Openness about the particulars of your financial situation can help bankers look past the impersonal statistics alone. If anomalies exist in your business or credit history, point out and explain them before making the credit application. This personalizes the entire process and helps to establish trust between bank officer and business. It is commonly said that bankers don't like surprises, and one of the worst surprises is discovering bad credit. As noted above, a clean credit record is crucial in both business and personal finances.
Banks also look at other standard ratios for credit worthiness.
In special circumstances, businesses that do not meet the usual standards may still be considered. This is common for start-up businesses that lack collateral or significant assets to pay back the loan if the company should experience hard times. Other reasons may also lead the bank to reject a loan application. If yours is turned down, it behooves you to find out why the loan officer thought the proposition was too risky. The bank may even have suggestions on how to make your presentation more persuasive.