Alternatives to Shawbrook Bank
4 UK business loan alternatives to Shawbrook Bank, compared on product type, ticket band, rate, decision speed and eligibility.
Shawbrook Bank vs the 4 alternatives
| Shawbrook Bank | Allica Bank | OakNorth | Aldermore | Funding Circle | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Product | Term loans, asset finance, commercial property | SME term loan + commercial mortgage | SME term loan + bridging | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages | Term loan |
| Ticket | £25k to £25m | £150k to £5m | £500k to £50m+ | £25k to £5m | £10k to £500k |
| Rate | Bespoke | From 7.99% APR | Bespoke | From 7.5% APR equivalent | 6.9% to 26.9% APR |
| Decision | 7 to 14 business days | 5 to 10 business days | 7 to 14 business days | 5 to 10 business days | 1 to 3 business days |
| Soft search | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Rating | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.3 |
Allica Bank
5 to 10 business days · From 7.99% APRAllica Bank is a PRA-regulated UK challenger bank founded 2019, focused on the £150k to £5m SME ticket band that mainstream high-street banks have abandoned. Rates start from 7.99% APR for SME term loans and commercial m
OakNorth
7 to 14 business days · BespokeOakNorth Bank is a PRA-regulated UK bank founded 2015 that lends to established SMEs at the £500k to £50m+ ticket band, including bespoke commercial term loans, acquisition finance and bridging. Pricing is bespoke and st
Aldermore
5 to 10 business days · From 7.5% APR equivalentSpecialist UK SME challenger bank with strong asset finance, invoice finance and commercial mortgage lines. Owned by FirstRand. Established broker channel; not a self-serve fintech experience.
Funding Circle
1 to 3 business days · 6.9% to 26.9% APRFunding Circle is the largest UK SME term-loan platform, founded 2010, FCA regulated, with tickets from £10k to £500k and decisions in one to three business days. The published rate range (6.9% to 26.9% APR) is wide, so
Frequently asked questions
What are the main alternatives to Shawbrook Bank?
The closest UK alternatives are Allica Bank, OakNorth, Aldermore and Funding Circle. Each is compared above on product type, ticket band, typical rate, decision speed and eligibility so you can match a lender to your deal size and credit profile.
How does Shawbrook Bank compare on ticket size and rate?
Shawbrook Bank offers term loans, asset finance, commercial property from £25k to £25m at a typical Bespoke. The alternatives in the table span different ticket bands and rate ranges, so the right fit depends on how much you need to borrow and your trading profile.
How quickly does Shawbrook Bank make a decision?
Shawbrook Bank typically reaches a decision in 7 to 14 business days. Decision times for the alternatives are listed in the comparison table; faster is not always cheaper, so weigh speed against rate and ticket fit.
Does Shawbrook Bank do a soft-search quote?
Shawbrook Bank does not offer a soft-search quote at the eligibility stage. Among the alternatives, Funding Circle offer a soft-search quote.
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Get quotes →Last reviewed: 2026-04-26. Editorial by Oliver Mackman.