By John Pierre Saliba · April 2026 · OverdraftMe
Written and reviewed by John Pierre Saliba, Director and Senior Finance Broker, MFAA Accredited. Last reviewed 17 September 2026.
A CBA business overdraft typically requires financial statements, lodged BAS and a strong credit file, with property security common on larger limits - and approval runs on bank timelines. If CBA declines you, non-bank lenders assess the same business on 6 months of bank statements, with decisions from 1 hour and no property security under $150,000.
CBA's business overdraft sits behind the most traditional criteria of the big four. Expect to provide full financial statements, up-to-date tax returns and 12+ months of lodged BAS, with property security commonly required as limits rise. CBA's internal credit benchmark is also higher than non-bank lenders - our experience is that scores below roughly Equifax 600 struggle. Current criteria, rates and fees are published on CBA's business overdraft page.
Full-documentation bank overdrafts in Australia typically take 2 to 8 weeks from application to available funds - the process runs through financial statement review, credit assessment and, where security is involved, property valuation and documentation. CBA's digital products move faster where you fit their criteria exactly. By comparison, non-bank lenders through our panel return decisions from 1 hour, with funding same day in many cases and typically within 24 to 48 hours of approval.
Bank overdrafts price in two parts: an interest rate on the overdrawn balance, plus a facility or line fee on the approved limit. Secured bank overdrafts have generally priced in the 8% to 15% p.a. band, materially below unsecured non-bank facilities (14.55% to 25% p.a. through our panel) - the trade-off is the documentation, security and approval time described above. CBA publishes its current business overdraft rates and fees on - always check the live rate there, as bank pricing changes with the cash rate.
CommBank is Australia's biggest bank, but their business overdraft criteria are strict. They typically require full financial statements, tax returns, 12+ months of BAS, strong credit history, and often property security. If your business doesn't tick every box, you get declined.
Common reasons CBA says no:
A CBA decline does NOT mean you can't get funded. Over 60% of clients we help were previously declined by their bank. Non-bank lenders have completely different criteria.
Non-bank lenders don't require tax returns, financial statements, or property security under $150K. They assess your business on 6 months of bank statements - your actual cash flow, not historical paperwork. This means businesses that are profitable and trading well but can't produce the documentation banks require can still get approved.
We recently funded a $275K overdraft for a recruitment agency and a $60K facility for a construction business - both approved within 24 hours after bank declines.
| CBA | Non-bank (via OverdraftMe) | |
|---|---|---|
| Documents | Financial statements, tax returns, lodged BAS | 6 months of bank statements, ABN, ID |
| Trading history | Typically 1 to 2+ years | Overdrafts: guide 1 yr with property or 2 yrs without, strong profiles from 6 months; loans from 6 months |
| Security | Often property, especially at higher limits | None under $150,000 |
| Approval time | 2 to 8 weeks full-doc; digital products faster where eligible | Decisions from 1 hour |
| Indicative rate | Secured bank band roughly 8% to 15% p.a. - check CBA's current pricing | 14.55% to 25% p.a. unsecured, on the drawn balance |
| ATO debt | Usually a decline factor | Acceptable with a formal payment plan, case by case |
CBA's business overdraft is traditionally structured, with property security commonly required as limits rise; check current unsecured availability on CBA's business overdraft page. Non-bank lenders offer unsecured overdrafts to $150,000 on bank statements alone.
Full-documentation bank overdrafts typically take 2 to 8 weeks; CBA's digital products are faster where you fit the criteria exactly. Non-bank lenders through OverdraftMe return decisions from 1 hour, with funding typically within 24 to 48 hours of approval.
Expect to provide financial statements, up-to-date tax returns, lodged BAS and clear director credit files, with property security common at higher limits. Non-bank lenders need 6 months of business bank statements, an ABN and a driver's licence - no tax returns under $150,000.
Don't apply to another major bank - the criteria are similar and each application adds a credit enquiry. Through OverdraftMe, one application is matched against 50+ non-bank lenders who assess on bank statements, with decisions from 1 hour. Check your eligibility in the calculator, model costs in the business overdraft calculator, or call 02 8046 3933.
2 minutes. No credit impact. No commitment.
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