Celtic Bank, a subsidiary of Celtic Investment Inc., is a Utah-chartered industrial bank headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 2001 by Reese S. Howell Jr., Celtic Bank is FDIC-insured and has ranked among the top 10 SBA lenders in the United States every year since 2013. The bank has funded over $4 billion to more than 10,000 businesses across 60+ industries.
Celtic Bank's flagship products are SBA 7(a) loans ranging from $350,000 to $5 million, with rates as low as Prime + 2.75% and up to 90% loan-to-value. For smaller deals, Celtic Express covers $25,000 to $150,000 and Celtic Advantage handles $150,000 to $350,000 — both with streamlined processing. SBA 504 loans range from $350,000 to $5 million for real estate and major equipment purchases. Origination fees are 3% across SBA products.
Beyond SBA lending, Celtic Bank offers a broad portfolio: USDA Business & Industry loans ($500K-$10M) for rural businesses, equipment financing ($100K-$3M), construction loans ($350K-$5M), renewable energy financing ($350K-$10M), asset-based lending ($350K-$5M), supply chain financing ($50K-$1M), working capital loans ($50K-$350K), business acquisition financing ($350K-$5M), commercial real estate loans ($350K-$5M), and conventional business loans ($350K-$5M).
Celtic Bank differentiates itself through product breadth and industry expertise. With 14 distinct lending products spanning deal sizes from $25,000 to $10 million, the bank can structure financing for scenarios that single-product lenders cannot accommodate. Their USDA B&I and renewable energy programs serve niche markets underserved by most SBA lenders. The bank works with businesses across manufacturing, healthcare, hospitality, retail, professional services, and dozens of other sectors.
As a consistent top-10 SBA lender with over two decades of operating history, Celtic Bank brings institutional credibility and underwriting depth to the small and mid-market business lending space. Prospective borrowers should note that Celtic does not publicly disclose minimum credit scores, revenue requirements, or time-in-business thresholds, and specific terms depend on deal structure and borrower qualifications.
For business owners exploring financing options, the landscape includes several distinct products. Small business loans provide lump-sum working capital with fixed repayment terms, while a business line of credit offers flexible revolving access to funds as needed. SBA loans through government-backed programs offer the lowest rates but require longer approval timelines. For businesses with outstanding invoices, invoice factoring converts receivables into immediate cash flow. Equipment financing allows companies to acquire machinery and technology with the equipment itself as collateral. A merchant cash advance provides fast business funding by purchasing a share of future sales, though typically at higher effective costs. Startups and newer businesses may find working capital loan options through alternative lenders with lower qualification requirements than traditional banks.
