Buckeye Business Advantage

Lower Your Business Loan Rate. Invest More in Your Business.

Growing a business takes capital. Through Buckeye Business Advantage, eligible Ohio small businesses may receive a reduced interest rate on a qualifying business loan from 1st National Bank.

Buckeye Business Advantage is a linked-deposit program offered through the Ohio Treasurer’s office and participating financial institutions. The program is designed to help eligible Ohio small businesses reduce borrowing costs while investing in their operations, employees and future growth.

Talk With a Commercial Lender

More Affordable Financing for Ohio Businesses

Buckeye Business Advantage is a linked-deposit program offered through the Ohio Treasurer’s office and participating financial institutions. The program is designed to help eligible Ohio small businesses reduce borrowing costs while investing in their operations, employees and future growth.

Save on qualifying business financing.

Reduced Interest Rate

Program benefits may apply to up to $1 million.

Up to $1 Million

Rate reduction may last up to two years.

Up to Two Years

Work directly with a local Commercial Lender.

Local Lending Support

Could Your Business Qualify?

Buckeye Business Advantage is available to eligible Ohio for-profit businesses. Under the current program requirements, a business must:

Your business must be based in Ohio. Buckeye Business Advantage is designed to support businesses with an established presence in the state.

At least 51% of your business’s offices or operating facilities must be located in Ohio. This helps ensure the program benefits businesses with a substantial operating presence in the state.

Your business must employ fewer than 150 employees, and at least 51% of those employees must be Ohio residents.

Buckeye Business Advantage is available to businesses that are organized for profit. Nonprofit organizations do not qualify under the program’s current eligibility requirements.

Your business cannot have an outstanding tax liability when applying to participate in Buckeye Business Advantage.

Proceeds from the qualifying loan must be used exclusively in Ohio to create or preserve jobs, maintain employment opportunities, or materially contribute to the preservation or growth of the business.

Your business and proposed financing must meet the requirements of both Buckeye Business Advantage and 1st National Bank. Program eligibility is determined by the Ohio Treasurer’s office, while loan approval remains subject to 1st National Bank’s underwriting and credit requirements.

How Buckeye Business Advantage Works

Talk With a 1st National Bank Commercial Lender

Tell us about your business, financing needs and what you’re planning next.

Apply for Business Financing

Your Commercial Lender will work with you through 1st National Bank’s normal business lending process and determine whether the financing may be eligible for Buckeye Business Advantage.

We Submit the Program Application

If appropriate, 1st National Bank submits the Buckeye Business Advantage application to the Ohio Treasurer’s office on your behalf.

The Treasurer Reviews Program Eligibility

The Ohio Treasurer’s office determines whether the business and loan meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Your Qualifying Loan Receives the Rate Reduction

If approved for the program, the applicable Buckeye Business Advantage interest-rate reduction is applied to the qualifying portion of the business loan.

How Much Could the Rate Be Reduced?

A Lower Rate Can Make a Meaningful Difference

Buckeye Business Advantage may reduce the interest rate on a qualifying business loan by up to 3%. The applicable Loan Discount Interest Rate is established by the Ohio Treasurer’s office and may change quarterly for new program approvals.

View the Current Buckeye Business Advantage Rate

Financing Designed Around Your Business

Buckeye Business Advantage is one potential way to make financing more affordable, but the right loan still starts with understanding your business.

Our local Commercial Lending team works with businesses throughout Southwest Ohio, including Butler, Clermont, Hamilton, Highland, Montgomery and Warren Counties.

We’ll talk through what you’re trying to accomplish, determine the financing solution that makes sense, and help determine whether Buckeye Business Advantage may be available for your loan.

Explore Business & Commercial Lending

See lending options for real estate, equipment, business lines of credit and more.

Explore

Talk With a Commercial Lender

Find out whether Buckeye Business Advantage may fit your financing needs.

Let’s Talk

Frequently Asked Questions

Buckeye Business Advantage is an Ohio Treasurer’s office linked-deposit program that allows eligible Ohio small businesses to receive an interest-rate reduction on qualifying business loans through participating financial institutions such as 1st National Bank.

The Buckeye Business Advantage program can apply to up to $1 million of qualifying loan amount per borrower at one time. A business loan itself may exceed $1 million, but the program benefit is subject to the program’s maximum and other requirements.

An approved borrower may participate for up to two years. The underlying business loan may have a longer term than the Buckeye Business Advantage participation period.

Yes. The program is not limited to startups. Eligible businesses may use qualifying financing to support business preservation or growth, subject to program and 1st National Bank requirements.

No. Buckeye Business Advantage participation and 1st National Bank’s credit decision are separate. The Ohio Treasurer’s office does not guarantee, endorse or provide a credit backstop for a qualifying loan. All loans remain subject to 1st National Bank’s underwriting and credit approval.

Start by contacting a 1st National Bank Commercial Lender. If your business and proposed financing may qualify, we will work with you through the lending process and submit the Buckeye Business Advantage program application to the Ohio Treasurer’s office on your behalf.

Applicants should review the Ohio Treasurer’s Buckeye Business Advantage Participation Statement before participating in the program. The Participation Statement contains the complete eligibility requirements, terms and conditions.

Review the Buckeye Business Advantage Participation Statement

Ready to Invest in What’s Next for Your Business?

Whether you’re expanding your operations, purchasing equipment, investing in property or looking for additional working capital, talk with a local 1st National Bank Commercial Lender about your financing needs and whether Buckeye Business Advantage may be an option for your business.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Name*
Preferred contact method*

Section Break

Privacy Policy*

 

Buckeye Business Advantage is a program of the Ohio Treasurer’s office. Program participation and interest-rate reductions are subject to eligibility, availability, Ohio Treasurer’s office approval, program requirements and applicable terms. Loan approval and terms are subject to 1st National Bank’s underwriting standards and credit approval. Participation in Buckeye Business Advantage does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement of the loan by the State of Ohio or the Ohio Treasurer’s office. Program terms, eligibility requirements and interest-rate discounts are subject to change. See the Ohio Treasurer’s Buckeye Business Advantage Participation Statement for complete program details.