Why a good business gets a bank decline
Most banks want two years of tax returns and a debt-service coverage ratio above roughly 1.25. Aggressive but legal deductions reduce book profit, and book profit is what the ratio uses.
Large-bank small-business lending is also often scored against deposits held with that bank. Banking elsewhere can be the entire reason for the no.
What is read instead here
Tax returns are not read. Three months of bank statements are, and where you bank is irrelevant.
There is no hard credit cutoff here. The 650/600/550 tiers are product criteria, not a floor on the business. Scores in the 500s are placed routinely, and files in the 400s are read on revenue, deposit consistency and time in business rather than on the score alone.
When to use a bank anyway
For a long-horizon, large, secured need where six weeks does not matter, a bank or SBA route will cost less. Run it in parallel rather than instead.
Questions
Why do banks decline profitable businesses?
Debt-service coverage is calculated on book profit after deductions, not on cash flow.
Do you need tax returns?
No. Three months of business bank statements.
How fast is a decision?
Same day on a complete file.