UK business loan lender reviews

Term loan · £10k to £500k

Funding 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 the headline number is rarely the offered number. Best fit: established Ltd companies with 2+ years of trading, clean credit and turnover above £100k. Companies House 07123069.

Flexi-loan / line of credit · £1k to £500k

iwoca is a UK flexi-loan and line-of-credit provider founded 2011, FCA regulated, tickets £1k to £500k with same-day to 24-hour decisions. The draw-as-you-go structure makes iwoca the best mainstream option for working capital and cashflow gaps rather than fixed-term project finance. Rate is quoted per month (from 2%), not APR, so direct comparison takes maths. Best fit: Ltd companies trading 12 months+ needing flexible draw-down. Companies House 07798925.

Merchant cash advance + term loan · £3.5k to £500k

Specialist in merchant cash advance against card-machine takings. Fast, accommodating on credit history, but the factor-rate model makes effective APR opaque. Best fit for hospitality and retail with strong card-machine flow.

Merchant cash advance · £10k to £500k

UK direct MCA lender with broker-free pricing and no-personal-guarantee options for some SMEs. Sister site to BestBusinessLoans operator focuses on direct relationships, no broker mark-up.

SME term loan + commercial mortgage · £150k to £5m

Allica 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 mortgages. Pricing is competitive and rate transparency is excellent, but decision speed (5 to 10 business days) lags fintech alternatives. Best fit: established Ltd companies trading 2+ years needing asset-backed facilities at £250k or above. Companies House 11470391.

SME term loan + bridging · £500k to £50m+

OakNorth 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 strong, underwriting uses proprietary credit modelling, and decisions run 7 to 14 business days through a real banker, not a self-serve portal. Best fit: established Ltd companies with strong financials and a clear growth, acquisition or commercial real estate story. Companies House 08595042.

Broker / aggregator (not a direct lender) · £500 to £20m (panel-priced)

Tide loans is a broker product, not a direct lender. Tide Platform Limited (founded 2015, Companies House 09595646) acquired Funding Options in 2023 and now matches applicants to 80+ panel lenders for tickets from £500 to £20m, with decisions in 24 hours to 5 days. Soft search at quote. Tide is a designated Bank Referral Scheme platform, useful for post-decline rerouting. Best fit: existing Tide banking customers and borrowers wanting a single broker entry point rather than lender-by-lender comparison.

Term loan with flex features · £5k to £500k

Direct lender with flex features (top-ups, payment holidays, reduced repayments during slow months). Underwriting more accommodating than mainstream term lenders for sub-2-year trading. Per-month rate hides effective APR.

Merchant cash advance and BNPL for SMBs · £1k to £1m

Embedded-finance specialist powering MCA-style products inside platforms (Worldpay, Barclaycard, Klarna, Sage). When you "borrow against takings" via your card-machine provider, Liberis is often the lender behind the scenes.

Embedded MCA / revenue-based finance · £1k to £1m

Embedded-finance specialist powering revenue-based finance inside Amazon, eBay, Just Eat, Deliveroo, Shopify and others. Strongest UK option if your revenue lives mostly inside one of those marketplaces.

Specialist post-decline / fast cash · £5k to £500k

Specialist post-decline lender. Where Funding Circle and iwoca decline, Bizcap often approves. Speed and acceptance come at the highest end of the rate range. Use when other doors close.

Specialist post-decline term loans and MCA · £5k to £500k

Specialist post-decline lender, not an all-purpose option: only consider after a mainstream decline. UK specialist underwriting CCJ-history, missed-payment and bad-credit applicants where mainstream lenders decline. Direct lender; no broker mark-up.

Asset-backed and commercial finance specialist · £10k to £2m

Long-trading independent (since 1987) but operates almost entirely through broker introductions; direct UK SMB borrower discovery is limited. Specialty UK commercial finance with bespoke direct deals on the asset-backed and post-decline ends. Smaller brand but strong on asset finance, commercial mortgages and bridging where mainstream lenders disqualify on financials.

Specialist commercial finance for SMEs · £25k to £1m

Long-trading independent (since 1972) but operates almost entirely through broker introductions; direct UK SMB borrower discovery is limited. UK specialist underwriting beyond mainstream credit limits. Useful for established Ltd companies with a recent CCJ, recent restructuring or sub-2-year trading where mainstream rates apply but mainstream lenders decline.

Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages · £25k to £5m

Specialist 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.

Term loans, asset finance, commercial property · £25k to £25m

UK specialist bank serving £100k-£25m SME and commercial property tickets. Strong on bespoke deals where mainstream high-street rules do not fit. Broker-distributed; not a self-serve experience.

Asset finance, invoice finance, vehicle finance · £10k to £2m

AIM-listed UK alternative finance specialist covering asset finance, IF and vehicle finance. Mid-ticket sweet spot; broker-distributed plus direct. Strong on sector specialisms.

Revolving credit / cashflow facility · £10k to £500k

Just Cash Flow plc entered administration in 2025 (administrators: FRP Advisory). The legal entity remains on Companies House at CN 08508165. Historically a revolving-credit and cashflow-facility lender for established UK Ltd companies; existing customer book is being run off through the administration process. Not accepting new applications.

Unsecured term loan · £5k to £150k

London-based unsecured business lender incorporated April 2023. Eligibility threshold sits at one and a half years trading and £150k turnover. Useful for established Ltd companies wanting a sub-£150k unsecured top-up at speed.

Merchant cash advance · £10k to £500k

Cheshire-based MCA specialist, the trading name of Bizlend Limited. Requires £20k monthly card-machine turnover. Strong Trustpilot footprint for category, with funds typically released inside 48 hours.

Unsecured fixed-fee term loan · £5k to £100k

Windsor-based direct lender trading as Cubefunder. Fixed-fee structure means total cost is set at outset rather than accruing as APR. Open to England-and-Wales Ltd companies trading three months or more with £4k+ monthly turnover.

Revenue-based business funding advance · £2k to £300k

Hertfordshire-based revenue-based finance provider trading since 2014. Markets advances rather than loans (a forward purchase of revenue). Accepts sole traders, Ltd companies, LLPs and partnerships. Three-month minimum trading and £5k monthly turnover. Strong service reputation for its category.

Unsecured term loan and merchant cash advance · £5k to £100k

Bristol and London-based alternative lender, formerly trading as mycashline, rebranded to MCL Finance. Operating since 2017 under Merchant Finance London Limited. Two-product shop: unsecured loans plus MCAs, both up to £100k. UK Ltd companies only.

Unsecured term loan · £3k to £100k

London-based unsecured lender trading since 2020 under Maximise Capital Ltd. Requires 12 months trading and £15k monthly turnover. Personal guarantee required despite the unsecured framing. Tech-led underwriting with same-day decisions.

Short-term unsecured cash flow advance · £25k upwards

Verify before signing: Trustpilot footprint is thin (only nine reviews) and the brand has multiple Companies House entities at the same address. Chessington-based lender trading since 2021 under Funding Alternative Ltd, with related Funding Alternative Group Ltd (CN 11501528) since 2018. Short-term unsecured cash flow advances paid back over three to six months. Sector-agnostic but takes a debenture and director personal guarantees on Ltd deals.

Term loan · £75k to £500k

Edinburgh-based UK SME term lender that launched in 2014 as a P2P platform and now funds via a mix of retail and institutional capital. Tickets £75k to £500k over 6 to 60 months. Eligibility floor sits at 2 years trading, £100k turnover, Ltd or LLP, with a property-owning director PG up to £350k.

Unsecured term loan · £10k to £400k

Peterborough-based UK SMB term lender, subsidiary of a Dutch parent group. £10k to £400k over up to 24 months for UK Ltd companies with one filed set of accounts and £50k+ turnover. Three-minute application, same-day decisions, funds inside 24 to 48 hours.

Invoice finance, factoring, asset-based lending · £25k to £25m+ facility

The UK's largest independent invoice finance provider, part of the Bibby Line Group (Liverpool, founded 1807). Bibby has run as a finance brand since 1982 with the current trading entity incorporated in 1998. Strong on factoring, confidential invoice discounting and asset-based lending across construction, transport, manufacturing and recruitment.

Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans · £25k to £25m+

Heritage merchant banking group trading since 1878, FTSE-listed via Close Brothers Group plc. The commercial division covers asset finance, invoice finance and broader commercial lending. Broker-distributed; relationship-led underwriting for established UK SMEs and corporates.

Term loans, asset finance, invoice finance, property finance · £25k to £20m

London-based alternative finance specialist running unsecured term loans, asset finance, invoice finance and property finance under one roof. Tickets up to £20m via mainly broker distribution. Strong record on cases mainstream banks decline on financial-covenant grounds rather than credit grounds. Note: Nucleus group has multiple registered entities; verify the active trading entity at publish time before citing a Companies House number.

Business credit card with revolving credit line · Up to £250k credit limit

UK business credit card with a revolving credit line up to £250k, launched as a brand in 2012 with the current trading entity incorporated 2015. FCA-authorised for consumer credit and e-money. The closest equivalent in the UK to a US-style business charge card: 1% cashback, soft-search at quote, instant decision.

Asset finance, commercial mortgages, bridging, development finance · £25k to £25m+

PRA-authorised UK specialist bank covering asset finance, commercial mortgages, bridging and specialist development finance. Established 1977 (relaunched as HTB 2014). Broker-distributed and relationship-led. Strong on asset-backed and property-backed deals where mainstream banks decline on covenant rather than credit.

Bridging, development finance, asset finance, structured property · £100k to £25m+

PRA-authorised UK specialist bank with deep heritage in bridging, development finance, asset finance and structured property lending. Original entity dates to 1955; rebranded as United Trust Bank in 2003. Broker-distributed across the property and SME finance markets. Sweet spot is £250k to £10m bridging and development.

Revenue-based finance for online and subscription businesses · £10k to £10m

UK-headquartered revenue-based finance specialist for online and subscription businesses. Pulls live data from Stripe, Shopify, Amazon, GA4 and bank feeds to underwrite against forward revenue rather than balance sheet. Repayments are a fixed share of weekly or monthly revenue until the flat fee is repaid. Note: the operating Companies House entity could not be confirmed in our last verification pass; verify before citing a number publicly.

Embedded finance and contractor pay funding for recruitment and consultancy agencies · £10k to £15m+ rolling facility

Sector specialist for UK recruitment agencies and consultancies. Sonovate funds contractor pay and client invoicing as a single embedded workflow: timesheet approval triggers contractor payment plus a back-end invoice finance facility against the client debt. Operates as software plus credit, not a pure invoice financier. Trading entity Sonovate Limited (incorporated 20 January 2011, Cardiff).

SMB term loans, asset finance, professional finance · £5k to £500k

UK SMB lender originally trading as LDF, rebranded under the White Oak group in 2018. Strong panel relationships with Funding Options, Capitalise and the Bank Referral Scheme. Covers unsecured term loans, asset finance and a niche professional-practice line for solicitors, accountants and dentists. Note: White Oak operates through multiple UK Companies House entities (CBILS-vehicle SPVs, NO.4, NO.5 and group companies); confirm the operating trading entity at publish time before citing a Companies House number.

Mid-market SME term loans (now part of Shawbrook Group) · £1m to £15m

Mid-market SME term lender focused on the £1m to £15m ticket band underserved by mainstream banks. Acquired by Shawbrook Group in September 2025; the original Business Loan Network Limited trading entity (CN 07248014) is in liquidation as part of the post-acquisition restructure. The ThinCats brand continues for established broker-introduced mid-market deals through Shawbrook. For most use cases, refer to the Shawbrook entry.

Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages · £1k to several million

Major UK high-street bank with a full SME lending book covering unsecured term loans, overdrafts, asset finance and commercial mortgages. Heavy bias to existing Barclays business banking customers and Ltd companies with 2+ years of trading. Branch and online application routes. Useful as the comparator against fintech and challenger pricing rather than a speed product.

Business loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, asset finance · £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities

Major UK high-street bank under Lloyds Banking Group. Full SME lending book for existing Lloyds business banking customers, with unsecured term loans up to around £500k and larger via secured facilities and commercial mortgages. Personal guarantee from a director typical. Mainstream criteria: 2+ years trading, clean credit, established Ltd company.

Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages · £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities

Major UK high-street bank within NatWest Group plc. Full SME lending book covering unsecured term loans, overdrafts, asset finance and commercial mortgages for existing NatWest business banking customers. Female Founders programme adds mentoring rather than relaxed credit criteria. Mainstream criteria: 2+ years trading, clean credit, established Ltd or LLP.

Business loans, working capital, asset finance, international trade finance · £25k to several million

UK ring-fenced bank within the HSBC group. Full SME and corporate lending book with a clear bias toward larger SMEs (often £500k+ turnover) and international trade. Below the preferred turnover band, declines are categorical rather than credit-based. Best fit for businesses trading internationally or banking large customer flows.

Business loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, international finance · £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher via secured facilities

UK ring-fenced bank under the Santander Group. SME lending book covering unsecured term loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages and international finance, with specific routing for Spanish-trade and EU-import applicants. Mainstream criteria: 2+ years trading, clean credit, existing Santander business banking flow.

Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages · £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities

Scotland-headquartered high-street bank within NatWest Group plc. Group lending criteria mirror NatWest, with regional routing for Scotland-based applicants and local-manager decision authority on relationship-led cases. Mainstream criteria: 2+ years trading, clean credit, established Ltd or LLP with RBS business banking.

SME term loan + commercial property + bridging · £250k to £10m

Manchester-based specialist that started as a P2P platform and pivoted to institutional funding in 2022. Now an asset-backed SME and commercial property lender for established Ltd companies. Pricing is bespoke and case-led; not a self-serve product. Strong on property-led deals and bridging with a clear exit.

Merchant cash advance + small business loan · £3k to £500k

Established UK MCA player with a small business loan product alongside the cash advance. Trades on speed and accommodating credit underwriting. Factor-rate quoting hides the effective APR, so direct comparison with term-loan rivals takes maths. Note: the obvious Companies House match (Boost Capital Ltd, 07831099) was dissolved 14 Nov 2023; the current trading entity behind boostcapital.co.uk needs confirmation before citing a CH number publicly.

Unsecured SME growth loan · £500k to £5m

Specialist unsecured growth-lender to established mid-market SMEs across the UK and Europe, capital provided by partner banks rather than retail funders. Bilateral 7-year unsecured term loans for acquisitions, MBOs and growth capital. Long underwriting cycle; not a self-serve fintech experience. Note: multiple Caple-named entities on Companies House; verify the operating entity before citing a CH number publicly.

SME term loan + revolving credit · £25k to £250k

London-based direct lender focused on the £25k to £250k SME ticket band. Combined fixed-term loan plus revolving facility under one credit limit, which is unusual in the UK SME market. Underwrites mid-prime cases that fall between fintech term lenders and high-street banks.

P2P SME term loan · £10k to £1m

One of the few remaining UK retail P2P platforms after the 2019-2022 sector contraction. Funded by individual investors, which means borrowers go through a campaign-style listing process. Suits established SMEs with a clear story to pitch and time to wait for the auction to fill.

Growth term loan + asset-based + recovery finance · £1m to £25m

Rebrand of BOOST&Co (founded 2014, rebranded under Growth Lending in 2022) covering growth term loans, asset-based lending and recovery finance for scale-up and mid-market SMEs. Multi-product platform serving the £1m+ ticket band. Broker and advisor channels dominate distribution.

Commercial mortgage + asset finance + bridging · £250k to £10m

Cardiff-based specialist bank established in 1962, owned by the Carlyle Trust. Strong on commercial mortgages, semi-commercial property and SME asset finance. PRA-regulated bank with FSCS protection on linked deposit accounts. Broker-distributed; not self-serve.

Corporate banking + asset finance + commercial property · £500k to £50m+

UK private and corporate bank serving the upper-mid-market and HNW segments. Business lending sits inside a relationship-banker model rather than a self-serve product. Strong on bespoke working-capital lines, asset finance and commercial property for established Ltd companies with £5m+ turnover.

Bridging + buy-to-let + development finance · £75k to £15m

AIM-listed UK property-finance specialist covering bridging, buy-to-let mortgages and development finance. Tech-led broker portal makes the process faster than most specialist banks at the same ticket size. Property-only; not a fit for working-capital or unsecured business lending.

Invoice finance + B2B BNPL + business loan · £10k to £1m

Originally MarketInvoice (2010), rebranded MarketFinance, then rebranded again as Kriya in 2022. Now a multi-product platform: selective invoice finance, B2B buy-now-pay-later for trading partners, and unsecured business loans. Strong fit for B2B businesses with creditworthy debtors.

SME term loan + merchant cash advance · £5k to £500k

Direct lender that rebranded from Merchant Money to Momenta Finance in 2024 to reflect a broader product set beyond cash advance. Term loan and MCA up to £500k for established UK SMEs. Trades on speed and accommodating underwriting; per-month and factor-rate quoting hides effective APR.

Invoice finance + asset-based lending · £50k to £10m

UK invoice finance and asset-based lender. Originated as Optimum Finance, acquired by North American specialist eCapital in October 2024 and rebranded. Now part of a wider transatlantic platform with deeper funding lines. Sweet spot is mid-market IF deals between £100k and £5m.

Asset finance + commercial property + development finance · £25k to £25m

Solihull-based specialist bank with strong asset finance, commercial property and development finance lines. Listed parent (Paragon Banking Group plc) gives funding stability and filing transparency. Broker-distributed for most product flow; not a self-serve fintech experience.

Commercial finance + asset finance + invoice finance · £50k to £25m

Solihull-based specialist UK bank, listed on the LSE main market. SME lending sits across commercial finance, asset finance and invoice finance. Sweet spot is mid-market IF and ABL deals where mainstream high-street rules do not fit. Broker-distributed.

Invoice finance (factoring + invoice discounting) · £25k to £5m

Specialist invoice finance arm of Skipton Building Society group, based in Bradford. Pure-play factoring and invoice discounting for UK SMEs. Mutual-owned parent gives a different funding profile to listed-bank rivals. Strong service reputation in the IF segment.

Bridging and development finance · £500k to £25m

London specialist covering bridging, refurbishment and ground-up development across England and Wales. Sweet spot is the £1m to £15m residential and mixed-use bracket where mainstream banks are slow and other bridgers are too small. Broker-distributed; not a self-serve consumer journey.

Asset-backed term loans and special situations · £5m to £75m

Mayfair-based asset-backed lender focused on UK and European mid-market situations that mainstream banks have stepped away from. Strong on stretched senior, refinance and turnaround mandates against inventory, receivables and property. Not a property-only bridger; this is structured corporate lending.

Bridging and short-term SME loans · £250k to £25m

London specialist offering bridging and short-term SME loans across the UK and several European jurisdictions. Sits between fast bridging desks and mainstream challenger banks: more underwriting depth than the former, more speed than the latter. Strong on cross-border deals where most UK lenders decline.

Bridging finance · £300k to £10m

Specialist bridging desk founded by Guy Harrington, covering residential, refurb and commercial bridging across England and Wales. Strong technology layer and in-house underwriting keep turnaround quick for clean cases. Broker-distributed but accepts direct enquiry.

Bridging finance · £50k to £10m

Liverpool-based principal lender writing residential, semi-commercial and commercial bridging across England, Wales and Scotland. Lower ticket floor than most specialist bridgers, which makes it useful for smaller refurb and auction cases. Broker-distributed.

Property-secured short-term finance · £100k to £5m

North London principal lender on residential and commercial property security. Smaller book than headline bridgers, which means each case gets direct underwriter attention. Strong on bespoke deals where the borrower or asset profile does not fit the standard bridging template.

Bridging finance and P2P property lending · £75k to £3m

Kent-based bridging lender that funds part of its book through a retail P2P platform. Combines specialist bridging underwriting with a more accessible application route for smaller residential and refurb cases. FCA-regulated; strong consumer-facing footprint.

Development finance · £10m to £150m

London-based development finance specialist with a strong track record on residential, PBSA, BTR and mixed-use schemes across the UK and Europe. Sits firmly at the institutional end of the market: large tickets, long lead times, but real depth on complex schemes. Not an SME bridger. Note: multiple Maslow Capital group entities on Companies House; verify the operating entity at publish time before citing a CN.

Specialist lending (in run-off) · Closed to new business

Masthaven Bank announced its exit from the UK savings market in 2021 and has since wound down. The legal entity (Companies House CN 09660012) now sits under the name Genclose Limited and is in liquidation. Existing borrowers are managed through the run-off; not accepting new applications. Listed here for borrower reference, not as a current option.

Bridging and refurbishment finance · £100k to £5m

Altrincham-based principal lender (formerly Mint Bridging) focused on residential bridging, refurb and small developer exit across England and Wales. Strong service reputation in the broker community, with Trustpilot scores at the top end of the bridging category. Broker-distributed.

Bridging and BTL mortgages · £50k to £10m

North London principal lender covering bridging, refurb and a specialist BTL mortgage book. One of the higher-volume bridging desks in the UK with a long track record and a strong broker reputation. FCA-regulated for the regulated bridging and BTL lines.

Bridging, refurbishment and BTL · £150k to £30m

Mayfair specialist covering bridging, refurb and specialist BTL across England, Wales and Scotland. Notable for risk-priced rather than slot-priced underwriting: each deal scored individually rather than fitted to a fixed grid. Broker-distributed with named underwriters per case.

Property finance: bridging, development, healthcare · £500k to £200m+

The property lending arm of Octopus Group, covering residential bridging, development finance, BTL and a specialist healthcare real estate book. Operates through multiple lending vehicles within the Octopus structure rather than a single legal entity. Institutional scale on the development side; broker channel for the smaller-ticket bridging book. Note: contracting party varies by product; verify the operating entity at publish time before citing a CN.

Bridging and short-term commercial property finance · £150k to £5m

Wigmore Street bridging desk covering residential, semi-commercial and commercial property across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Notable for genuine all-UK reach (most bridgers stop at the English border) and a willingness to underwrite trading-business security. Broker-distributed.

Development finance and residential lending · £2m to £100m

London development lender backed by institutional capital, covering residential schemes from mid-market through to large prime developments. Underwriting depth and track record are genuine; this is institutional real estate finance, not SME bridging. Direct relationship with the borrower required.

Development and investment property finance · £3m to £75m

St James's-based property lending arm of Puma Capital Group, covering residential development, PBSA, BTR, hotels and care across the UK. Aimed firmly at mid-to-large schemes with experienced sponsors. Direct origination team, relationship-led rather than self-serve.

Bridging and BTL mortgages · £75k to £3m

Manchester-based principal lender covering residential bridging, refurb and a specialist BTL mortgage line. Notable for the "RomaFLOW" streamlined process on cleaner cases and a strong service reputation in the broker market. FCA-regulated for the regulated bridging and BTL book. Note: multiple Roma-named entities on Companies House; verify the operating entity at publish time before citing a CN.

Property-secured business and personal credit lines · £10k to £500k

London fintech offering property-secured credit lines and second-charge loans. Originally launched a business credit line product against directors' residential property; product mix now skews more toward HELOC-style consumer lending. Useful for director-owners willing to use home equity to back business borrowing, with the trade-off that home equity is the security.

Bridging, BTL, commercial mortgages and second charge · £25k to £30m

Cheadle-based specialist lender with one of the largest non-bank books in UK property finance. Covers residential and commercial bridging, BTL, owner-occupier commercial mortgages, second charge and development. Fifty-year track record across multiple property cycles. Broker-distributed with a parallel direct channel.

Invoice finance and asset-based lending · £25k to £5m

Chelmsford-based independent specialist running single-invoice discounting alongside whole-turnover and asset-based facilities. The 4Syte umbrella covers a stack of sister entities (Secured, Construction, Receivables, ABL) so structuring sits at the heart of the offer. Aimed at SMEs that mainstream factors have priced out or declined.

Asset-based lending and lease finance · £2m to £50m+

UK branch of the Dutch ABN AMRO group, focused on the upper-mid-market for asset-based lending, receivables finance and lease structures. Not a direct SME lender in the £100k territory: minimum tickets sit firmly in seven figures. Cross-border capability is the differentiator for UK borrowers with Dutch or pan-European trade flow.

Private bank commercial lending · £1m to £25m

London-headquartered private bank with a serious commercial-lending arm covering owner-managed businesses, professional practices and real estate. Banking and lending sit on the same balance sheet, which suits clients who want their main bank account, treasury and term debt with one counterparty. Specialist Finance subsidiary handles bridging.

Property-backed business and development finance · £500k to £15m

London-based principal lender into property-backed transactions for SMEs and developers, including bridging, refurbishment and small-scale development. Bespoke structuring and balance-sheet flexibility on cases that fall between high-street and pure bridging desks. Distribution is broker-led.

Asset-based lending and commercial finance · £2m to £30m

Mid-market ABL specialist running structured receivables, inventory and plant-and-machinery facilities for trading businesses with £10m+ turnover. The original Breal Zeta CF Limited entity was dissolved in April 2025, with operating activity now under BZ Private Credit. Distribution is direct and broker-introduced.

Invoice finance and asset finance · £25k to £2m

Catalyst Business Finance Limited (CN 08230044) is currently in liquidation per Companies House. Historically a Yorkshire-based invoice and asset finance specialist focused on UK SMEs. Existing clients should contact the appointed insolvency practitioners; the entity is not accepting new applications. Listed for borrower reference, not as a current option.

Business banking and SME lending · £25k to £25m+

Clydesdale Bank PLC (CN SC001111) remains the legal entity but the customer-facing brand is Virgin Money following the Virgin Money UK merger and rebrand. SME lending now sits inside the Virgin Money business proposition: term loans, commercial mortgages, asset finance and overdrafts. Old Clydesdale relationship banking has thinned out under the consumer-led brand.

Asset finance broker · Bespoke

Corporate Asset Solutions Limited (CN 05182703) was dissolved in January 2026; sister entities CAS 2 and CAS 3 dissolved earlier. The trading name has appeared as a UK asset finance broker historically. With the legal entity dissolved, status as an active UK lender is not verifiable. Listed for borrower reference only.

SMB term loan and asset finance · £10k to £500k

Creative Capital is a trading name used by multiple UK SMB finance entities, including brokers and intermediaries. The Companies House register returns several distinct companies under variants of the name with no single dominant trading entity, so the operating CN is not asserted here. Borrowers should confirm the underlying lender and any FCA permissions before signing.

International factoring and trade finance · £500k to £20m

UK arm of FGI Worldwide, a New York-headquartered international factoring and trade finance group. The UK LLP runs cross-border receivables purchase, import finance and supply-chain facilities for mid-market exporters and importers. Useful for UK SMEs with overseas debtor concentration that mainstream UK factors avoid.

Invoice and asset finance · £25k to £1m

London-based independent running selective invoice finance, single-invoice discounting and short-term receivables purchase for UK SMEs. Pitched at borrowers who want one-off cash advances against named debtors without committing to whole-turnover factoring. Direct lender, broker-introduced too.

Asset finance (hire purchase and lease) · £5k to £500k

Lancashire-based independent asset finance specialist trading since 1980. Hire purchase, finance lease and refinance across vehicles, plant, manufacturing and yellow goods. Long broker relationships and a track record of underwriting cases mainstream banks decline make it a workhorse name in UK asset finance.

Invoice finance (selective) · £1k to £150k per invoice

Wrexham-based fintech running fully-digital selective invoice finance. Borrowers upload an invoice, receive an advance the same day, and pay a flat fee on settlement. No long-term contract, no whole-turnover commitment. Pitched at SMEs and freelancers underserved by traditional factors.

Invoice finance and ABL · £100k to £15m

London-based independent (often referenced as IGF) running confidential invoice discounting, factoring and asset-based lending for UK SMEs and lower-mid-market. Mid-ticket sweet spot of £250k to £5m where mainstream banks have pulled back. Strong reputation for structured deals on turnaround and complex ledger profiles.

SMB lender (entity not verified) · Bespoke

Infund appears in some UK SMB finance directories but the Companies House register does not show a clear active operating entity under the name. INFUND LLP was dissolved in 2008 and INFUND TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED is in liquidation. Operating status as a current UK SMB lender is not verifiable at the time of review. Listed for completeness only.

Invoice finance (entity not verified) · Bespoke

Invocap surfaces in some UK invoice finance broker indexes but the Companies House register returns no active company under the exact name. The brand may be a trading style of another invoice finance entity rather than a stand-alone lender. Borrowers should establish the contracting entity and any FCA permissions before signing.

Asset finance (hire purchase and lease) · £3k to £500k

Hampshire-based independent asset finance lender running hire purchase, lease and refinance across vehicles, plant, soft assets and IT. Broker-distributed with direct relationships into UK SMEs. Solid track record on cases mainstream banks decline, particularly soft-asset and used-equipment deals.

Asset-based lending (cross-border) · £10m to £100m+

PNC Business Credit is the asset-based lending arm of US bank PNC Financial Services Group. UK reach is via cross-border facilities into UK groups with US parent or sister operations, rather than through a dedicated UK operating entity. Not a domestic UK SME lender. Useful only for upper-mid-market and larger UK borrowers within a transatlantic group structure.

Asset finance (hire purchase and lease) · £2k to £1m

Newport-based asset finance specialist, one of the largest independents in the UK with a heavy push into vendor finance and digital onboarding. Same-day decisions on a wide eligibility envelope, including small Ltd companies and sole traders. Particularly strong in IT, soft assets and commercial vehicles via vendor partnerships.

SME commercial mortgage and term loan · £250k to £2.5m

Letchworth-based challenger bank focused on commercial mortgages, owner-occupier and BTL loans for SMEs and professional landlords. PRA-regulated with FSCS deposit cover on linked savings. Pricing transparent and competitive on £250k to £2.5m commercial mortgages where high-street banks have stepped back.

Short-term business loan and bridging · £10k to £1m

Manchester-based principal lender running short-term business loans and small-ticket bridging across England and Wales. Direct decisioning, broker-distributed, with a flexible appetite on cases mainstream banks reject (CCJs, light arrears, complex security). Common sense underwriting is the headline pitch.

E-commerce working capital and term loan · £5k to £1m

US-headquartered e-commerce financier with a UK operating entity (CN 11951536) lending to Amazon, Shopify and Walmart sellers. Underwriting is pulled from marketplace performance data rather than traditional bank statements, which makes it a strong fit for online-native sellers without years of filed accounts.

Private credit / direct lending · £5m to £30m

London-based private credit manager running direct lending into UK and European lower-mid-market companies. Unitranche, second-lien and growth-debt structures into private equity-backed and founder-owned businesses. Not an SME lender in the conventional sense: minimum ticket sits at multiple millions and underwriting is sponsor-led.

SMB term loan · £250k to £5m

SME Capital is positioned as a UK lower-mid-market lender focused on £250k+ growth and acquisition loans. The Companies House register does not show a single dominant operating entity under the exact name, so the contracting CN is not asserted here. Borrowers should confirm the lending entity, FCA permissions and security package before signing.

Unsecured term loan (closed) · Closed to new business

Spotcap UK Ltd (CN 09351116) was dissolved on 1 August 2023 after the wider Spotcap group exited UK and European SMB lending around 2020. Historically an unsecured term-loan lender for established Ltd companies. Not accepting new applications. Listed for borrower reference because the brand still surfaces in older directory listings.

Trade finance (brand absorbed) · Closed to new business under this brand

Sterling Trade Finance was the original UK trading name behind what became Scottish Pacific Business Finance UK. Companies House records show the original UK trading entity dissolved in November 2024 and the holding entity (Sterling Trade Finance Holdings PLC, CN 06657588) in liquidation. The successor activity sits inside the wider ScotPac group. Listed for borrower reference; no longer a stand-alone brand for new applications.

Short-term business loan · £25k to £500k

Doncaster-headquartered principal lender running short-term commercial loans for established UK Ltd companies, with sister entities for property-backed and follow-on deals. Direct decisioning, broker-distributed. Sweet spot is 3 to 18-month tenor on cases mainstream banks decline for sub-2-year trading or recent CCJs.

Trade finance (revolving purchase facility) · £100k to £3m

UK and international trade finance platform running revolving purchase facilities that pay suppliers directly on the buyer's behalf. The original TradeRiver Finance Limited entity was dissolved in 2022 and operating activity now sits under TradeRiver Capital Limited. Useful for SMEs with international supplier relationships needing extended payment terms.

SME private credit and leasing · £500k to £20m

London-based investment manager running SME direct-lending, leasing and infrastructure-backed credit through a stack of fund vehicles. The lending arm targets established UK SMEs with £2m+ ticket needs across leasing, hire purchase and structured term debt. Not a self-serve product: relationship-led, sponsor and broker-introduced.

Invoice finance, asset finance and bridging · £10k to £5m

Bristol-headquartered SMB specialist running invoice finance, asset finance, working-capital loans and bridging under one roof. Acquired by Tavistock Group in 2014 with subsequent ownership changes; balance sheet remains principal-funded. Strong service reputation in the broker channel and a mid-market sweet spot mainstream banks have abandoned.

Revenue-based finance for e-commerce · £10k to £20m

Revenue-based finance built for D2C, Shopify, and Amazon sellers. Founded in Dublin in 2019, now operating across UK, US, and EU. Underwriting plugs into store data and ad accounts rather than relying on accounts filed at Companies House, so newer e-commerce brands clear faster than they would with a high-street term loan. Repaid as a fixed percentage of daily revenue. Fixed-fee model so the cost is known up front; effective APR varies with sales speed.

Business term loan + overdraft · £25k to £250k

PRA-authorised UK challenger bank offering business term loans up to £250k alongside its business banking app. Lending is gated to existing Starling business banking customers, so it is not a route for borrowers who bank elsewhere. Where it fits, pricing is competitive against high-street term loans and the application sits inside the same app the borrower already uses. Decisions are slower than fintech-only lenders because full bank underwriting applies.

Business loan + creditbuilder + overdraft · £2k to £25k

PRA-authorised UK bank since 2021, operating under Zempler Bank Limited (rebranded from Advanced Payment Solutions in June 2024) but still trading consumer-facing as Cashplus. Sits in the small-ticket business credit space: creditbuilder loans, overdrafts, and small business loans for UK SMEs and sole traders. Useful for thin-file directors and newer businesses where mainstream term loans decline. Cashplus accepts sole traders broadly, so sole-trader applicants should apply direct to Cashplus rather than via this site.