Equipment Financing in Northern Trust
Equipment Financing at Northern Trust
Northern Trust's Equipment Financing offers tailored financing solutions designed to help businesses acquire the machinery, technology and capital equipment they need to grow, modernize and remain competitive. Our approach combines flexible structures, industry expertise and a personalized service model to deliver financing that aligns with operational goals, cash flow patterns and long-term strategy.
Who We Serve
We work with a wide range of clients, from privately held companies and middle-market businesses to large corporations, across sectors such as manufacturing, construction, healthcare, technology, transportation and energy. Whether you need a single piece of specialized equipment or a multi-asset fleet program, our team evaluates each opportunity with an understanding of industry cycles, residual values and operational considerations.
Types of Equipment Financing
- Capital Leases: Structured to reflect ownership-like economics, capital leases enable clients to finance equipment with predictable payments and the option to acquire the asset at lease end.
- Operating Leases: Off-balance-sheet or short-term arrangements that provide flexibility for equipment refresh cycles and technology upgrades.
- Asset-Based Loans: Financing secured by equipment and other business assets to support broader working capital needs while preserving liquidity.
- Vendor Financing Programs: Partnerships with equipment manufacturers and dealers to present competitive financing options at the point of sale.
- Revolving Equipment Lines: Dynamic facilities that allow replacement and expansion of equipment as business needs evolve, with streamlined approval for subsequent draws.
- Structured and Customized Solutions: Tailored maturities, payment holidays, seasonal payment schedules and synthetic leases structured to meet unique balance sheet and tax objectives.
Key Benefits
- Preserve Working Capital: Acquire necessary equipment without a large upfront capital outlay, freeing cash for operations and growth initiatives.
- Predictable Cash Flow: Fixed or structured payments that align financing costs with the revenue-generating life of the asset.
- Flexible Terms: Customized maturities and payment schedules that reflect asset useful life and business seasonality.
- Risk Management: Financing solutions that consider maintenance costs, technological obsolescence and residual value assumptions.
- Access to Expertise: Industry knowledge to assess asset value, secondary markets and the most appropriate capital structure for each acquisition.
How We Structure Deals
Deal structuring is centered on clarity, transparency and alignment with client objectives. Our process typically involves:
- Assessing the asset type, expected useful life and anticipated residual value.
- Reviewing the borrower’s financial profile, cash flow projections and collateral appetite.
- Designing payment schedules and covenants that reflect operating cycles and growth plans.
- Coordinating with vendors, legal teams and internal specialists to streamline documentation and funding.
Application and Approval Process
We aim to make the financing process efficient while ensuring robust credit assessment and compliance. Typical steps include:
- Initial consultation to understand objectives and identify suitable financing structures.
- Submission of financial information and equipment specifications for underwriting.
- Valuation and residual analysis to determine loan-to-value and lease economics.
- Term negotiation and final documentation.
- Funding and asset delivery coordination with vendors.
Tax, Accounting and Regulatory Considerations
Equipment financing can have varying impacts on tax treatment and financial reporting depending on structure. We coordinate with clients' tax and accounting advisors to evaluate:
- Capitalization vs. expense treatment for income tax and financial statements.
- Implications of capital leases and operating leases under applicable accounting standards.
- Opportunities from tax incentives and depreciation regimes for qualified equipment.
Risk Management and Asset Protection
Protecting asset value and mitigating risk are core aspects of our offering. Typical protections and practices include:
- Insurance requirements to safeguard financed assets against physical loss and liability exposures.
- Maintenance covenants or inspection regimes to preserve residual value.
- End-of-term strategies addressing return, purchase or extension options based on market conditions.
Why Choose Northern Trust
Northern Trust combines institutional strength with a client-focused approach. Our strengths include:
- Specialized Expertise: Experienced teams with sector knowledge that improve structuring and pricing for specialized assets.
- Customized Solutions: Ability to design arrangements for complex needs, multi-jurisdictional assets and bespoke cash flow profiles.
- Client Service: Dedicated relationship managers who coordinate across credit, legal and operations to deliver an efficient experience.
- Financial Strength: A disciplined underwriting approach and balance sheet capacity to support mid-size and larger transactions.
Common Use Cases
Examples of common equipment financing applications:
- Manufacturers acquiring production lines and automation systems to increase capacity.
- Healthcare providers updating imaging equipment, laboratory apparatus and surgical tools.
- Logistics and transportation firms financing vehicle fleets and handling equipment.
- Energy companies procuring specialized rigs, turbines and renewable energy equipment.
- Technology firms leasing servers and data center infrastructure to support digital transformation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does approval take? Approval timelines depend on transaction complexity; standard asset financings can be executed within a few weeks, while larger or structured deals may take longer.
Can you finance used equipment? Yes. Financing used equipment is common; underwriting will consider age, condition, maintenance history and residual market demand.
Do you offer cross-border financing? We provide solutions for multinational clients, taking into account jurisdictional considerations and regulatory requirements.
Getting Started
To explore equipment financing options, begin with a discussion about your objectives, asset specifications and timing. We assess each requirement individually and propose structures that balance cost, flexibility and operational needs.
Northern Trust’s equipment financing solutions are designed to support prudent capital investment and sustainable growth. Whether acquiring new technology, replacing aging assets or optimizing fleet operations, we provide the expertise and customized financing structures to help you meet your goals.
Address Bank: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Bank: Northern Trust
Headquarters: Chicago
Products: Loans & Credit
Type: Equipment Financing
Banks2go — A Comprehensive Marketplace for Financial and Insurance Services
Banks2go is a user-friendly marketplace that helps you discover, compare, and apply for banking and insurance products in one place. Whether you’re building credit, opening a business account, or shopping for auto insurance, Banks2go brings together transparent information, smart tools, and trusted partners to make selection simple and fast.
Banking Products
Credit Cards- Compare a wide range of cards across APRs, intro 0% APR periods, rewards structures (cash back, travel miles, transferable points), welcome bonuses, balance transfer terms, foreign transaction fees, and penalty rates.
- Filter by your goals—everyday cash back, premium travel, no-annual-fee, balance transfer, or credit building—and see estimated value based on your spending profile.
- Get instant prequalification checks with no impact to your credit score, complete secure online applications in minutes, and track application status in real time.
- See key terms clearly explained: grace periods, minimum payments, credit limits, authorized user rules, and redemption options (statement credit, travel portals, partner transfers).
- Access educational guidance on responsible credit use, utilization ratios, and how on-time payments can strengthen your credit over time.
- Compare business accounts side-by-side on monthly maintenance fees, minimum balance requirements, included free transactions, ACH and wire pricing, cash deposit limits, ATM access, and treasury features.
- Explore value-added services like merchant processing, virtual cards, integrated invoicing, and expense management.
- Onboard quickly online for LLCs, corporations, and sole proprietors with clear documentation checklists and guided KYC/AML steps.
- Connect your account to popular accounting and finance tools (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero) for streamlined reconciliation, payroll, and tax prep.
- View specialized options for startups, freelancers, and nonprofits, including accounts with no or low fees and scalable limits as your business grows.
- Find student-friendly cards with no or low annual fees, simple rewards, spending controls, and features designed to build credit responsibly.
- Get clear eligibility guidance for both domestic and international students, including SSN/ITIN requirements and income verification tips.
- Learn about security deposits for secured cards, credit limit increases with good behavior, and tools that help track spending and avoid late fees.
- Access resources on establishing credit from scratch, protecting your score, and using student benefits like streaming or transit rewards.
Insurance
Auto Insurance- Compare quotes from top-rated national and regional carriers across states, with coverage options that include liability, collision, comprehensive, uninsured/underinsured motorist, roadside assistance, and rental reimbursement.
- Customize deductibles and limits and see how changes affect your monthly premium in real time.
- Explore common discounts—safe driver, multi-policy, good student, usage-based/telematics, multi-vehicle—and understand eligibility criteria.
- Bind e-policies in minutes with digital ID cards and flexible payment options (monthly, quarterly, semi-annual).
- Access plain-English explanations of state minimums, gap insurance for financed vehicles, and when it makes sense to add or drop coverage types.
Easy Selection
Smart Filtering and Personalization- Use dynamic filters and guided questionnaires to surface recommendations based on your financial profile, risk tolerance, and specific goals (e.g., pay down debt, earn travel rewards, reduce fees).
- Compare key terms side-by-side—rates, fees, limits, perks, coverage details, and exclusions—so trade-offs are obvious and transparent.
- Read concise summaries and detailed breakdowns in plain English, with highlight callouts for gotchas like deferred interest, balance transfer fees, or coverage gaps.
Wide Catalog
Broad, Up-to-Date Network- Access a wide network of U.S. banks, credit unions, fintechs, and national insurers—all in one place—so you don’t need to visit branches or spend hours on phone calls.
- See current promotions, limited-time offers, and partner deals aggregated and refreshed regularly, with clear eligibility and expiration details.
- Benefit from standardized comparisons that make complex products easy to understand and evaluate.
Why Banks2go
- Speed and Transparency: From prequalification to application and policy binding, steps are consolidated and clearly explained.
- Education Built In: Bite-sized guides and checklists help you make confident decisions without financial jargon.
- Secure and Privacy-Conscious: Application flows follow industry-standard security protocols, and prequalification tools avoid hard credit pulls unless you opt to apply.
Choose what you need
More than50000
services
Convenient search
The most beautiful site
The site works 24/7