re: If you received $500K, how would you invest it?

On banks--they are like lawyers to me. You got to find what they like to do. Every bank will take your application. Many will turn you down simply because they lack expertise in the investment you want to make. Few will admit that.

Before you ever even start a loan application understand if the bank you are applying at does any significant business in the kind of loan you are applying for. Don't even take a commercial real estate loan to a bank that focuses on consumer loans for example. (Even though Capital One is a credit card company mostly my experience is they are very good on commercial loans.)

Ask them are they looking for loans and what kind of deals are considered good in their eyes. No need to waste your time with a bank salesman if he can't give you good answers.