Despite the headlines, most banks are still actively lending, albeit within a narrower strike zone. In Secured Research’s 2024 study of commercial bank credit leaders completed in July, some key insights emerged:

• 83% of banks surveyed are “actively seeking” lending opportunities for commercial equipment needs—down only marginally from 87% in 2022, potentially better than many anticipate.
• 74% of these banks report their standards for commercial equipment finance opportunities are now “somewhat more conservative” to “significantly more conservative” than in 2022.
• 81% of banks noted that any deposit opportunities accompanying loans would “significantly impact” their desire to earn the customer’s business—up from 37% in 2022.

In simpler terms, banks are still in the game but focus on stronger clients, ideally with deposit relationships, in an environment where those clients may be harder to find. However, this reality doesn’t fully capture what’s happening in the commercial equipment finance sector. Below are five examples of creative deals closed by equipment finance companies in 2024 that traditional lenders passed on. These deals demonstrate the flexibility and industry-specific expertise that equipment finance companies bring to various sectors.