Crest Capital Review — Editorial Assessment
Pure-play equipment finance specialist since 1989. 35+ years operating. 650 FICO, 24-month TIB, $10K–$1M equipment loans + leases. Atlanta-based, US-wide.
Crest Capital is a dedicated equipment finance specialist, founded 1989 in Atlanta, GA, operating exclusively in the equipment-secured lending space. Unlike multi-product peers (Balboa, SBG), Crest focuses solely on commercial equipment loans and leases — a focus that delivers underwriting depth on equipment-specific risk. The 8.5 score reflects category-leading equipment expertise, $1M loan capacity, and competitive 6-19% APR pricing on standard commercial equipment.
01Why Crest Capital scores 8.5
Crest Capital is a dedicated equipment finance specialist, founded 1989 in Atlanta, GA, operating exclusively in the equipment-secured lending space. Unlike multi-product peers (Balboa, SBG), Crest focuses solely on commercial equipment loans and leases — a focus that delivers underwriting depth on equipment-specific risk. The 8.5 score reflects category-leading equipment expertise, $1M loan capacity, and competitive 6-19% APR pricing on standard commercial equipment.
02What Crest Capital does exceptionally well
Pure-play equipment finance focus
35+ years, equipment-only. Underwriting models calibrated specifically to equipment depreciation curves.
Up to $1M equipment loans
Higher capacity than Balboa ($500K). Reaches mid-market fleet purchases.
A-paper APR pricing from 6%
Genuinely competitive with bank-direct equipment loans for prime borrowers.
Multiple structures available
Equipment loans, finance leases, true leases, $1 buyout leases — borrower selects optimal tax structure.
03Where Crest Capital falls short
650 FICO floor
Higher than North Mill (600) or Balboa (620). Excludes B-paper equipment borrowers.
24-month TIB minimum
More restrictive than Balboa (12 months).
No working capital products
Pure-equipment specialty means borrowers needing both must apply elsewhere.
Standard equipment focus
Specialty/older/salvage equipment may underwrite tighter than at North Mill.
04Crest Capital vs. category peers
Crest Capital is the established mid-market equipment specialist, competing with Balboa Capital (multi-product, bank-owned) and North Mill Equipment Finance (specialty/used/larger transactions). Crest's sweet spot is standard commercial equipment $10K-$1M for A-paper borrowers.
| Dimension | Crest Capital | Balboa Capital | North Mill Equipment Finance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 8.5 | 8.4 | 8.6 |
| Min FICO | 650 | 620 | 600 |
| Time-in-business | 24 months | 12 months | 24 months |
| Funding range | $10K–$1M | $5K–$500K | $10K–$5M |
| APR range | 6.0%–19% | 6.5%–25% | 7.0%–22% |
| Funding speed | 24-72 hours | 24-48 hours | 48-72 hours |
05Who Crest Capital is right for
Strong fit
- Established businesses (24+ months TIB, 650+ FICO) financing standard commercial equipment $10K-$1M
- Borrowers wanting to optimize tax structure (lease vs. loan vs. $1 buyout)
- Operators preferring single-purpose equipment specialist over multi-product lender
Wrong fit
- Sub-650 FICO equipment borrowers — use North Mill (600) or Balboa (620)
- Specialty/used/salvage equipment — use North Mill
- Borrowers needing equipment + working capital — use Balboa or SBG
06Frequently asked questions
Is Crest Capital legitimate?
Yes. Crest Capital is an established equipment finance specialist founded 1989, headquartered in Atlanta, GA.
What FICO score do you need for Crest Capital?
Crest Capital's minimum is 650 FICO. A-paper pricing accessible from 700+.
How fast does Crest Capital fund?
24-72 hours for application-only equipment loans (under $250K). Larger transactions: 3-5 business days.
What are Crest Capital's rates?
APR pricing runs 6-19%. Standard equipment with strong credit (700+ FICO) prices 6-10%; B-paper deals price 12-19%.
How much can Crest Capital fund?
Equipment loans and leases: $10K to $1M.
Does Crest Capital file UCC-1 liens?
Yes. Standard equipment lien (UCC-1 + title perfection on titled equipment).
How do you pay off a Crest Capital loan or lease early?
Equipment loans: typically pre-payable per contract terms. Leases: depend on structure.
Apply to Crest Capital via Elite Funders.
Submit one application. Real offers in 24-72 hours from a competing lender network. Free to apply — no hard credit pull.
Apply to Crest Capital