Choosing a lender
There are four lender types, and the right one depends entirely on your church. Picking the category is the easy part. The hard part, and the part that decides your rate, is whether your numbers are ready.
Funds like AGFinancial, LCEF, and the Solomon Foundation typically offer the best rates because they view church lending as mission-aligned. They generally only serve churches within their denomination.
Credit unions like AdelFi serve churches across denominations with competitive rates and modern digital processes. Often the best option for non-denominational churches.
Brokers like Griffin Church Loans work with multiple lenders to find the best fit for your situation. Especially valuable for complex deals like construction projects or challenging financial profiles.
A few banks and faith-based lenders like Thrivent serve churches of any affiliation at scale. Most retail banks, though, charge higher rates or shy away from church loans.
By tradition
Each guide covers the lenders, governance, and loan profile specific to that church tradition.
Keep exploring
Go deeper on each type of church loan, plus our ranked comparison of the best church lenders.
How church loans work, current rates, and exactly what lenders require.
Read the guideOur side-by-side comparison of the top church lenders and who they fit.
Read the guideFinancing new builds and expansions with draw-schedule lending.
Read the guideLower your rate, free up cash flow, or handle a balloon maturity.
Read the guideLong-term church mortgage financing, current rates, and requirements.
Read the guidePurpose-built lending to buy a building or land for your church.
Read the guideWhich commercial banks lend to churches, what they cost, and when they beat extension funds.
Read the guideChurch loan rate estimates by lender type, updated daily from Federal Reserve data.
Read the guide