Lender profile
Lombard
NatWest Group's asset finance arm, describing itself as the UK's largest asset finance provider by volume, with a brand that traces back to the North Central Wagon Company in 1861. It suits established Ltd companies needing larger plant, vehicle and equipment finance where a bank-grade balance sheet and a stable, well-documented business matter more than speed. Not a post-decline or fintech-speed route; expect a full corporate underwriting process.
Check your optionsFree · 2 mins
Quick verdict
- Product: Asset finance.
- Ticket band: No published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets.
- Pricing: Not published; quoted case by case.
At a glance
Lombard, at a glance
- Legal entity
- Lombard North Central PLC
- Companies House
- 00337004
- Ownership checked
- 23 September 2026, against Companies House and published sources
- Product
- Asset finance
- Ticket range
- No published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets
- Decision time
- Not published
- Ltd-only
- Not stated as limited companies only
Where Lombard is strong
- Scale and sector depth few independents can match, backed by NatWest Group balance sheet.
- Broad asset coverage: plant, vehicles, technology, agriculture and specialist equipment.
- A named relationship manager rather than an app-only process, useful for complex or repeat deals.
Watch-outs, and when another lender may suit better
- No published rates or ticket floor; everything is quoted case by case, so a soft-search comparison isn't possible here.
- A bank-standard credit process, so decisions run to days or weeks, not hours.
- Not a fit for recent-incorporation or adverse-credit applicants; this is a mainstream, not a specialist post-decline, lender.
Best fit applicants
- Established Ltd companies with a clean credit history needing mid-market or larger asset finance
- Applicants who value an institutional lender over fintech speed
Where Lombard is the wrong fit
- Post-decline or adverse-credit applicants, who may suit a specialist MCA or asset-refinance lender better
- Small tickets or same-week funding needs
If declined by Lombard
If your application to Lombard is declined, ask the lender for the reason in writing. See also our guide to why lenders decline, by reason.
Similar lenders we list
- NatWest, Business loans, overdrafts, asset finance, commercial mortgages
- Allica Bank, SME term loan, asset finance + commercial mortgage
- Propel, Asset finance (hire purchase and lease)
- Close Brothers, Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans
How we rate Lombard
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 Lombard?
What Lombard offers: asset finance. Ticket range: no published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets. Typical rate: not published; quoted case by case.
How long does Lombard take to decide?
Lombard does not publish a decision time.
Who is Lombard the best fit for?
It suits established Ltd companies with a clean credit history needing mid-market or larger asset finance best. The full list is under Best fit applicants above.
When might another lender suit better than Lombard?
It is a poor fit for post-decline or adverse-credit applicants, who may suit a specialist MCA or asset-refinance lender better. The other cases are under Where Lombard 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. It's free and there's no obligation. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
Send an enquiry →Official site: Lombard
Last updated: . By Adam Parker. FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.