Lender review · International factoring and trade finance

FGI Finance

3.8 / 5 £500k to £20m · 2 to 4 weeks

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.

OM

Oliver Mackman

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: 8 May 2026

At a glance

Product
International factoring and trade finance
Ticket size
£500k to £20m
Typical rate
Quoted at offer
Decision time
2 to 4 weeks
Soft search at quote
No
Limited companies only
Yes
FCA regulated
No
Companies House
OC332029
Founded
2007

Scores against our methodology

  • Rate transparency3/5
  • Eligibility clarity3/5
  • Decision speed2/5
  • Decline handling4/5

Full methodology.

How FGI Finance works

FGI Finance operates as a international factoring and trade finance provider in the UK SMB market. 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.

The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £500k to £20m band, decisions land within 2 to 4 weeks, and the published rate range is Quoted at offer. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Like most UK lenders to limited companies, the standard SMB lending sits outside the FCA perimeter.

Where FGI Finance fits best: uk exporters with overseas debtors, importer trade finance lines, cross-border receivables. Where it does not fit: sub-£500k tickets, pure domestic uk ledger, speed-critical cases.

Pricing examples

Worked examples using FGI Finance's published rate range (Quoted at offer). This lender prices by factor rate or bespoke quote, so we show the structure, not a worked APR.

Ticket Term Estimated total cost Approx monthly
£25,000 24 months See lender quote See lender quote
£50,000 36 months See lender quote See lender quote
£100,000 48 months See lender quote See lender quote

Indicative only. Confirm on a FGI Finance 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: Sub-£500k tickets; Pure domestic UK ledger; Speed-critical cases.
  • Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
  • Company structure: Limited companies only.
  • Best fit: UK exporters with overseas debtors; Importer trade finance lines; Cross-border receivables.

Pros

  • + Cross-border factoring with international debtor coverage.
  • + Trade finance and receivables purchase under one umbrella.
  • + Will fund debtor concentrations that UK-only factors decline.
  • + Mid-market specialist with structuring capability.

Cons

  • − Minimum ticket excludes lower-mid-market SMEs.
  • − Onboarding can be slow for first-time international cases.
  • − No published pricing.

Best for

  • · UK exporters with overseas debtors
  • · Importer trade finance lines
  • · Cross-border receivables

Weak at

  • · Sub-£500k tickets
  • · Pure domestic UK ledger
  • · Speed-critical cases

When to use FGI Finance

Use FGI Finance when

Your application matches the best-fit profile: uk exporters with overseas debtors, importer trade finance lines, cross-border receivables. The published ticket range (£500k to £20m) covers your ask, the decision speed (2 to 4 weeks) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Quoted at offer) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.

Do not use FGI Finance when

Your profile sits in the weak-at list: sub-£500k tickets, pure domestic uk ledger, speed-critical cases. FGI Finance 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 FGI Finance as a screen.

FAQs

What is the minimum trading time for FGI Finance?

FGI Finance 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 FGI Finance require a personal guarantee?

Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. FGI Finance 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 international factoring and trade finance specifically, expect a PG to be requested.

How fast does FGI Finance fund?

FGI Finance quotes 2 to 4 weeks 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 FGI Finance?

FGI Finance's published range is Quoted at offer. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 3/5 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 FGI Finance declines me?

If FGI Finance 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. FGI Finance scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.

Where to apply

Apply directly via fgiww.com, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just FGI Finance.

Specialty alternatives

See all lender reviews for alternatives.

Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: fgiww.com.

Trusted comparison data sourced from

UK FinanceABFABusiness MoneyFundInvoiceBCR PublishingThe Gazette
85 providers compared Updated April 2026 Independent editorial