Close Brothers vs Kuflink: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Close Brothers and Kuflink both score 4.2 of 5 in our 2026 UK review. Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans at Bespoke, quoted at offer with decisions in 5 to 14 business days; Kuflink runs a bridging finance and p2p property lending at From 0.55% per month with decisions in 3 to 10 business days. The right answer depends on what you need: ticket band, time pressure, sector, and whether your trading history clears each lender's eligibility floor. Read both columns of the side-by-side, then read the "when X wins" sections below for the buyer-fit logic. If you want us to do the work, our two-minute quote form matches you against a UK lender panel without affecting your credit file.
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
Side-by-side
| Close Brothers | Kuflink | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans | Bridging finance and P2P property lending |
| Founded | 1878 | 2013 |
| Ticket range | £25k to £25m+ | £75k to £3m |
| Typical rate | Bespoke, quoted at offer | From 0.55% per month |
| Decision time | 5 to 14 business days | 3 to 10 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | No | No |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 00195626 | 08460508 |
| Best for | Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance; Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade; Broker-introduced deals | £100k to £1m residential bridging; Refurb and BTL purchases; Borrowers wanting an online journey |
| Overall rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-08 |
When Close Brothers wins
- Genuine UK merchant bank with 145+ years of trading history.
- Multiple product lines under one underwriter (asset, invoice, commercial loans).
- Strong sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade.
- PRA-regulated; FSCS deposit protection on linked savings products.
Best for
Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance, Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade, Broker-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed, not self-serve.
- Headline rates not published; quoted at offer.
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
When Kuflink wins
- FCA-regulated for the consumer-facing P2P side.
- Strong Trustpilot footprint, unusual for category.
- Lower ticket floor than most bridging desks.
- Online application with broker support.
Best for
£100k to £1m residential bridging, Refurb and BTL purchases, Borrowers wanting an online journey.
Watch outs
- P2P funding model ties some deals to retail investor appetite.
- Per-month rate; total cost depends on term length.
- £3m ticket cap rules out larger schemes.
FAQ
Close Brothers or Kuflink: which is the better UK business loan in 2026?
Close Brothers scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.2 of 5 versus 4.2 for Kuflink. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade and what you need. Close Brothers is the stronger pick for established smes needing asset or invoice finance, while Kuflink is the stronger pick for £100k to £1m residential bridging. If your business sits inside one of those use cases, ignore the headline rating and pick for fit.
What rates and ticket bands do Close Brothers and Kuflink offer?
Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans with tickets of £25k to £25m+ at Bespoke, quoted at offer. Kuflink runs a bridging finance and p2p property lending with tickets of £75k to £3m at From 0.55% per month. Decision time on Close Brothers is 5 to 14 business days; on Kuflink it is 3 to 10 business days. Headline rates rarely match the offered rate, so verify on the lender site before committing, and assume bespoke pricing above £100k where the data allows it.
Eligibility: Close Brothers vs Kuflink, who qualifies?
Close Brothers is a hard-search lender (footprint visible to other credit checkers) and accepts sole traders and partnerships as well as Ltd companies. Kuflink is hard-search at quote and accepts sole traders and partnerships as well as Ltd companies. Close Brothers is FCA regulated; Kuflink is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Close Brothers is the wrong answer for self-serve sub-£25k. Kuflink is the wrong answer for £3m+ tickets. If either of those describes your business, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or get a quote from our UK lender panel and we will surface the right shortlist.
Can BestBusinessLoans help me choose between Close Brothers and Kuflink?
Yes. Our reviews are editorial; we run a UK lender panel via our /get-quotes/ form that includes both. Tell us monthly turnover, sector and what you need the money for. We match you against the lenders most likely to approve and beat your current cost, then route the application without affecting your credit file at quote stage.
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Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-05-08. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).