Metro Bank business loan
Who qualifies, and the alternatives if you're declined. Typical criteria: Established Ltd, regional UK customers, 2+ years trading. Metro Bank emphasises relationship banking and branch access in M25 / South-East. Ticket range £5k to £2m+ depending on facility. If the bank declines, the specialist UK lenders below may consider some cases the high street turns down. This is information, not a credit decision.
Quick verdict
- Owner: Metro Bank plc.
- Ticket band: £5k to £2m+ depending on facility.
- If declined, the alternatives to look at are: Allica Bank for £150k+, iwoca for working capital, Funding Circle.
At a glance
- What they offer
- Business loans, asset finance, commercial mortgages for Metro Bank business customers.
- Owner entity
- Metro Bank plc
- Ticket range
- £5k to £2m+ depending on facility
- Typical criteria
- Established Ltd, regional UK customers, 2+ years trading. Metro Bank emphasises relationship banking and branch access in M25 / South-East.
- Decision pattern
- Branch-led application common. Decisions take 1 to 3 weeks depending on ticket and structure.
Common decline reasons
- Sub-2-year trading.
- Sector restrictions.
- Out-of-region applicants without strong existing relationship.
If you have been declined
Standard mainstream-bank criteria; pivot to fintech or specialist alternatives.
Alternatives to consider
- Allica Bank for £150k+
- iwoca for working capital
- Funding Circle
What to have ready before you apply
A UK bank or its lending partner will typically ask for the following before issuing a decision:
- Two years of filed accounts plus current management accounts.
- Six to twelve months of business bank statements.
- Director identification and proof of address.
- A clear written summary of how the funds will be used and how they will be repaid.
- Personal guarantee paperwork for limited-company directors (standard for most SMB bank facilities).
This is a generic UK SMB-bank application checklist. Metro Bank may ask for additional documents specific to the facility type or sector.
FAQ
How big a ticket does Metro Bank cover?
£5k to £2m+ depending on facility. How Metro Bank makes the decision, and how long it takes, is under At a glance above.
Why does Metro Bank decline applications?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The rest are listed under Common decline reasons above.
What should I do if Metro Bank declines my application?
Standard mainstream-bank criteria; pivot to fintech or specialist alternatives. The next steps are under If you have been declined above.
What are the best alternatives to Metro Bank?
It depends on why you were declined and how much you need. We list 3 options under Alternatives to consider above, each with what it suits.
Related banks
Looking for something different?
- For invoice finance, see MarketInvoice.
- For card terminals and merchant accounts, see TakeCardPayments.
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