Borrowing from your bank isn’t always right for your business. We've got some useful information to help you understand your options and where your business can go for finance. We have:
- information about asking for a review of your application
- support and guidance on other finance options for your business.
We don’t promote or recommend any option on the list, but it might help you find other ways to get finance.
If business finances are a struggle
If you're finding it hard to make your books balance, we've help and support for you, including details of people who offer free, independent advice. Take a look at our If finances are a struggle page for more details.
Select what you’d like to know more about…
Reviewing your lending application and our decision
If we say no to your lending application, you can ask us to look at it again within 30 days of the decision. We may ask you for more information to help us review it. You can find more details on our Business borrowing and reviews page under ‘Appealing your application’.
How to ask for a review:
For business overdrafts, you can call us on 0330 678 2509 or talk to your Business Banking Manager and they’ll explain what to do next
For business credit cards, you can request an independent review online
About your review
Someone new from our Business Lending team will look at your application. They'll check to see how we made the first decision. If needed, they may ask for more information. We’ll give you a decision as soon as can, but it can take up to 30 days.
Independent auditors check that our appeals process is fair. You can read their reports here.
If we still say no
You can ask us to refer you to a government approved platform within 30 days of the decision. This platform will try to match your business with another lender who may be able to help. UK Finance has a factsheet (PDF - 3.28 MB) that explains how this works.
With your consent, they’ll seek to match your business' needs with the most suitable lender for your circumstances. For more information look at our Business borrowing and reviews pages and click on the ‘Referral’ tab.
Important to know
All lending is subject to status, availability and our lending criteria. The right to decline any application is reserved.
Government and comparison sites
If your application has been turned down, you still have options.
You can find help and more information on the websites of the government approved platforms. You’ll find the links below. Plus, you can compare our business overdrafts, loans, and bank accounts with other providers. These platforms will seek to help you find a suitable finance provider that may be willing to offer the finance you need.
This isn’t a full list of providers. We hope looking at them helps you get started, but there may be others worth checking out. You can ‘self-refer’ to make use of the services of the platforms to help you find finance at any time by visiting their websites.
We’re not responsible for these websites, their content, or whether they’re available. We also can’t promise you’ll get funding from any other finance provider.
Alternative Business Funding helps businesses find and compare different funding options.
Explore Alternative Business Funding
Funding Xchange lets you send one request for funding to 70 lenders and compare their offers.
Funding Options scans the market to find the choices that best fit your needs.
General help and support services
Need more general help with understanding the types of lending available to businesses? Worried about debt? Just need a bit of guidance on how you can move your business forward? There are lots of places you can go for help.
We've got some useful information to help you understand what alternative forms of support are available for your business.
There are also other options below. This isn’t a full list, and there may be other options worth looking into.
We’re not responsible for these websites, their content, or whether they’re available. We also can’t promise you’ll get funding from any other finance provider.
Better Business Finance gives you information on finance providers in the UK. This includes business angels, local funds and government schemes.
Explore Better Business Finance
mentorsme.co.uk is a free search tool to help you find a local business mentor. All listed mentors are from trusted mentoring groups across the UK.
Business Debtline are an independent debt advice charity. If you’re struggling with debt, we can help.