We also provide funding to Agricultural Credit Associations, which in turn provide financing to farmers, ranchers, aquatic producers, rural homeowners and rural businesses.  This financing includes real estate loans as well as loans for equipment, working capital and other agricultural production purposes.

Unlike other banks, we offer a wide variety of flexible financing structures.  CoBank has an unequaled track record of service to agribusinesses.  The majority of our agribusiness customers have worked with us for decades.  We understand commodity pricing cycles and how they affect agribusiness and food companies.

CoBank has also supported rural infrastructure cooperatives and companies – including energy, communications and water customers – for decades.  We have a comprehensive understanding of the unique demands and challenges of these critical industries, which enables us to develop effective financial solutions to meet their changing and growing business needs.

Short-Term Financing
CoBank offers loans to finance current or seasonal assets, inventories, accounts receivable, commodities and other short-term needs. The loans usually mature within 12 to 18 months. Variable and fixed rates are available. Many of CoBank's established customers maintain lines of credit for seasonal needs like inventory loans and operating capital financing. Inventory loans include financing for everything from feed and fertilizer to chemicals, tires and lubricants. Asset-based loans can be tailored for many different purposes. Operating capital financing is usually used to meet periodic cash-flow shortfalls or to cover immediate cash needs.

Intermediate- and Long-Term Financing
CoBank also offers loans to meet your long-term business objectives including the construction of new facilities, remodeling or expanding existing facilities, land or equipment purchases, or to finance mergers and acquisitions, long-term assets and working capital. Fixed and variable rates are available, with the flexibility to meet your specific business objectives.  Our loan maturities typically vary by industry to correlate with their differing financing needs.  Working closely with insurance companies and investment banks also allows us to provide competitive long-term private placement financing.

Capital Markets and Syndications
For larger financing arrangements, and when it best serves our customers, CoBank works with commercial and investment banks, finance companies, institutional loan funds and other Farm Credit System institutions to syndicate loans, and often acts as an agent for these transactions.