Rhode Island: business records and regulators
Where to look a business up in Rhode Island, where to search the UCC filings against it, and the offices that regulate banks, lenders and securities there.
Each link opens the state's own site in a new tab, so what you type there goes to that site, not to us. Some state searches charge a fee or ask you to make an account. Privacy
Rhode Island records and regulators
Business search
Look a business up in the state's register of businesses.
UCC search
Find the UCC filings against a business: the financing statements lenders file to record a lien on its assets, such as a blanket lien.
Banking and lending regulator
Oversees the banks the state charters. Check its site for the lender and broker licenses the state requires.
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation: Banking Division (opens in a new tab)
Besides state-chartered banks and credit unions, the division licenses lenders, small loan lenders and loan brokers through NMLS.
Securities regulator
The state office for securities offerings, brokers and investment advisers.
Find a lender in Rhode Island
Official lists of the lenders that work in Rhode Island. Each opens on its own site, filtered to Rhode Island where the list allows it.
SBA 504 lenders (Certified Development Companies) (opens in a new tab)
The nonprofit lenders that make SBA 504 loans for property and big equipment, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA microloan lenders (opens in a new tab)
Nonprofit lenders that make SBA microloans of up to $50,000, from the SBA's own list, filtered to the state.
SBA Lender Match (opens in a new tab)
The SBA's own matching tool: you answer a few questions about your business on its site, and two business days later it gives you a list of the lenders interested; some may contact you. It is not a loan application. What you type goes to the SBA and those lenders, not to us.
Certified CDFIs (community lenders) (opens in a new tab)
The CDFI Fund's list of every certified community development financial institution (CDFI): loan funds, banks and credit unions. Download the list and sort it by the State column.
The FDIC's BankFind: search for the banks with offices in the state.
Credit unions (opens in a new tab)
The NCUA's credit union locator. Credit unions lend to their members, so check who can join.
Before you sign with any lender, check it is licensed: see the banking and lending regulator above, and Check a lender or platform. A few national lenders and platforms are named, with how they were chosen, in the provider directory.
State rules for Rhode Island on our route pages
- Business line of credit: Interest may not go above 21% a year or 9 percentage points over the prime rate in The Wall Street Journal, whichever is higher. There is no limit on a loan of more than $1 million to a business entity, if it is not secured on a borrower's main home and a Rhode Island certified public accountant has first confirmed in a pro forma analysis that it can be repaid. Rhode Island's lender and loan broker licenses do not cover loans to corporations, partnerships, LLCs or other business entities, loans of more than $25,000 to individuals for business, or loans mainly secured by receivables or business inventory. (Rhode Island General Laws 6-26-2: maximum rate of interest; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14-2: licenses required; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14.1-10: special exemptions)
- Equipment loans and finance agreements: Interest may not go above 21% a year or 9 percentage points over the prime rate in The Wall Street Journal, whichever is higher. There is no limit on a loan of more than $1 million to a business entity, if it is not secured on a borrower's main home and a Rhode Island certified public accountant has first confirmed in a pro forma analysis that it can be repaid. Rhode Island's lender and loan broker licenses do not cover loans to corporations, partnerships, LLCs or other business entities, loans of more than $25,000 to individuals for business, or loans mainly secured by receivables or business inventory. (Rhode Island General Laws 6-26-2: maximum rate of interest; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14-2: licenses required; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14.1-10: special exemptions)
- Online business loans: Interest may not go above 21% a year or 9 percentage points over the prime rate in The Wall Street Journal, whichever is higher. There is no limit on a loan of more than $1 million to a business entity, if it is not secured on a borrower's main home and a Rhode Island certified public accountant has first confirmed in a pro forma analysis that it can be repaid. Rhode Island's lender and loan broker licenses do not cover loans to corporations, partnerships, LLCs or other business entities, loans of more than $25,000 to individuals for business, or loans mainly secured by receivables or business inventory. (Rhode Island General Laws 6-26-2: maximum rate of interest; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14-2: licenses required; Rhode Island General Laws 19-14.1-10: special exemptions)
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of State: Business Services (Search the Corporate Database) · checked October 20, 2026
- Rhode Island Department of State: UCC (Search the UCC Database to search and view registered financing statements) · checked October 20, 2026
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation: Banking · checked November 1, 2026
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation: All Other Licensees (lender, small loan lender and loan broker licenses, through NMLS) · checked November 1, 2026
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation: Securities (administers the state's securities laws; investor complaints) · checked November 1, 2026