Successful Financings for Minority Owned Businesses

Now Account for over 50% of all Closings at

Quaker State Commercial Finance

 12-01-14

 Since joining Quaker State Commercial Finance in 1997, I have noted an increasing trend; specifically, a gradual increase in our commercial loan closings for Minority Owned Entrepreneurial Businesses. Amazingly, during the past year, over 50% of our closings have been for minority borrowers.

Not only have we closed commercial mortgage loans for African Americans, but recently we have successfully financed a Nigerian National who owns a chain of home furnishing stores in both Nigeria and the U.S., a native Hawaiian who purchased an apartment complex in Houston, a Hispanic couple who purchased an apartment complex in Midland Texas, several Indian and Pakistani entrepreneurs who purchased hotels in South Carolina and New York City, a Hispanic owned grocery store in New York City, a Hispanic owned restaurant in Philadelphia, a Korean couple who purchased a Laundromat in Media, PA and a Sikh owned gas station / convenience store in  New Jersey. It goes on and on including a Brazilian owned life style center in Ossining, New York; and many others.

I asked my coworkers why all of these hard working, minority entrepreneurs have engaged Quaker State to finance their businesses?  They believe the answer is multifaceted; however it all stems from the fact that main stream banks have rejected most of our clients because their applications are not up to their exacting standards. Additionally there are language and sociological mores differences that lead conventional lenders to turn down many quality minority commercial loans. Mainstream loan officers say to themselves “why bother; we have plenty of easy loans to choose from” and then relegate minority borrowers loan requests to the dust heap.

How does Quaker State close loans that Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Chase, etc. reject? The answer lies in our experienced Closers who have the ability to present minority commercial loans in the best light to financial institutions and go “the extra mile” to help minority borrowers. They reorganize loan submissions in a manner that is understandable to both conventional and nontraditional lenders. Sometimes I am amazed that our closers can go back to a bank that previously rejected one of our minority borrowers and convince them to finance our minority client.

Just remember, “All roads lead to Quaker State”; and, if your mainstream lender has rejected you, we will help you achieve your financial dreams.