Resources for Small Businesses
FAQs
Commonly asked questions about SBFE.
SBFE is a trade association for small business credit lenders and a commercial data repository. SBFE is not a commercial credit reporting agency and does not build or offer credit reports, scores, or models.
If your commercial lender is an SBFE member, your payment history is reported by your lender to SBFE. SBFE then provides that payment history to the following commercial credit reporting agencies: D&B, Experian, Equifax, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. The commercial credit reporting agencies combine your payment history information with other data sources (such as public record, Secretary of State filings, and trade-type account receivable data) and use all the information to create certain credit reports, models, and scores.
No, the payment history reported by SBFE members will only be found in a subset of credit risk products developed by D&B, Experian, Equifax and LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Each commercial credit reporting agency offers various types of credit reports and scores that are built from different data sources (which may or may not include SBFE data). Each lender determines which products to purchase from the commercial credit reporting agencies.
The commercial lenders that contribute data to SBFE report the payment history tied to extensions of credit (such as commercial term loans, lines of credit, leases, and credit cards).
No. Small businesses are not permitted to join SBFE or report their payment history directly to SBFE.
How the SBFE Model Works
SBFE gathers and protects the largest aggregation of small business payment data in the U.S. and leverages the power of that data to help the small business lending industry build a true and accurate picture of small business credit.
SBFE MEMBERS
As SBFE members, lenders gain access to credit risk decisioning products and services powered by SBFE data, exclusively available through our commercial credit bureau partners.
Credit Bureau Partners
Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, Experian, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions are SBFE's exclusive commercial credit bureau partners. Leveraging SBFE data alongside their resources, they provide SBFE members with credit risk solutions, including commercial credit reports and scores—empowering businesses to make confident, data-driven decisions.
SBFE MEMBERS
Small business lenders and merchant acquirers become members and contribute their customers' commercial credit performance data to SBFE.
SBFE
SBFE normalizes data received from members and governs both contribution quality and compliance.
SBFE MEMBERS
Small business lenders and merchant acquirers become members and contribute their customers' commercial credit performance data to SBFE.
SBFE
SBFE normalizes data received from members and governs both contribution quality and compliance.
Credit Bureau Partners
Dun & Bradstreet, Equifax, Experian, and LexisNexis Risk Solutions are SBFE's exclusive commercial credit bureau partners. Leveraging SBFE data alongside their resources, they provide SBFE members with credit risk solutions, including commercial credit reports and scores—empowering businesses to make confident, data-driven decisions.
SBFE MEMBERS
As SBFE members, lenders gain access to credit risk decisioning products and services powered by SBFE data, exclusively available through our commercial credit bureau partners.
