Banks are trying to answer one fundamental question: can this business repay the loan? Every report they ask for maps back to that concern. Here are the documents you should expect to provide.

A profit and loss statement (also called an income statement) shows your revenue, expenses, and net income over a period. Banks usually want two to three years of P&L history plus a year-to-date statement. They’re looking at revenue trends, consistency, and whether the business generates enough profit to cover new debt payments.

A balance sheet gives the bank a snapshot of what your business owns and owes at a specific point in time. Assets, liabilities, and equity. This tells the lender about your liquidity, your existing debt load, and whether the business has a cushion to weather slow months. A healthy balance sheet with strong equity signals lower risk.

A cash flow statement shows how money actually moves through the business. Profit on paper is different from cash in the bank. A business can be profitable and still run out of cash if receivables are slow or inventory ties up too much capital. Banks pay close attention to operating cash flow because that’s what actually services debt.

Business tax returns for the past two to three years are almost always required. These validate that the numbers on your financial statements match what you reported to the IRS. Significant discrepancies between your internal reports and your tax returns raise red flags immediately.

Many lenders also request accounts receivable and accounts payable aging reports. These show who owes you money (and how overdue it is) and what you owe vendors. A pile of 90-plus day receivables tells the bank your revenue might not be as collectible as the P&L suggests.

If you’re seeking a larger loan or an SBA loan, expect the bank to ask for financial projections and a cash flow forecast. They want to see that you’ve thought through how the loan proceeds will impact the business and that the numbers support repayment.

Personal financial statements and personal tax returns from the business owners are common requirements too, especially for small businesses where the owner’s personal finances are closely tied to the company.

The most important thing to understand is that the quality of these reports matters as much as the numbers on them. Sloppy financials with miscategorized transactions, unreconciled accounts, or months of missing data tell the bank that you don’t have a firm grip on your finances. That alone can sink an application even if the underlying business is healthy.

If your books aren’t in good shape, get them cleaned up before you apply. Accurate, well-organized bookkeeping services are the foundation of every report on this list. Walking into a bank with clean financials and clear explanations of your numbers puts you in a much stronger position than scrambling to pull reports together at the last minute.