Lendistry, a small business lender and grant administrator focused on undercapitalised entrepreneurs, has secured a $100m credit facility from East West Bank to expand its lending to small firms operating in airports.
The facility comes with a $100m accordion feature, giving Lendistry room to increase its borrowing capacity as demand rises. The funding will underpin the firm’s Airport Concessions Program (ACP), an initiative designed to finance small enterprises trading in terminals across the US.
Although travellers may assume that household names found in airports are corporate outlets, many of these units, alongside independent eateries and convenience stores, are in fact run by local licensees whose economic footprint mirrors that of a neighbourhood business. Despite this, such operators typically encounter extra obstacles when seeking growth capital.
The deal extends a partnership that began in 2025, when East West Bank supplied Lendistry with a $75m credit facility to bolster its SBA 7(a) lending operations. Since the ACP’s launch in 2019, the programme has channelled $98m to airport-based firms across 16 states, and the new capital is intended to help scale the initiative further within a rapidly expanding industry.
Founded in 2015, Lendistry uses proprietary technology and has distributed more than $10.5bn to small businesses, working alongside state and federal authorities as well as major American brands.
Lendistry CEO Everett K. Sands said, “Airport concession businesses are historically undercapitalized due to their unique business structures and complex financing needs. We took the time to learn, then built ACP with the right team and technology to provide the capital they need. We’re grateful to East West Bank for their support and excited to keep working with them to change the game for small business owners and their communities.”
East West Bank executive vice president, head of Commercial Banking & Specialty Finance Eastern Region Andrew Stein said, “East West Bank and Lendistry share a commitment to expanding economic opportunity for small businesses. We’re pleased to support Lendistry’s Airport Concessions Program following the success of our SBA 7(a) financing relationship. As Lendistry continues to grow, East West Bank is proud to serve as its financial bridge, providing comprehensive banking solutions to support its long-term growth and the entrepreneurs it serves.”
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