Lender review · Term loans, asset finance, commercial property
Shawbrook Bank
- Reviewed April 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Methodology Public
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.
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
- Term loans, asset finance, commercial property
- Ticket size
- £25k to £25m
- Typical rate
- Bespoke
- Decision time
- 7 to 14 business days
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- Yes
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency3/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed3/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Shawbrook Bank works
Shawbrook Bank operates as a term loans, asset finance, commercial property provider in the UK SMB market. 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.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £25k to £25m band, decisions land within 7 to 14 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. Shawbrook Bank is FCA regulated.
Where Shawbrook Bank fits best: £500k+ commercial property, bespoke sme deals, asset-backed lending. Where it does not fit: self-serve sub-£100k, sole traders, speed-prioritised cases.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Shawbrook 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 Shawbrook 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; Speed-prioritised cases.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: £500k+ commercial property; Bespoke SME deals; Asset-backed lending.
Pros
- + Genuine UK specialist bank.
- + Strong on £500k+ tickets.
- + Bespoke deal structuring.
Cons
- − Broker-distributed; needs intermediary.
- − Slower than fintech.
- − Pricing not headlined.
Best for
- · £500k+ commercial property
- · Bespoke SME deals
- · Asset-backed lending
Weak at
- · Self-serve sub-£100k
- · Sole traders
- · Speed-prioritised cases
When to use Shawbrook Bank
Use Shawbrook Bank when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: £500k+ commercial property, bespoke sme deals, asset-backed lending. The published ticket range (£25k to £25m) covers your ask, the decision speed (7 to 14 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Bespoke) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Shawbrook Bank when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: self-serve sub-£100k, sole traders, speed-prioritised cases. Shawbrook 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 Shawbrook Bank as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Shawbrook Bank?
Shawbrook 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 Shawbrook Bank require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Shawbrook 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 term loans, asset finance, commercial property specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Shawbrook Bank fund?
Shawbrook Bank quotes 7 to 14 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 Shawbrook Bank?
Shawbrook 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 Shawbrook Bank declines me?
If Shawbrook 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. Shawbrook Bank scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.shawbrook.co.uk/business, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Shawbrook Bank.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Shawbrook Bank 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.shawbrook.co.uk/business.