Lender review · Commercial mortgage + asset finance + bridging
Hodge Bank
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 00743437
- Methodology Public
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.
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
- Commercial mortgage + asset finance + bridging
- Ticket size
- £250k to £10m
- Typical rate
- From around 7% APR
- Decision time
- 5 to 15 business days
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- Yes
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
- Companies House
- 00743437
- Founded
- 1962
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency4/5
- Eligibility clarity3/5
- Decision speed3/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Hodge Bank works
Hodge Bank operates as a commercial mortgage + asset finance + bridging provider in the UK SMB market. 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.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £250k to £10m band, decisions land within 5 to 15 business days, and the published rate range is From around 7% APR. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Hodge Bank is FCA regulated.
Where Hodge Bank fits best: commercial property ltd companies, £500k to £5m mortgage tickets, asset finance for established smes. Where it does not fit: self-serve unsecured cases, sub-£250k tickets, sole traders.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Hodge Bank's published rate range (From around 7% APR). 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 | £28,500 | £1,188 |
| £50,000 | 36 months | £60,500 | £1,681 |
| £100,000 | 48 months | £128,000 | £2,667 |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Hodge Bank 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 unsecured cases; Sub-£250k tickets.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: Commercial property Ltd companies; £500k to £5m mortgage tickets; Asset finance for established SMEs.
Pros
- + Genuine PRA-regulated bank.
- + Long-established sector specialism, especially semi-commercial property.
- + Stable funding base independent of fintech wholesale lines.
- + Strong on bespoke commercial property structures.
Cons
- − Broker channel dominates; direct application less common.
- − Slower than fintech alternatives.
- − Pricing only revealed at offer for most products.
Best for
- · Commercial property Ltd companies
- · £500k to £5m mortgage tickets
- · Asset finance for established SMEs
Weak at
- · Self-serve unsecured cases
- · Sub-£250k tickets
- · Sole traders
When to use Hodge Bank
Use Hodge Bank when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: commercial property ltd companies, £500k to £5m mortgage tickets, asset finance for established smes. The published ticket range (£250k to £10m) covers your ask, the decision speed (5 to 15 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (From around 7% APR) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Hodge Bank when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: self-serve unsecured cases, sub-£250k tickets, sole traders. Hodge Bank 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 Hodge Bank as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Hodge Bank?
Hodge Bank 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 Hodge Bank require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Hodge Bank 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 commercial mortgage + asset finance + bridging specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Hodge Bank fund?
Hodge Bank quotes 5 to 15 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 Hodge Bank?
Hodge Bank's published range is From around 7% APR. 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 Hodge Bank declines me?
If Hodge Bank 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. Hodge Bank scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via hodgebank.co.uk, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Hodge Bank.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: hodgebank.co.uk.