Santander UK
UK ring-fenced bank under the Santander Group. SME lending book covering unsecured term loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages and international finance, with specific routing for Spanish-trade and EU-import applicants. Mainstream criteria: 2+ years trading, clean credit, existing Santander business banking flow.
Quick verdict
- Product: Business loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, international finance.
- Ticket band: £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher via secured facilities.
- Pricing: From around 7.5% to 12% APR for unsecured term loans.
At a glance
Santander UK, at a glance
- Legal entity
- Santander UK plc
- Companies House
- 02294747
- Founded
- 1988
- Product
- Business loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, international finance
- Ticket range
- £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher via secured facilities
- Decision time
- 5 to 15 business days
- Ltd-only
- No, the lender also accepts other structures
Where Santander UK is strong
- Strong international finance line, particularly for Spain and EU corridors.
- Full UK product range; ring-fenced retail and SME bank.
- FCA / PRA regulation; FSCS protection on linked deposits.
- Competitive APR for top-tier existing customers.
Watch-outs, and when another lender may suit better
- Hard credit search at application; no soft-search quote.
- Decisions take 5 to 15 business days; longer above £100k.
- Decline rates high for sub-2-year trading and post-CCJ applicants.
- Sector exclusions standard.
Best fit applicants
- Existing Santander business banking customers
- UK SMEs with EU or Spanish trade flow
- Established Ltd companies 2+ years trading
Where Santander UK is the wrong fit
- Sub-2-year trading
- Post-decline applicants
- Speed-prioritised cases
If declined by Santander UK
If your application to Santander UK 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 Santander UK
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 Santander UK?
Santander UK offers business loans, overdrafts, commercial mortgages, international finance. Ticket range: £5k to £500k+ unsecured; higher via secured facilities. Typical rate: From around 7.5% to 12% APR for unsecured term loans.
How long does Santander UK take to decide?
5 to 15 business days
Who is Santander UK the best fit for?
First on the list: Existing Santander business banking customers. The full list is under Best fit applicants above.
When might another lender suit better than Santander UK?
First on the list: Sub-2-year trading. The other cases are under Where Santander UK 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: Santander UK
Last updated: . By Adam Parker. FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.