AB Aviation from American Bank
From hangars to helicopters, propeller to private jet, we do aviation. In fact, we have over 60 years of experience.
Like a new jet, aircraft deals can move fast. You need a lender who knows the aviation market and can get the ball rolling on financing and appraisal ASAP.
We’ve got you. American Bank is a small, privately-owned bank that specializes in aircraft financing, especially light to midsize jets, turbine aircraft, and helicopters.
As an AB Aviation customer, you’ll have our full attention, ensuring a quick turnaround and a custom loan structure designed for your unique needs.
HOW TO FINANCE A PRIVATE AIRCRAFT
As soon as you have an aircraft identified or under contract, your banker starts the valuation process and begins structuring a loan tailored to your finances and timeline.
Private aircraft loans can be complex, but they don’t have to be difficult. With AB Aviation, the process is streamlined. Your banker will always be ready to help.
If you need assistance outside of aviation financing, we can connect you to others in the sector, whether a title company, a board-certified appraiser, or an aircraft broker.
AB AVIATION LOANS AND FINANCING
We’ll help you finance:
- Midsize jets, turbine aircraft, and helicopters, $2MM–$12MM
- Hangars
- Fixed Based Operator (FBOs) infrastructure, aircraft ground support equipment, and operational lines of credit
- New and pre-owned aircraft
CONTACT AN AVIATION LENDER
the time a 13-year-old commandeered his dad's plane
Bruce Erickson was 13 when he commandeered his dad’s airplane, and flew 350 miles east to see his grandmother. Alone.
Son of American Bank founder, Claude Erickson, Bruce had already logged many hours in the right seat in his dad’s Bonanza in the late 1950s and early 1960s, even manning the yoke a handful of times. So after riding his bike from his family’s house in Livingston, Montana, to the runway where Claude kept his plane, Bruce knew exactly what to do.
Bruce climbed into the cockpit and went through the pre-flight checklist he’d seen his dad go through so many times before. The weather was perfect, and he felt confident.
Takeoff was smooth, so Bruce headed east, following Interstate-90 east the whole way.
After landing at the strip outside of Miles City, he called Grandma Hardesty from the airport. She in turn called her daughter, Bruce’s mother Bernie, before driving over to pick up Bruce.
Even with the charming excuse of visiting his grandma, his parents were furious, and Bruce got in big trouble. He drove home with Bernie, while Claude flew the plane home to Livingston, secretly proud of his son’s feat.
He wasn’t grounded for long. Three years later, after formal training and supervision, Bruce soloed and got his shirt clipped by none other than his mother Bernie. He was officially a pilot, kicking off over 30,000 hours flying fixed wing aircraft and 4,000 hours flying helicopters.
We’ve been putting together loans for airplanes since even before Bruce’s flight to see Grandma Hardesty.
When we say we’ve got aviation in our DNA, we mean it.
