFloat)
FAB Score = 0
– HQ: SF
– Founded: 2009 (originally as BillFloat)
– Raised: $37M prior to 2014 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 1,500 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 226 unchanged since March ’24
– Articles: 15 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 7,000 followers | 199 employees (was 208 in Sep ’24; 251 in Jan ’24; 251 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.6 | 16,400 reviews (unchanged since Sep ’24)
31(tie). SnapCap (division of LendingTree)
FAB Score = 0
– HQ: Charleston, SC
– Founded: 2012
– Raised: INA (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 11,000 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees (Pitchbook): 17 vs. 24 in Oct ’25; 23 in Sep ’24; 23 in Nov. ’23; 26 July ’23
– Linkedin: 3,000 followers | 24 employees (was 25 in Sep ’24; 22 Jan ’24, 21 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.8 | 807 (up 35 since Sep ’24)
No longer in business and/or not accepting loan applications
Camino Financial (no longer accepting new applications, Feb 2026)
FAB Score = 22 (down 62)
– HQ: LA
– Founded: 2014
– Raised: $170M including $150M in 2022 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 400 (SimilarWeb)
– Employees: 103 (Pitchbook) | was 103 Sep ’24; 118 Jan ’24; 124 Nov ’23, 134 July ’23
– Articles: 27 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 14,000 followers : 56 employees (was 79 Sep ’24; 115 Jan ’24; 121 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.1 (124 reviews, unchanged since Sep ’24)
BizFI (acquired by World Business Lenders 2017, no longer offering applications through BizFI.com, Feb 2026)
FAB Score = 20 (up 7)
– HQ: NYC
– Founded: 2005
– Raised: $160M prior to 2017 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 1,500 (Similarweb)
– Employees: 28 (Linkedin)
– Citations: 207 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 1,200 followers | 28 employees (was 28 in Sep ’24; 30 Jan ’24; 31 Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 1.1 (442 reviews, up 2 since Sep)
Patch Lending (formerly Patch of Land; acquired by Cloverhill July 2021; appears shut down as of 27 Feb. 2025)
FAB Score = 11 (up 1)
– HQ: LA
– Founded: 2013
– Raised: $54.9M prior to 2018 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits (Feb 2026): 88 (SEMRush)
– Employees: 46 (Pitchbook)
– Articles: 36 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: NA (in Sep ’24 was 4,200 followers with 18 employees, down 3 since Jan ’24, down 4 since Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 4.1 (29 reviews, unchanged since Nov ’23)
Kabbage (acquired by American Express)
No longer operated as a separate brand (June 2023)
– HQ: Atlanta
– Founded: 2008
– Raised: $2.5B (Crunchbase)
– Website visits: 3,000 (SimilarWeb, May ’23)
– Employees: 255 (Pitchbook, Nov ’23)
– Articles: 614 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 41,000 followers (172 employees, Nov ’23)
– Trustpilot: 2.8 (6,780 reviews through Jan 2023, new info no longer available)
Lendvo (taken off list Feb 2023)
FAB Score = 0 (down 1)
– HQ: Washington DC
– Founded: 2015
– Raised: $1.3M prior to 2016 (Crunchbase)
– Website visitors: INA (Dec 2022; SEMRush)
– Employees: 2 (Pitchbook)
– Articles: 0 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 59 followers (no employees linked)
– Trustpilot: NA
P2Binvestor (acquired by Aion, no website update since 2020, removed from list Nov 2023)
FAB Score = 2 (unchanged)
– HQ: Denver
– Founded: 2012
– Raised: $33.3M prior to 2019 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits: INA (Oct 2023; SEMRush)
– Employees: 11 (Pitchbook), unchanged
– Articles: 25 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 910 followers (2 employees, unchanged)
– Trustpilot: NA
Nuula (acquired by NAV Jan 2023), removed from list Nov 2023)
FAB Score = 66 (unchanged)
– HQ: Toronto
– Founded: 2020
– Raised: $120M in 2021 (Crunchbase)
– Website visits: INA (redirects to NAV)
– Employees: 100 (Pitchbook), up 76 since July
– Articles: 23 (Crunchbase)
– Linkedin: 4,900 followers (8 employees, down 3)
– Trustpilot: NA
