Kabbage Review: Small Business Loans & Lines of Credit

Written by:**Gordon Scott**
Chartered Market Technician (CMT)

Reviewed by: Sarah Brooks, Personal Finance Writer and Editor

Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may affect which companies we write about and where the company appears on a page. However, any analyses, or reviews expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been approved or endorsed by any partner.

Our Verdict

A line of credit is the only type of business loan Kabbage offers right now. The major strength of Kabbage is their incredibly rapid processing time. Not only can you get through the application process in a matter of minutes, but, once you get approved, you can expect to receive the funds in a timely manner. Moreover, Kabbage has a minimum FICO score of 640. This means that you can apply for a loan with a low credit score, but keep in mind that there will be a trade-off in terms of loan rates.

Summarized Ratings

Loan Features3

Interest Rates & Fees3

Qualification Leniency4.7

Application Process5

Customer Support4

User Reviews4.6

Perks and Bonus5

This parameter considers loan terms, repayment optionality, and loan limits. For each financing arrangement offered, each of these features was evaluated using the five-point scoring system. Then, the various scores were aggregated and averaged to establish an overall loan features score.

Kabbage gets a 3.0 for Loan Features. This slightly below average score reflects competitive loan terms (up to 18 months), a flexible monthly repayment option, but low loan limits (< $250K).

Limited time $200 offer

For a limited time only, you may be eligible to earn $200. To be eligible for this limited time offer, apply and get approved for a Kabbage Funding line of credit between 6/27/2022 and 9/30/2022 at 11:59pm ET. Then, add and verify your Funding primary account on or before 9/30/2022, and Kabbage will deposit $200 into it!

Terms and Conditions

This offer is provided by Kabbage from American Express (“we”, “us” or “our”). Kabbage Funding™ loans are issued by American Express National Bank (AENB). To be eligible to earn the $200 associated with this offer, you must 1) apply and be approved for a Kabbage Funding line of credit between 6/27/2022 and 9/30/2022 at 11:59 pm ET and 2) add and verify your designated business bank account (hereafter defined as “Funding primary account”) on or before 9/30/2022 at 11:59 pm ET. AENB will deposit $200 into the Funding primary account you’ve successfully linked to Kabbage Funding within 30 calendar days from the date the account is verified. Limit one offer per new Kabbage Funding account. This offer (i) is not available to existing Kabbage Funding customers, (ii) is non-transferable, and (iii) cannot be combined with any other offer except as permitted by American Express. We reserve the right to modify or revoke this offer at any time. You may not receive the offer, if we determine in our sole discretion that your account is not in good standing, has a disconnected bank account, and/or you have engaged in abuse, misuse, fraudulent activity, or gaming in connection with the offer in any way or that you intend to do so. We may also cancel your Kabbage Funding account and other accounts you may have with us. The offer may be taxable income to you and may be reported on IRS Form 1099. You are responsible for any federal or state taxes resulting from the offer. Please consult your tax advisor if you have questions about the tax treatment of the offer. If you have any questions regarding this offer, please call 1 888-986-8263 Monday-Friday 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. ET.

Pros

Great for borrowers with low credit

Straightforward application process

Excellent customer service

No prepayment penalties

Cons

High rates

Complicated fee system

What is Kabbage?

Kabbage from American Express is a FinTech platform based in Atlanta, Georgia, focusing on small business lines of credit. It uses an automated application process to provide loans quickly to qualifying candidates. In 2013, the company began with an office in the UK, but today it is known as a global disruptor.

Small businesses from a variety of industries can typically get a response to their loan application within 10 minutes. However, the ease of access might mean higher interest rates and a personal guarantee. Kabbage provides a business line of credit up to $250,000.

Kabbage Loan Features

Kabbage lines of credit range from $2,000 to $250,000, with six, 12, or 18-month terms. Kabbage also provides a host of analytical features with dashboards and payment processing facilities. You need to sign a personal guarantee, but you do not have to supply any collateral for the line of credit.

As an unsecured loan, business lines of credit provide borrowers with a set limit of funds to draw against as needed. You pay interest only on the open balance and there are no prepayment penalties. Lines of credit are paid back within six, 12, or 18 months.

Term Length	6, 12, or 18 months
Repayment Period	Monthly
Min-max Amount	$2,000 to $250,000

Kabbage Loan Interest Rates And Fees

Loan amounts range between $2,000 and $250,000, with available loan payback periods of six, 12, and 18 months. Instead of charging a regular interest rate, Kabbage charges a fee each month based on your outstanding balance. Each month, you’ll make your principal payment along with this fee.

For six-month terms, fees range from 0.25%-3.50%; 12-month terms range from 0.25%-2.75%; and 18-month terms range from 0.25%-2.50%.

Origination Fees	None
Prepayment Fees	None
Late Payment Fees	A $10 fee for balances less than $100, a $35 fee on balances between $100 and $5,000, and a $100 fee for balances over $5,000
Maintenance Fees	1.25%-10.00% of your original principal per month
Monthly Fee	Six-month term: 0.25%-3.50% 12-month term: 0.25%-2.75% 18-month term: 0.25%-2.50%

Kabbage Loan Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for a Kabbage business loan, the company is going to take a close look at your monthly business revenue, your length in business, and your credit history. The minimum requirements are outlined below.

Minimum Credit Score	640
Minimum Monthly Revenue	$3000
Minimum Time in Business	12 months

Kabbage performs a hard credit inquiry during the preapproval process, whereas other lenders wait to do a hard credit pull once you’ve already been prequalified for the loan. This is something to keep in mind if you plan on shopping around for your loan.

Kabbage Loan Application Process

1. Provide Personal and Business Information

Applying for a Kabbage line of credit can be completed in just 10 minutes. Simply fill out your name, Social Security number, business name and industry, address and phone numbers, and your business ID. Next, you’ll consent to a hard credit inquiry and then you should receive a decision within minutes. If additional information is required, it may take up to one week for a final decision to be made.

Kabbage

2. Link Your Bank Account

At the end of the application, you’ll be asked to link your business bank account. This is done for two reasons: (1) This is where your funds will arrive if approved for the loan, and (2) This is where loan repayments will be made.

kabbage link accounts

Linking your bank account is often the case with any alternative lending source, as it ensures fast and convenient services while protecting the lending companies themselves.

How Kabbage Determines Loan Amount

During the application stage, the representatives at Kabbage perform a hard pull on your credit. While the minimum credit score is 640, they will also examine your credit history to determine your risk and verify your identity.

It should take just a few minutes for Kabbage to deny or approve your application. However, this process can take longer if the system faces issues with verifying your information. As mentioned earlier, Kabbage might also ask for additional information to offer you a more significant credit line. Kabbage will examine your transaction volume, monthly revenue, and credit score to determine whether you qualify for a loan and how much should be sanctioned to you. It also considers the loan term you’re applying for.

Your chances of approval also depend on whether the term lasts for six, 12, or 18 months. Six-month loans are the most common, and the rates vary depending on the month. If approved, you can request a Kabbage card directly from your credit line.

Kabbage Customer Support

Help Center: You can use the Kabbage help center at any time to find answers to your questions. It contains a wealth of information about applying for funding, making repayments, funding fees, and more.
Phone & Email Support: If you’d like to speak to a customer service representative, you can reach out to Kabbage at 888-986-8263 M-F from 8 am to 9 pm EST. You may also contact the lender via email at support@kabbage.com.

There are mixed reviews about Kabbage customer support, with many complaining about long response times. Others, though, praise the Kabbage customer service experience and have no complaints regarding wait times.

Kabbage Loan Reviews - What People Say Online

Most customer reviews highlight Kabbage’s ease of use, flexible access, and helpful service team. However, if you take a closer look at the customer service ratings on Trustpilot and Merchant Maverick, you’ll notice a few interesting things.

Understanding Review Discrepancies

Kabbage has great reviews based on automated invitations that the company sends out to its customers. Specifically, 82% of these come back as “excellent,” and only a few stated otherwise.

Kabbage reviews

However, the picture is completely different with organic reviews, where a customer submits the review on their own. Among organic reviews, 93% of customers rate their Kabbage experience as “bad.”

kabbage reviews

While this does create a huge disparity with reviews from automated invitations, it is important to note that organic reviews are typically driven by people who wish to complain. As such, you can expect more negative ratings rather than positive ones.

While Kabbage does receive positive reviews, the majority of them are negative. This is closely related to the fact that Kabbage was acquired by American Express. The transition wasn’t smooth, creating some difficulties related to moving the funds to customers’ checking accounts. As such, most of the negative feedback is related to Kabbage’s banking side of the business and not their small business loan services.

Trustpilot Rating

Kabbage is rated 307 out of 324 of the financial companies in the Financial Consultant category of Trustpilot. It is also rated 200 out of 207 best companies within the category of Non-Bank Financial Service.

While these numbers aren’t great, it is important to always use your own judgment when evaluating alternative lending sources. Kabbage is still in the process of gaining momentum, and they might offer just the right solution for your small business.

Kabbage Perks and Bonuses

Limited Time Offer

If you’re a new Kabbage customer that applies for and is approved for a line of credit between June 27, 2022 and September 30, 2022, you may be eligible for a $200 incentive offer. Once you verify your bank account, Kabbage will send the funds to you within three to five business days.

Flexibility

Kabbage states that it will work with you in times of hardship to determine a solution. The lender recommends you contact them right away if you find yourself struggling to repay your loan.

Transparency

The Kabbage website is professional and transparent. It outlines the benefits of its business loans and offers a “Get Started” button that prompts you to create an account so you can apply for funding. In addition, the website explains how its fee structure works and features a list of frequently asked questions.

Technology

When you commit to a Kabbage loan, you automatically enroll in Autopay so the lender can withdraw your repayment each month on your due date, making paying back your loan convenient.

With the Kabbage app, you easily apply for funds and can get approved in a timely manner. You may also use the app to withdraw the amount of money you need and keep tabs on your account while you’re on the go.

Final Thoughts

Kabbage small business lines of credit work best for stable businesses who need quick funding and are able to pay it back fast. Kabbage’s monthly fees can be high, so if you can’t pay the loan off quickly, it may be best to look elsewhere. However, if you can manage the cash flow quickly, this could present a great lending source.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are there any hidden charges?

Kabbage has something of a unique business model, but it is 100% transparent. You pay back the principal and the interest on the principal, with higher rates of interest during the start of the loan. There are no additional fees or charges as it is a completely automated process.

Is my data safe when I use Kabbage?

Kabbage only has ‘read-only’ access to your bank account and software accounts such as PayPal and Quickbooks. They cannot withdraw or deposit funds. All data sent to Kabbage uses 128-bit encryption. Lending institutions are subject to strict regulations when it comes to data management

How long will it take for money to get into my account?

The initial application process can be very quick, often within 10 minutes. Once approved, the line of credit can be made available to you within 72 hours. If the line of credit is above $200,000, it will be subject to a manual review, which may slow down the process.

Is Kabbage good for business?

Kabbage is a good option if you’re a business with fair or poor credit and need access to working capital. If you’re having trouble qualifying for financing elsewhere, it’s certainly worth considering. Keep in mind that Kabbage only offers lines of credit, so you won't be able to pursue term loans, invoice financing, or other types of business loans.

Is it hard to get a Kabbage loan?

It’s fairly easy to obtain funding from Kabbage since the lender is flexible. You don’t need perfect credit and can get approved if you’ve been in business for at least one year with a monthly revenue of $3,000 or more. Kabbage should be on your radar if you’re struggling to secure a business loan with other lenders.

What credit score do you need for Kabbage?

Kabbage extends loans to borrowers with a FICO score of 640 or higher. Despite this minimum credit requirement, the lender will also consider the number of years you’ve been in business and your average monthly revenue to calculate your credit limit and fees.

Does Kabbage do a hard credit check?

Yes, Kabbage will perform a hard pull on your personal and business credit scores during the application process. Keep in mind that this might cause your scores to dip temporarily. As long as you repay your loan on time and in full, your credit score should go back up.

Kabbage Review: Small Business Loans & Lines of Credit Up to $250K