How an Albany, New York Startup Secured a $50K Business Credit Line in 48 Hours

The Story of Kevin Pompey, Arbor Hill Soul Food Owner

Kevin Pompey never set out to be a big-time entrepreneur. He just wanted to feed people the food he grew up on — the kind of slow-cooked, seasoned-right soul food you could smell from halfway down the block. In a little storefront in the Arbor Hill section of Albany, New York, Kevin opened his soul food spot with a small menu: fried chicken, collard greens, mac and cheese, and cornbread the way his grandmother taught him.

At first, he kept it simple. A few dishes, steady customers from the neighborhood, and enough to keep the lights on. But word travels fast in Albany, and pretty soon folks were coming from all over — Pine Hills, the South End, even Troy — looking for “that spot in Arbor Hill with the chicken that’s always hot and crispy.”

With the line stretching out the door on weekends, Kevin started thinking bigger. He wanted to expand the menu, bring in oxtails, ribs, catfish — and that meant more ingredients, better equipment, and extra staff to keep up with demand.

Since he’d always done his banking with Bank of America, it seemed like the natural place to turn for help. He set up a meeting with a loan officer, put on his best shirt, and walked in feeling confident. The conversation started off promising — smiles, small talk, talk about growth and opportunity. Kevin walked out that day thinking, I’m gonna get this loan.

But when the paperwork came, his confidence disappeared.

The bank wanted five years of personal tax returns, five years of business tax returns, 36 months of bank statements, a profit-and-loss statement for each of the last five years, a co-signer, and collateral — specifically, his house. On top of that, they wanted a three-year profit forecast for the future. And even if he handed over every document they asked for, there was still no guarantee he’d get approved. The timeline? Four to six months before he’d even see a dime.

Kevin left that meeting frustrated. Days went by, and frustration turned into depression. The opportunity to grow his business was right there in front of him, but the hoops he had to jump through made it feel impossible.

One afternoon, at a Chamber of Commerce networking event, Kevin started venting to a few other business owners about the nightmare process. Turns out, he wasn’t the only one. Owners who had gone to KeyBank, Broadview Bank, and other traditional lenders told him they’d been through the same drill — mountains of paperwork, months of waiting, and nothing to show for it.

That’s when one of them leaned in and said, “Man, stop wasting your time with the big banks. Go with a private lender.”

Kevin blinked. “Private lender? What’s that?”

They explained it in simple terms: less hassle, less paperwork, fewer restrictions, and a much faster turnaround. Instead of months of waiting, you could get funded in days. And best of all, you didn’t have to hand over your house to get approved.

Finding the Right Connection

The other business owner told Kevin to reach out to Swan Street Consulting right here in Albany. They explained that Swan Street Consulting works directly with ROK Financial to help local businesses get the money they need without all the red tape.

Kevin made the call the next morning. The rep at Swan Street Consulting broke it down plain and simple. To qualify for a business credit line through their ROK Financial partnership, you needed:

• At least 6 months in business

• Your last 6 months of business bank statements

• A 600 or higher FICO score (in some cases, as low as 580)

• At least $10,000 per month in gross deposits

That was it. No five years of tax returns, no 36 months of statements, no collateral. And the best part? You could get approved for up to $250,000 and funded in less than five days.

From Application to Approval in 48 Hours

Kevin filled out a short online application that same day. It took less than five minutes. Shortly after, he got a call from ROK Financial’s underwriting team. They asked for some basic financial information, reviewed his paperwork, and kept him updated every step of the way.

Within 48 hours, he had the approval: $50,000 business credit line, ready to go. Two days later, the funds were in his account.

Putting the Money to Work

Kevin didn’t waste a second. He upgraded his kitchen with new fryers and a larger grill, stocked up on fresh ingredients for the expanded menu, and brought on two new employees to help keep things running smoothly.

Business exploded. The new dishes brought in even more customers, and the faster service kept people coming back. Kevin went from just getting by to planning his first catering gigs and thinking about opening a second location.

Kevin’s Advice to Other Albany Business Owners

“Don’t waste your time with a bank until you’ve been in business ten years and your cash flow is rock solid,” Kevin says. “If you need money fast, go with Swan Street Consulting. They work with ROK Financial, and they make it happen. Less hassle, less paperwork, good people to work with — and you get your money in days, not months.”

Disclaimer:
Swan Street Consulting is not a lender. It partners with ROK Financial to connect Albany, New York businesses with financing options, including business lines of credit, working capital loans, term loans, and equipment financing. All funding is subject to ROK Financial’s review, qualifications, and approval process.