RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland business loan
Who qualifies, and the alternatives if you're declined. Typical criteria: Ltd or LLP, 2+ years trading, RBS business banking. Scotland-based applicants get specific routing. Ticket range £1k to £500k+ unsecured. 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 (RBS is a brand within the group).
- Ticket band: £1k to £500k+ unsecured.
- If declined, the first 3 of 4 alternatives to look at are: Funding Circle, iwoca, Allica Bank.
At a glance
- What they offer
- Business loans, overdrafts and asset finance for RBS Scotland-based business banking customers. Group lending criteria mirror NatWest.
- Owner entity
- NatWest Group plc (RBS is a brand within the group)
- Ticket range
- £1k to £500k+ unsecured
- Typical criteria
- Ltd or LLP, 2+ years trading, RBS business banking. Scotland-based applicants get specific routing.
- Decision pattern
- Online or via business manager. Scotland-based relationships often have local-manager decision authority.
Common decline reasons
- Sub-2-year trading.
- Recent CCJs.
- Sector restrictions.
- Affordability ratio above thresholds.
If you have been declined
RBS criteria mirror NatWest. Pivot to fintech alternatives or specialist lenders rather than other high-street banks.
Alternatives to consider
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. RBS may ask for additional documents specific to the facility type or sector.
FAQ
How big a ticket does RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland cover?
£1k to £500k+ unsecured. How RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland makes the decision, and how long it takes, is under At a glance above.
Why does RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland decline applications?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The rest are listed under Common decline reasons above.
What should I do if RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland declines my application?
RBS criteria mirror NatWest. The next steps are under If you have been declined above.
What are the best alternatives to RBS / Royal Bank of Scotland?
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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