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Funding the Next Generation of Community Builders
OnCo (short for Onward Community) is a nonprofit lender built for business owners who’ve been told “no”. We offer fair rate loans, hands-on guidance, and a real path to growth for entrepreneurs who are ready to build something lasting.
Does My Business Qualify for Funding?
Answer a few questions to understand your financing options.
Business Age
- Startup / Pre-Revenue
- 1–2 Years
- 3+ Years
Estimated Annual Revenue
- Under $100K
- $100K – $500K
- $500K+
Funding Needed
- $10K – $50K
- $50K – $250K
- $250K+
Location
- Southeastern U.S.
- Southeastern U.S. (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia)
- Indiana
- Indiana
- U.S.
- U.S.
WHAT WE DO:
A Mission-Driven Lender Focused on Financing Community Builders
Getting a loan shouldn’t be this hard. For too many small business owners, the traditional banking system isn’t built for you. OnCo is.
We combine responsible financing with hands-on support so business owners can access the resources they need to succeed. Our goal is to close persistent equity gaps in small business financing while helping local businesses grow, create jobs, and strengthen communities.
Key Commitments
- Transparent loan terms
- Fair and responsible interest rates
- Business education and advisory support
- Financing designed for long-term success
Responsible Lending
Flexible financing designed for small businesses who may be overlooked by traditional lenders
Business Support
Coaching, financial literacy, and tools that prepare entrepreneurs for sustainable growth
Community Impact
Mission-driven lending that creates jobs and strengthens local economies
Lending Programs
Flexible Financing Designed for Small Businesses
Every entrepreneur has a different journey. OnCo offers financing programs designed to support businesses at every stage.
Microloans
- $10,000 – $50,000
- Accessible financing for startups and early-stage entrepreneurs.
Working Capital Loans
- $50,000 – $500,000
- Flexible funding for operational growth, inventory, and expansion.
Equipment Financing
- Invest in tools and equipment that increase productivity and modernize your operations.
Commercial Real Estate Loans
- Owner-occupied property financing that builds long-term business stability.
Real Investment in Local Economies
OnCo lending programs help entrepreneurs grow businesses that create jobs and strengthen neighborhoods. Because when small businesses grow, entire communities benefit. Each $100,000 in financing supports approximately 2–3 jobs in low-to-moderate income communities.
Hover any state to see the lending gap OnCo’s here to close.
Alabama
1 in 9 Alabama households is unbanked, one of the highest rates in the U.S.
Arkansas
Over 40% of Arkansas rural counties lost bank branches between 2012 and 2017.
Florida
FL has 2.6M+ small businesses, yet CDFIs approve 88% of applicants vs. 66% for large banks.
Georgia
In rural Georgia, the unbanked rate is nearly double the rate in metro Atlanta.
Indiana
Indianapolis census tracts include designated banking deserts with no branch within 2 miles.
Kentucky
Kentucky’s Appalachian counties rank among the most persistent poverty regions in the U.S.
Louisiana
Louisiana has the 2nd-highest unbanked rate in the nation, at 8.1% — triple the national average.
Mississippi
Mississippi has the highest unbanked rate in the country, at 11.1% — nearly 3x the national rate.
North Carolina
NC’s rural Black communities face mortgage denial rates more than double those in metro areas.
Tennessee
23%+ of Tennesseans live in rural counties, nearly double the national average of 14%.
Virginia
Virginia’s rural communities have fewer bank branches per person than the national average.
West Virginia
WV has the highest share of persistently poor rural counties of any state east of the Mississippi.
Alaska
Rural Alaska has the fewest bank branches per capita of any U.S. state.
Arizona
Hispanic-owned AZ businesses face loan denial rates nearly double those of white-owned firms.
California
CA has the most CDFIs of any state yet $150B in unmet small business credit need persists nationally.
Colorado
Rural Colorado small businesses are 10x more likely to be in a banking desert than urban ones.
Connecticut
1 in 5 Black small business owners nationally didn’t apply for loans fearing rejection.
Delaware
Small businesses generate 44% of U.S. GDP but only 42% have their financing needs fully met.
Idaho
Rural Idaho towns losing bank branches face documented drops in small business lending.
Illinois
Chicago’s South Side has some of the highest banking desert rates of any major U.S. city.
Iowa
Rural Iowa has seen 40%+ of counties lose bank branches, farms and small firms bear the brunt.
Maine
Rural Maine businesses are 10x more likely than urban ones to be located in a banking desert.
Maryland
Black business owners nationally are denied loans at nearly 3x the rate of white-owned businesses.
Massachusetts
Mission-driven lenders approve 88% of applicants vs. just 15% full approval at big banks.
Michigan
Detroit has some of the highest concentrations of banking deserts among major U.S. cities.
Minnesota
Native American-owned businesses receive the smallest share of SBA funding of any demographic group.
Missouri
Rural MO counties losing branches face documented declines in small business loan originations.
Montana
Native-owned businesses in rural Montana are among the least served by traditional banks in the U.S.
Nebraska
In rural Nebraska, 40%+ of counties lost bank branches over one recent five-year span.
Nevada
Hispanic business owners face loan denials at nearly double the rate of white business owners.
New Hampshire
New England rural towns have broadband gaps that compound banking desert challenges.
New Jersey
Only 47% of Black-owned businesses nationally receive full loan amounts vs. 61% for white-owned.
New Mexico
New Mexico has some of the highest concentrations of rural persistent poverty counties in the West.
New York
Over 1,400 bank branches closed nationally in 2023. New York neighborhoods feel that impact.
North Dakota
Rural ND counties depend heavily on physical banks but closures have accelerated since 2019.
Ohio
Ohio’s Appalachian counties are among the most persistent poverty regions in the entire country.
Oklahoma
Native American-owned businesses receive less than 1% of national SBA loan dollars.
Oregon
Rural Oregon towns face broadband gaps and branch closures, a double hit on capital access.
Pennsylvania
PA’s rural banking deserts have expanded significantly since 2019 across the Appalachian corridor.
South Dakota
Native-owned businesses on SD reservations face some of the worst bank access gaps in the U.S.
Texas
TX has the 2nd-largest concentration of Hispanic-owned businesses yet loan denial rates remain high.
Utah
Despite SBA growth, rural Utah businesses still face a $150B annual unmet credit gap nationally.
Vermont
VT rural businesses rank among the most dependent on physical banking — and branches keep closing.
Washington
Tribal-owned businesses in WA receive less than 1% of all national SBA loan approvals.
Wisconsin
Rural WI counties saw bank branch declines accelerate during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Wyoming
Wyoming has some of the fewest bank branches per capita of any inland U.S. state.
District of Columbia
Even in DC, only 16% of Black business applicants at large banks received their full loan amount.
Rhode Island
Minority-owned small businesses carry higher debt costs and lower approval rates across the U.S.
Hawaii
Native Hawaiian-owned businesses have among the lowest SBA loan approval rates in the nation.
Kansas
85% of persistently poor U.S. counties are rural. Kansas communities feel the lending gap daily.
- OnCo Headquarters(Charleston, South Carolina)
- Focus States(Priority funding regions & high-impact areas)
- OnCo Eligible(OnCo lends nationwide. Loans not available for businesses based in: MT, ND, SD, or VT.)
HOW ONCO WORKS?
A Clear Road to Your Business Success
A Simpler Path to Business Funding
1.
Apply online or get in touch to start
2.
Work with an expert advisor
3.
Receive responsible financing
4.
Grow your business
As a tech-forward nonprofit lender, OnCo is powered by Loan Mantra's technology: a secure, fully digital and AI-first lending platform that makes applying for financing simple, fast, and accessible from anywhere. That means less paperwork for you and faster decisions for your business. Our affiliation with Loan Mantra also creates a pathway for your additional funding in the future.
Collaborators
OnCo works with community partners to serve small businesses throughout the United States. We are proudly affiliated with:
OnCo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lender pursuing CDFI certification through the U.S. Treasury's CDFI Fund.
CASE STUDY
Crittenden Corner Plaza
Mixed-use / $430,000
A community-anchoring shopping plaza bringing daycare, quick-service dining, and professional services under one roof denied by traditional lenders before OnCo structured a path to close. Funded in 45 days.
Crittenden, Kentucky
Zaika
Restaurant / $290,500
A first-generation restaurateur brought years of culinary expertise and a clear vision. OnCo helped structure a ground-up startup deal to acquire and launch this full-service dining concept in the heart of Kokomo.
Kokomo, Indiana
Keys to the Counter
Franchise Real Estate / $850,000
A franchise acquisition requiring both real estate and operating capital. OnCo navigated a complex deal to help a Virginia entrepreneur secure the property and launch a popular burger QSR in this city hub.
Newport News, Virginia
Your next step starts here
Whether you're ready to apply, exploring options, or unsure how to begin, we're here to help. No hard credit pull. No pressure. Just a real conversation about your business.