Private Jet Lenders in the US Compared for Buyers
Compare leading US private jet lenders for aircraft purchases, including PNC, Global Jet Capital, Bank of America, Citizens, 1st Source and other aviation finance providers.
Private Jet Financing in the United States
Private jet buyers in the United States can choose between specialist aviation lenders, commercial banks, private banks and non-bank aircraft finance companies.
The lender matters because aircraft loans are underwritten around more than borrower income and credit quality. Aircraft age, model liquidity, maintenance status, engine programs, intended operation, residual value, ownership structure and FAA documentation can all influence the financing.
A Gulfstream buyer purchasing a $30 million large-cabin aircraft will therefore encounter a different lending market from an entrepreneur financing a $4 million Citation or a company acquiring a turboprop for Part 91 operations.
Buyers should also compare financing against the alternatives discussed in ACMI World's guide to aircraft acquisition financing and our analysis of private jet leasing versus ownership .
The Shortlist
PNC Aviation Finance stands out for aircraft-backed structures with limited or no financial disclosure. Global Jet Capital is particularly relevant for larger transactions, high-LTV financing, leases and new-aircraft progress payments.
Bank of America and Citizens become especially relevant for larger corporate and high-net-worth transactions requiring sophisticated loan or lease structures. 1st Source and Enterprise Bank & Trust offer dedicated aviation teams for buyers who want specialized aircraft expertise inside a bank.
Major US Private Jet Lenders Compared
| Provider | Potential Fit | Structures | Publicly Stated Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Aviation Finance | Part 91 buyers, entrepreneurs, corporations | Asset-based and traditional aircraft loans | Asset-only structures and traditional loans up to 100% LTV |
| Global Jet Capital | Large transactions, corporations, UHNW buyers | Loans, finance leases, operating leases, sale-leasebacks | 5–12 year loan terms, up to 100% financing in certain structures |
| Bank of America Global Corporate Aircraft Finance | HNW buyers, private companies, Fortune 1000 corporations | Debt, tax leases, synthetic operating leases | Preferred transactions of $5 million or more |
| Citizens Asset Finance | Corporate aviation and sophisticated transactions | Debt, refinancing, non-recourse debt, tax and synthetic leases | Also offers progress-payment financing |
| 1st Source Bank | Small and midsize corporate jets, turboprops, private operators | Customized aircraft loans and finance structures | Typical aircraft financing from $500,000 to $15 million+ |
| Enterprise Bank & Trust | Private owners, aviation companies, dealers and brokers | Tailored aircraft lending | Dedicated aviation finance team and transaction-specific structures |
| First Citizens Bank | Private banking clients and complex personal balance sheets | Customized private aircraft lending | Aircraft debt integrated into broader wealth strategy |
| Truist Wealth | High-net-worth relationship clients | Customized aircraft lending | Loan structures coordinated with liquidity and wealth planning |
PNC Aviation Finance
PNC Aviation Finance has one of the clearest aircraft-specific lending programs among major US banks.
PNC says it will consider corporate jets, business jets and turboprops up to 20 years old. The aircraft must primarily be used for business and personal purposes under Part 91. PNC does not use this program for commercial aircraft or piston aircraft.
Its most distinctive offering is an asset-based structure under which recourse can be limited to the aircraft. PNC publicly advertises options that can require no financial statements, tax returns, personal guarantees or financial covenants.
Traditional credit structures can reach up to 100% loan-to-value and amortization as long as 20 years, although actual terms remain dependent on the borrower and aircraft.
Strong Fit
Buyers with strong aircraft collateral who want to minimize personal or corporate financial disclosure should put PNC high on the initial lender list.
Global Jet Capital
Global Jet Capital differs from most of the institutions on this list because business aviation finance is its core business rather than one product inside a larger bank.
The company offers traditional debt, finance leases, operating leases and sale-leaseback structures. Its published debt programs include fixed-rate structures, terms generally between five and 12 years and financing that can reach 100% of aircraft value in qualifying transactions.
Global Jet Capital also states that it does not require borrowers to maintain unrelated assets under management or other banking relationships. That can be significant for wealthy buyers who do not want to transfer an investment portfolio simply to obtain an aircraft loan.
Another differentiator is progress-payment financing. New Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault and other large business jets can require substantial manufacturer deposits long before delivery. Global Jet Capital can finance those pre-delivery payments and transition the exposure into a loan or lease when the aircraft delivers.
Bank of America Global Corporate Aircraft Finance
Bank of America Global Corporate Aircraft Finance is positioned toward larger aircraft transactions and financially sophisticated buyers.
The division serves high-net-worth individuals, privately held companies and large public corporations. Bank of America publicly identifies transactions of $5 million or more as its preferred segment.
Available structures include traditional aircraft debt, tax operating leases and synthetic operating leases with fixed or floating rates.
The bank also maintains specialized aviation personnel covering underwriting, aircraft appraisal, maintenance inspection, documentation and remarketing. That infrastructure becomes increasingly relevant on large Gulfstream, Bombardier and Falcon transactions where aircraft condition and residual value can materially affect credit decisions.
Citizens Asset Finance
Citizens Asset Finance maintains a dedicated US business aviation finance team and offers a broad range of corporate aircraft structures.
Those include traditional debt, refinancing, non-recourse debt, tax leases, synthetic leases and progress-payment financing.
That menu makes Citizens especially relevant where the buyer is considering both ownership and leasing structures rather than simply asking which bank offers the lowest conventional aircraft loan rate.
The Cheapest Rate Is Not Always the Cheapest Aircraft Financing
Buyers should compare advance rate, amortization, balloon payment, recourse, guarantees, prepayment provisions, aircraft eligibility, appraisal requirements, deposits, relationship requirements and closing costs alongside the stated interest rate.
1st Source Bank
1st Source Bank has a dedicated aircraft finance division serving private and corporate owners as well as commercial operators.
The bank finances business jets, turboprops and helicopters and publicly states that typical aircraft finance amounts range from approximately $500,000 to well above $15 million.
Its FAQ states that aircraft loans commonly use terms of up to five years with amortization up to 15 years, while longer amortization can be considered with a larger down payment.
1st Source is particularly relevant for buyers of small- and medium-cabin aircraft who want a bank with an established aviation specialty rather than relying on a local commercial banker who finances aircraft only occasionally.
Enterprise Bank & Trust
Enterprise Bank & Trust Aircraft Finance operates a dedicated aviation lending group with more than 50 years of combined industry experience.
Enterprise emphasizes tailored lending and transaction execution rather than publishing a standardized aircraft-loan matrix. Its aviation team works with aircraft buyers, dealers and brokers through inspection, underwriting and closing.
This can appeal to privately held businesses and entrepreneurs who value direct access to the decision-making team and need the lender to understand the commercial reason for owning the aircraft as well as the underlying collateral.
First Citizens and Truist for Wealth Clients
Some jet buyers prefer to finance the aircraft through the institution already managing their broader financial relationship.
First Citizens explicitly offers private aircraft finance through its customized lending practice. The bank approaches aircraft debt as part of a client's wider balance sheet, liquidity requirements and wealth strategy.
Truist Wealth takes a similar approach through specialized lending for aircraft and other high-value assets. These relationship-bank structures can make sense where the buyer already maintains substantial assets, deposits or business relationships with the institution.
Financing Structure
Specialist Aircraft Lender or Relationship Bank?
Specialist aviation lender
- Detailed familiarity with aircraft values.
- Greater comfort with unusual ownership structures.
- Aircraft-specific underwriting teams.
- Potential access to operating and finance leases.
- May finance progress payments for new aircraft.
- Often less dependent on unrelated banking relationships.
Private or commercial bank
- Can evaluate the complete personal or corporate balance sheet.
- Existing deposits and investments can strengthen the relationship.
- Aircraft debt can sit beside other credit facilities.
- Potentially attractive pricing for major relationship clients.
- Private banking and estate planning can be coordinated.
- The aircraft may be only one component of a much larger banking relationship.
What US Private Jet Lenders Actually Underwrite
A competitive aircraft loan request normally needs to address both borrower credit and aircraft collateral. Lenders commonly examine:
Aircraft age
Older aircraft may require more equity or shorter amortization.
Model liquidity
A liquid Gulfstream or Citation market can support stronger collateral assumptions.
Maintenance status
Upcoming inspections and engine events affect collateral value.
Engine programs
Enrollment can materially affect resale value and maintenance exposure.
Intended use
Part 91 and Part 135 use can produce different underwriting outcomes.
Borrower liquidity
Liquidity after closing can matter as much as the purchase deposit.
What Buyers Should Compare Between Aircraft Loan Offers
Interest rate matters, but it is only one part of the financing economics. Two lenders can quote similar rates while offering materially different overall transactions.
| Term | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Loan-to-value | Determines the cash equity required at closing. |
| Amortization | Controls monthly debt service and outstanding principal over time. |
| Loan maturity | Determines when refinancing or a balloon payment may be required. |
| Recourse | Determines whether exposure extends beyond the aircraft collateral. |
| Prepayment provisions | Important if the aircraft may be sold or refinanced before maturity. |
| AUM requirements | Some private banks may expect broader investment or deposit relationships. |
| Aircraft eligibility | Model, age and intended use can determine whether the lender will finance the asset at all. |
Which Private Jet Lender Should a US Buyer Approach?
PNC deserves particular attention for Part 91 buyers seeking aircraft-backed financing with limited financial disclosure. Global Jet Capital is one of the more relevant specialist options for large business jets, high-LTV structures, leases and new-aircraft progress payments.
Bank of America and Citizens are strong candidates for larger corporate transactions where tax, accounting, leasing and capital structure considerations extend beyond a standard term loan.
1st Source and Enterprise Bank & Trust are worth considering when the buyer wants a specialized aviation banking team, particularly in the small- and midsize business aircraft market.
Buyers with major private banking relationships should also compare First Citizens, Truist and their existing wealth institution before moving assets solely to obtain aircraft financing.
Private Jet Financing FAQ
How much down payment is required to finance a private jet?
The requirement varies materially by lender, borrower and aircraft. Some traditional transactions require meaningful borrower equity, while specialized lenders advertise structures approaching 100% financing for qualifying borrowers and aircraft.
How long can a private jet loan be amortized?
Amortization can extend well beyond the contractual loan maturity. Certain lenders publish amortization periods up to 15 or 20 years for qualifying aircraft, while the actual loan may mature earlier and require refinancing or a balloon payment.
Can you finance a used private jet?
Yes. Most specialist aircraft lenders finance both new and pre-owned aircraft. Aircraft age, inspection status, engine programs, maintenance history and resale liquidity influence the available leverage and amortization.
Can a private jet loan be non-recourse?
Certain lenders offer non-recourse or limited-recourse structures. PNC publicly offers aircraft-backed programs with limited, no personal or no corporate guaranty options, while Citizens also identifies non-recourse aircraft debt among its financing products.
Can a lender finance the deposits on a new private jet?
Yes. Specialized providers including Global Jet Capital and Citizens offer progress-payment financing that can fund manufacturer deposits before delivery and transition into longer-term financing when the aircraft is completed.
Compare the Financing Before Signing the Aircraft Purchase Agreement
Aircraft value, lender eligibility, required equity and closing timelines should be evaluated before a buyer commits to an acquisition that depends on financing.
Aircraft Financing Options Private Jet Operating Costs