Frequently asked questions

Yes, completely. The readiness assessment, all six calculators, the lender directory, and every guide on the site are free to use, with no account required. ChurchLend is funded by referral relationships with lending partners, never by charging churches. You will never be asked for payment to see your score or your lender matches.

You control that. Your assessment results are private to you by default. We only share your information with a lending partner when you explicitly request to be matched, and only the details relevant to that introduction. We do not sell your data, and we do not run advertising or retargeting on it. See our Privacy Policy for the full detail.

Yes. We have denomination-specific guidance for Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Reformed, Pentecostal, Assemblies of God, Catholic, non-denominational, and many other traditions, because polity and property ownership change how each one borrows. The assessment and calculators work for any Christian congregation regardless of affiliation.

The score models the seven factors church lenders weigh most heavily, including loan-to-value, debt-service coverage, cash reserves, and giving trend. It is an educational estimate designed to show you where you stand before you approach a lender, not a credit decision or a guarantee of approval. Lenders make their own underwriting decisions, but churches that score well are far more likely to qualify on favorable terms.

You get a 0 to 100 score, a breakdown of each factor, and specific coaching tips on what to improve. If you are ready, you can request to be matched with lenders that fit your tradition, loan size, and profile, typically within 24 hours. If you are not quite ready, you get a concrete roadmap to get there.

About 15 minutes. It helps to have a few numbers handy: your annual giving, operating expenses, any existing debt, your cash reserves, and the approximate value of your property. You do not need exact figures to get a useful first score, and you can refine it later.

Yes, and most leaders do. Your results page is designed to be shared with a board or finance committee, so everyone is working from the same numbers. It lays out your score, the factor breakdown, and the recommendations in plain language, which makes the borrowing conversation much easier.

A low score is useful information, not a dead end. The result comes with a specific roadmap: which factors are holding you back and what would move them, whether that is building reserves, growing giving, or paying down existing debt. Many churches use ChurchLend a year or two before they plan to borrow, precisely to get ready.

Yes. A church mortgage is a commercial real estate loan secured by the church property, with the church (a nonprofit entity) as the borrower rather than an individual. Most are originated by specialty church lenders, denominational extension funds, and faith-based credit unions rather than mainstream retail banks.

Typically 45 to 90 days from application to closing, depending on the lender and the complexity of the project. Denominational extension funds and lenders who specialize in churches tend to move faster because they understand church finances. Gathering your documents early, including three years of financials and board resolutions, is the single best way to shorten the timeline.

Churches do not have a personal credit score the way individuals do. Lenders evaluate the church’s financial health instead: giving history and trend, cash reserves, existing debt, and debt-service coverage. A pastor’s personal credit is usually not the deciding factor, though some lenders may review it on very small loans.

Church loan rates typically range from about 5.5% to 10%, depending on the lender type, loan size, your church’s financial strength, and the broader rate environment. Denominational extension funds and faith-based credit unions are usually at the lower end; traditional banks sit higher. These are illustrative ranges, so always confirm a current quote with the lender.

A church mortgage is a type of commercial loan, specifically one secured by church real estate. The broader category of commercial loans also includes construction loans, lines of credit, and equipment financing. The key distinction from a residential mortgage is that the church entity borrows and the property is the collateral, so lenders evaluate church financials and debt-service coverage rather than a personal credit score and debt-to-income ratio.

A church extension fund is a denominational lending arm that finances churches within its tradition, funded by investments from members and congregations. Examples include AGFinancial (Assemblies of God), the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, and CDF Capital. Because they view church lending as mission-aligned rather than purely commercial, they often offer the most competitive rates and church-friendly terms available, though they generally only serve churches within their denomination.