Bankability Explained
You did everything right and still heard no. Here's why—and what to do about it.
Before we explain the system, understand this: You are not behind. You were simply never shown how the system reads your business.
The First Truth: Banks Approve Patterns, Not People
Your effort, your character, your intentions—none of that shows up in the score.
What Doesn't Matter
- • How hard you work
- • Your industry knowledge
- • Your customer relationships
- • Your future potential
- • Your good intentions
What Does Matter
- • How your structure is set up
- • What your numbers say
- • How consistent your records are
- • Whether signals align
- • What automated systems see
The Six Signal Areas Banks Evaluate
Every funding decision quietly revolves around the same six signal areas. These signals work together. No single one stands alone.
These six signals form the SHIELD framework that lenders use to evaluate risk.
Structure
How your business is set up legally and operationally
- Entity type and formation
- Ownership clarity
- Separation of finances
History
Your track record with credit and payments
- Credit behavior patterns
- Payment consistency
- Time in business
Income
Revenue patterns and cash flow strength
- Revenue consistency
- Cash flow stability
- Cash flow coverage (can you afford payments?)
Exposure
Existing obligations and leverage levels
- Current debt load
- Personal guarantees
- Leverage ratios
Liquidity & Leverage
Cash reserves and debt capacity
- Cash reserves & cushion
- Working capital strength
- Debt capacity available
Documented Reliability
Consistency across all reporting over time
- Historical accuracy
- Trust signals
- Pattern of reliability
What's SBSS?
SBSS (Small Business Scoring Service) is the credit score banks actually use for businesses—not your personal credit score, not the D&B "80" score.
What It Does:
- • Reads all six SHIELD signals automatically
- • Outputs a score from 0-300
- • Determines if your application gets reviewed or auto-rejected
Why You've Never Heard of It:
- • Most business credit services focus on D&B scores instead
- • Banks don't advertise what they actually check
- • It's not a consumer-facing product
The critical threshold: 160. Below that, most applications never reach a human reviewer.
How Your Score Determines What Happens Next
The SBSS (Small Business Scoring Service) is an automated system that reads these six signals.
How SBSS Scores Map to Bankability Tiers
Understanding where you are is the first step to moving up.
Tier 0
Invisible
SBSS Range:
0-140
Auto-rejected before human review. Only access to very expensive funding (35%+) if any.
Most common starting point for new businesses
Tier 1
Fundable
SBSS Range:
140-160
Approved but at expensive rates (15-25%). Short terms, limited access.
Access exists but costs are high
Tier 2
Bankable
SBSS Range:
160-200
Competitive rates (8-12%), longer terms, $150K-$500K access. Multiple lenders review.
This is where most businesses want to be
Tier 3
Prime
SBSS Range:
200+
Best rates (6-9%), institutional access, $500K-$2M+. Lenders compete for your business.
Top 1% of small business borrowers
The $1 Bankability Scan shows you exactly which tier you're in right now.
Then, the Community helps you move up—signal by signal, month by month.
Fundable vs Bankable: What's the Difference?
Most owners think these are the same. They're not.
The goal isn't to get funded. It's to become bankable.
Fundable keeps you alive. Bankable lets you scale.
The Timeline: How Long Does This Take?
Bankability isn't built overnight. But the path is clear.
Starting Point
You're invisible. SBSS likely below 160. Auto-filtered from most programs.
Structure Fixed
Entity clean. Compliance complete. Tradelines building. SBSS climbing toward 160.
History Building
Consistent payments. Tax capital reclaimed. Cash flow coverage strong. SBSS above 160.
Credibility Compounds
SBSS 180-220+. Multiple lenders. Better terms. Bankable status achieved.
The exact timeline depends on your starting point.
Some businesses move faster. Some take longer. But the sequence is the same: structure first, history second, credibility last.
The Takeaway
You were simply never shown how the system reads your business.
Now you know. The six signals. The threshold. The timeline. The difference between fundable and bankable.
Understanding changes everything.
Ready to See Where You Stand?
Run your bankability scan. See exactly what tier you're in and what's keeping you there.
150+ data points. 6 signal areas. One clear path forward.
5 minutes • No credit check • See what's blocking you
Already know you need to move up tiers?
Fundabl is a fintech company that provides greater access to credit, capital, and entrepreneurship for consumers and small businesses nationwide
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