Barclays
Major UK high-street bank with a full SME lending book covering unsecured term loans, overdrafts, asset finance and commercial mortgages. Barclays says applicants need a UK business with an existing business current account (which can be with another bank), and lending is subject to its normal assessment. Branch and online application routes. Useful as the comparator against fintech and challenger pricing rather than a speed product.
Quick verdict
- Product: Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages.
- Ticket band: £1k to £25k unsecured; larger amounts secured.
- Pricing: 8.5% to 14.9% APR representative on unsecured loans up to £25k, depending on amount.
At a glance
Barclays, at a glance
- Legal entity
- Barclays Bank UK plc
- Companies House
- 09740322
- Founded
- 1690
- Product
- Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages
- Ticket range
- £1k to £25k unsecured; larger amounts secured
- Decision time
- Immediate decision possible for existing customers; funds usually within 48 hours of signing
- Ltd-only
- No, the lender also accepts other structures
Where Barclays is strong
- Relationship managers and branch access.
- Full product range under one provider, including international trade.
- Established underwriting and FCA / PRA regulation.
- Published representative APRs on unsecured loans up to £25k, with no arrangement or early repayment fees.
Watch-outs, and when another lender may suit better
- Hard credit search at application; no soft-search quote.
- Slower than fintech alternatives, particularly above £100k.
- Decline rates higher than fintech for sub-2-year trading and post-CCJ cases.
- Sector exclusions (gambling, adult, CBD, vape) standard.
Best fit applicants
- Existing Barclays business banking customers
- Established Ltd companies 2+ years trading
- Borrowers wanting a relationship-led mainstream bank
Where Barclays is the wrong fit
- Sub-2-year trading
- Recent CCJs or missed payments
- Speed-prioritised cases
If declined by Barclays
If your application to Barclays is declined, ask the lender for the reason in writing. Some alternatives are named in the watch-outs section above. See also our guide to why lenders decline, by reason.
Other lenders we list
- 365 Business Finance, Merchant cash advance (revenue-based finance)
- Aldermore, Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- Allica Bank, SME term loan, asset finance + commercial mortgage
- Bizcap, Specialist post-decline / fast cash
How we rate Barclays
This review is FundBiz's own editorial assessment, scored against a published framework. See our methodology for how we rate each lender.
FAQ
What can I borrow through Barclays?
Barclays offers business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages. Ticket range: £1k to £25k unsecured; larger amounts secured. Typical rate: 8.5% to 14.9% APR representative on unsecured loans up to £25k, depending on amount.
How long does Barclays take to decide?
Immediate decision possible for existing customers; funds usually within 48 hours of signing
Who is Barclays the best fit for?
First on the list: Existing Barclays business banking customers. The full list is under Best fit applicants above.
When might another lender suit better than Barclays?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The other cases are under Where Barclays is the wrong fit above.
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.
Send an enquiry →Official site: Barclays
Last updated: . By Adam Parker. FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.