Press Releases

Innovative program offers flexible loan terms to deliver capital to an expanded pool of small business owners who might not otherwise have access to credit

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 (NEW YORK, NY; ARLINGTON, VA; WASHINGTON, DC) – New York Life and Momentus Capital today announced a commitment of $50 million by New York Life’s impact investment strategy to provide small business loans with flexible terms that are specifically intended to support small business entrepreneurs purchase commercial real estate.

This innovative program, the first of its kind from within the life insurance space, is designed to deliver an incremental source of capital to an expanded pool of business owners who might not otherwise have access to institutional markets. Featuring increased flexibility from a loan underwriting perspective, the program should expand small business financing opportunities for borrowers who often are not otherwise able to access this kind of capital.

“Considering Momentus Capital’s impressive track record of innovation and impact, our partnership introduces another unique opportunity to support diverse small business owners and is one that has strong potential to scale further over time,” said Martin King, head of impact investing at New York Life.

Momentus Capital was selected by New York Life to manage the program and to originate and service Small Business Administration (“SBA”) 504 Wholesale First Mortgage loans throughout the United States.

“We are grateful to New York Life for recognizing how important it is to support small businesses and communities through lending products that expand access to affordable credit,” said Ellis Carr, President and CEO

“We are grateful to New York Life for recognizing how important it is to support small businesses and communities through lending products that expand access to affordable credit,” said Ellis Carr, President and CEO of Capital Impact Partners and CDC Small Business Finance, each of which is part of the Momentus Capital branded family of organizations. The Momentus Capital branded family of organizations also includes Momentus Direct Capital, Momentus Securities, and Ventures Lending Technologies, among others. “This program will particularly help entrepreneurs who are often denied traditional financing.”

“Our goal is to make capital more accessible,” said Ken Rosenthal, Senior Advisor of the Wholesale SBA 504 First Mortgage program for Momentus Capital. Rosenthal is the National SBA 504 Lender of the Year and has more than three decades of experience marketing wholesale first mortgages to lending institutions around the country. “We hope that more entrepreneurs fwill now be able to receive the resources they need to grow their businesses.”

This new product is being offered through Momentus Direct Capital. Highlights include:

• Up to 25-year, fixed-rate loans with a 25-year amortization
• Maximum loan of up to $3 million, with no minimum loan amount
• Minimum FICO score of 650
• Minimum debt service coverage ratio of 1.0x with maximum loan to value of 60%
• Potential use for purchasing, refinancing, or making improvements to commercial real estate for small businesses
• Availability for multipurpose buildings

For more information, visit momentusdirectcapital.com.

New York Life’s impact investment strategy aims to develop, alongside industry-leading partners, broad solutions and investment structures that will continue to deliver both investment returns and inclusive economic outcomes linked to job growth, health and wellness, and personal and household advancement.