Santander UK business loan
Who qualifies, and the alternatives if you're declined. Typical criteria: Ltd or partnership, 2+ years trading, Santander business banking. International / Spanish-trade applicants get specific routing. Ticket range £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher secured. 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: Santander UK plc.
- Ticket band: £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher secured.
- 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, commercial mortgages and international finance for Santander business banking customers.
- Owner entity
- Santander UK plc
- Ticket range
- £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher secured
- Typical criteria
- Ltd or partnership, 2+ years trading, Santander business banking. International / Spanish-trade applicants get specific routing.
- Decision pattern
- Initial decision via online or branch business manager. Decisions in days for smaller tickets; weeks for larger.
Common decline reasons
- Sub-2-year trading.
- CCJs or recent missed payments.
- Sector restrictions.
- Affordability ratio above thresholds.
If you have been declined
Move to fintech alternatives where the high-street criteria don't fit.
Alternatives to consider
- Funding Circle
- iwoca
- Allica Bank
- JPM Capital for post-decline
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. Santander UK may ask for additional documents specific to the facility type or sector.
FAQ
How big a ticket does Santander UK cover?
£5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher secured. How Santander UK makes the decision, and how long it takes, is under At a glance above.
Why does Santander UK decline applications?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The rest are listed under Common decline reasons above.
What should I do if Santander UK declines my application?
Move to fintech alternatives where the high-street criteria don't fit. The next steps are under If you have been declined above.
What are the best alternatives to Santander UK?
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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