Starling Bank business loan
Who qualifies, and the alternatives if you're declined. Typical criteria: Starling business banking customer for the in-app route; the lending criteria are iwoca's. Ticket range Set by iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans. 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: Starling Bank Limited.
- Ticket band: Set by iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans.
- If declined, the first 3 of 4 alternatives to look at are: iwoca, Funding Circle, Allica Bank.
At a glance
- What they offer
- Business banking. Starling doesn't offer its own business loans; according to iwoca (September 2026), the loan an eligible Starling business customer sees in the app comes from iwoca.
- Owner entity
- Starling Bank Limited
- Ticket range
- Set by iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans
- Typical criteria
- Starling business banking customer for the in-app route; the lending criteria are iwoca's.
- Decision pattern
- Offers appear in the Starling app or online banking for eligible customers; iwoca assesses the application and makes the decision.
Common decline reasons
- Starling doesn't lend its own business loans, so a decline on the in-app loan is iwoca's decision against its own criteria.
If you have been declined
Use Starling for banking; for borrowing, look to fintech alternatives (iwoca, Funding Circle) or challenger banks (Allica, OakNorth).
Alternatives to consider
- iwoca
- Funding Circle
- Allica Bank
- British Business Bank schemes for eligible borrowers
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. Starling Bank may ask for additional documents specific to the facility type or sector.
FAQ
How big a ticket does Starling Bank cover?
Set by iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans. How Starling Bank makes the decision, and how long it takes, is under At a glance above.
Why does Starling Bank decline applications?
First on the list: Starling doesn't lend its own business loans, so a decline on the in-app loan is iwoca's decision against its own criteria. The rest are listed under Common decline reasons above.
What should I do if Starling Bank declines my application?
Use Starling for banking; for borrowing, look to fintech alternatives (iwoca, Funding Circle) or challenger banks (Allica, OakNorth). The next steps are under If you have been declined above.
What are the best alternatives to Starling Bank?
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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