Lender review · Commercial finance + asset finance + invoice finance
Secure Trust Bank
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 00541132
- Methodology Public
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.
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 finance + asset finance + invoice finance
- Ticket size
- £50k to £25m
- Typical rate
- Bespoke
- 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
- 00541132
- Founded
- 1954
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency3/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed3/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Secure Trust Bank works
Secure Trust Bank operates as a commercial finance + asset finance + invoice finance provider in the UK SMB market. 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.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £50k to £25m band, decisions land within 5 to 15 business days, and the published rate range is Bespoke. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Secure Trust Bank is FCA regulated.
Where Secure Trust Bank fits best: mid-market ltd companies, invoice finance and abl £250k+, asset finance for established smes. Where it does not fit: self-serve sub-£100k tickets, sole traders, speed-prioritised cases.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Secure Trust Bank's published rate range (Bespoke). 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 Secure Trust 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 sub-£100k tickets; Speed-prioritised cases.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: Mid-market Ltd companies; Invoice finance and ABL £250k+; Asset finance for established SMEs.
Pros
- + PRA-regulated bank, listed parent, stable funding base.
- + Combined IF, ABL and asset-finance under one bank.
- + Established broker channel with sector teams.
- + FSCS protection on linked deposit accounts.
Cons
- − Broker-distributed; direct application uncommon.
- − Pricing only revealed at offer.
- − Slower than fintech alternatives.
Best for
- · Mid-market Ltd companies
- · Invoice finance and ABL £250k+
- · Asset finance for established SMEs
Weak at
- · Self-serve sub-£100k tickets
- · Sole traders
- · Speed-prioritised cases
When to use Secure Trust Bank
Use Secure Trust Bank when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: mid-market ltd companies, invoice finance and abl £250k+, asset finance for established smes. The published ticket range (£50k to £25m) covers your ask, the decision speed (5 to 15 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Bespoke) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Secure Trust Bank when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: self-serve sub-£100k tickets, sole traders, speed-prioritised cases. Secure Trust 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 Secure Trust Bank as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Secure Trust Bank?
Secure Trust 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 Secure Trust Bank require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Secure Trust 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 finance + asset finance + invoice finance specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Secure Trust Bank fund?
Secure Trust 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 Secure Trust Bank?
Secure Trust Bank's published range is Bespoke. 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 Secure Trust Bank declines me?
If Secure Trust 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. Secure Trust Bank scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.securetrustbank.com/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 Secure Trust Bank.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: www.securetrustbank.com/business-finance.