Lender review · Trade finance (revolving purchase facility)
TradeRiver
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 13971261
- Methodology Public
UK and international trade finance platform running revolving purchase facilities that pay suppliers directly on the buyer's behalf. The original TradeRiver Finance Limited entity was dissolved in 2022 and operating activity now sits under TradeRiver Capital Limited. Useful for SMEs with international supplier relationships needing extended payment terms.
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
- Trade finance (revolving purchase facility)
- Ticket size
- £100k to £3m
- Typical rate
- Quoted at offer
- Decision time
- 1 to 3 weeks
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- Yes
- FCA regulated
- No
- Companies House
- 13971261
- Founded
- 2022
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency3/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed3/5
- Decline handling4/5
How TradeRiver works
TradeRiver operates as a trade finance (revolving purchase facility) provider in the UK SMB market. UK and international trade finance platform running revolving purchase facilities that pay suppliers directly on the buyer's behalf. The original TradeRiver Finance Limited entity was dissolved in 2022 and operating activity now sits under TradeRiver Capital Limited. Useful for SMEs with international supplier relationships needing extended payment terms.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £100k to £3m band, decisions land within 1 to 3 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 TradeRiver fits best: importers needing supplier payment terms, revolving trade finance lines, cross-border smes. Where it does not fit: pure domestic uk working capital, sub-£100k tickets, speed-critical sub-week cases.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using TradeRiver'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 TradeRiver 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: Pure domestic UK working capital; Sub-£100k tickets; Speed-critical sub-week cases.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies only.
- Best fit: Importers needing supplier payment terms; Revolving trade finance lines; Cross-border SMEs.
Pros
- + Pays suppliers directly; bypasses traditional letter-of-credit machinery.
- + Cross-border supplier coverage in major trading currencies.
- + Revolving facility; reusable as deals settle.
- + Direct lender relationship with structured underwriting.
Cons
- − Original operating entity dissolved (2022); confirm current contracting CN at offer.
- − Minimum ticket excludes lower-mid-market.
- − No published pricing.
Best for
- · Importers needing supplier payment terms
- · Revolving trade finance lines
- · Cross-border SMEs
Weak at
- · Pure domestic UK working capital
- · Sub-£100k tickets
- · Speed-critical sub-week cases
When to use TradeRiver
Use TradeRiver when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: importers needing supplier payment terms, revolving trade finance lines, cross-border smes. The published ticket range (£100k to £3m) covers your ask, the decision speed (1 to 3 weeks) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Quoted at offer) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use TradeRiver when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: pure domestic uk working capital, sub-£100k tickets, speed-critical sub-week cases. TradeRiver 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 TradeRiver as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for TradeRiver?
TradeRiver 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 TradeRiver require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. TradeRiver 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 trade finance (revolving purchase facility) specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does TradeRiver fund?
TradeRiver quotes 1 to 3 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 TradeRiver?
TradeRiver'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 TradeRiver declines me?
If TradeRiver 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. TradeRiver scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.traderiverfinance.com, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just TradeRiver.
Specialty alternatives
See all lender reviews for alternatives.
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: www.traderiverfinance.com.