Confirm the exact product
Find the financing structure on the provider’s own website. A company may publish educational articles about products it does not originate. Look for an application path, product page, program sheet, or other provider-controlled evidence of current availability.
Confirm geography and borrower eligibility
Check states served, property or collateral type, business or consumer eligibility, minimum and maximum transaction size, and whether the provider lends directly to your borrower type.
Identify the legal entity
Look for the lender’s full legal name, disclosures, licensing information where applicable, and whether another bank or finance company actually makes the loan.
Use official registries when applicable
For residential mortgage activity, use the NMLS Consumer Access system. For banks and credit unions, verify the institution through the appropriate federal or state regulator or deposit-insurance source. For government programs, use the program agency’s participating-lender resources.
Be cautious with upfront demands
Legitimate commercial transactions can involve deposits and third-party report costs, but unexplained upfront wire requests, pressure to act immediately, guaranteed approval claims, requests for payment by unusual methods, or refusal to identify the lender are reasons to stop and investigate.
Protect sensitive information
Use the provider’s official website and secure application process. Avoid sending tax returns, bank statements, identification documents, or account credentials to an unverified person or domain.