NatWest business loan
Who qualifies, and the alternatives if you're declined. Typical criteria: Ltd, LLP or partnership, 2+ years trading, NatWest business account preferred. Female Founders programme provides specific support to women-led applicants. Ticket range £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities. 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: NatWest Group plc.
- Ticket band: £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities.
- If declined, the first 3 of 4 alternatives to look at are: iwoca, Funding Circle, Capitalise via accountant introduction.
At a glance
- What they offer
- Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance for NatWest business banking customers.
- Owner entity
- NatWest Group plc
- Ticket range
- £1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities
- Typical criteria
- Ltd, LLP or partnership, 2+ years trading, NatWest business account preferred. Female Founders programme provides specific support to women-led applicants.
- Decision pattern
- Online or via business manager. Decisions within a week for clean cases under £100k; larger tickets take longer.
Common decline reasons
- Sub-2-year trading.
- Recent CCJs.
- Insufficient turnover.
- Sector exclusions.
If you have been declined
NatWest decline patterns mirror other high-street banks. Pivot to fintech alternatives or specialist post-decline lenders. The Female Founders programme adds mentoring rather than relaxed credit criteria.
Alternatives to consider
- iwoca
- Funding Circle
- Capitalise via accountant introduction
- Allica Bank for asset-backed
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. NatWest may ask for additional documents specific to the facility type or sector.
FAQ
How big a ticket does NatWest cover?
£1k to £500k+ unsecured; larger via secured facilities. How NatWest makes the decision, and how long it takes, is under At a glance above.
Why does NatWest decline applications?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The rest are listed under Common decline reasons above.
What should I do if NatWest declines my application?
NatWest decline patterns mirror other high-street banks. The next steps are under If you have been declined above.
What are the best alternatives to NatWest?
It depends on why you were declined and how much you need. We list 4 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.
Send an enquiry
Tell us what you need in 2 minutes. FundBiz is not a lender and does not run a credit check. We pass your enquiry to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
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