Lender review · Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
Aldermore
- Reviewed April 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 00947662
- Methodology Public
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.
Director, BestBusinessLoans
Oliver leads BestBusinessLoans's editorial reviews and methodology. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender research, rate verification and review independence.
Last reviewed: 26 April 2026
At a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- Ticket size
- £25k to £5m
- Typical rate
- From 7.5% APR equivalent
- Decision time
- 5 to 10 business days
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- Yes
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
- Companies House
- 00947662
- Founded
- 2009
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency4/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed3/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Aldermore works
Aldermore operates as a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages provider in the UK SMB market. 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.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £25k to £5m band, decisions land within 5 to 10 business days, and the published rate range is From 7.5% APR equivalent. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Aldermore is FCA regulated.
Where Aldermore fits best: asset-finance and if deals, commercial property £150k+, broker-introduced deals. Where it does not fit: self-serve consumer journey, sub-£25k tickets, sole traders.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Aldermore's published rate range (From 7.5% APR equivalent). Simple-interest approximation, mid-band rate. Real offers will differ and should be confirmed on the lender quote.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | £28,750 | £1,198 |
| £50,000 | 36 months | £61,250 | £1,701 |
| £100,000 | 48 months | £130,000 | £2,708 |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Aldermore quote.
Eligibility
- Trading time: typically 12 to 24 months minimum for the cleanest pricing.
- Turnover floor: not always published. As a working figure, expect a £100k+ turnover requirement for term loans of £50k+. Smaller tickets and MCA structures have lower floors.
- Sector exclusions: Self-serve consumer journey; Sub-£25k tickets.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: Asset-finance and IF deals; Commercial property £150k+; Broker-introduced deals.
Pros
- + Specialist asset finance and IF lines.
- + Strong commercial mortgage product.
- + Established underwriting team with sector specialism.
- + PRA-regulated bank.
Cons
- − Slower than fintech alternatives.
- − Hard search at full application.
- − Not self-serve; broker-introduced or relationship-led.
Best for
- · Asset-finance and IF deals
- · Commercial property £150k+
- · Broker-introduced deals
Weak at
- · Self-serve consumer journey
- · Sub-£25k tickets
- · Sole traders
When to use Aldermore
Use Aldermore when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: asset-finance and if deals, commercial property £150k+, broker-introduced deals. The published ticket range (£25k to £5m) covers your ask, the decision speed (5 to 10 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (From 7.5% APR equivalent) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Aldermore when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: self-serve consumer journey, sub-£25k tickets, sole traders. Aldermore will likely decline, and the decline itself can sit on broker records for 90 days. If you have any of these flags, route directly to a specialist (post-decline lender, MCA against card flow, asset-backed alternative) rather than using Aldermore as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Aldermore?
Aldermore typically asks for 12 to 24 months of trading. Newer businesses can sometimes qualify against alternative underwriting (card flow for MCA, asset security for asset finance), but the cleanest pricing tends to require two full sets of accounts.
Does Aldermore require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Aldermore is no exception in the standard case. The few exceptions: asset-backed lending where the asset itself stands as security, and a small number of MCA structures where card flow is the underwriting basis. For asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Aldermore fund?
Aldermore quotes 5 to 10 business days for an underwriting decision. Funding to bank account typically follows within one to three working days of acceptance, subject to KYC, signed documents, and (where applicable) registration of any debenture or charge.
What rate should I expect from Aldermore?
Aldermore's published range is From 7.5% APR equivalent. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 4/5 in our methodology. Expect the cleaner end of the band only if you have 2+ years of trading, clean credit, and turnover comfortably above the lender's stated floor.
What happens if Aldermore declines me?
If Aldermore declines, you have three realistic next steps. First, ask for the decline reason in writing, most reputable UK lenders will tell you. Second, route the application to a specialist post-decline lender (Bizcap, JPM Capital, Bolton Finance) where credit issues are the constraint, or to an asset-backed alternative where security is available. Third, use a broker panel to fan the application across the lenders most likely to accept your specific decline reason. Aldermore scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.aldermore.co.uk/business-finance, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Aldermore.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Aldermore compared head-to-head
Side-by-side breakdowns of rate, ticket band, decision speed, eligibility and best-fit for UK SMEs.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 26 April 2026. Lender website: www.aldermore.co.uk/business-finance.