Head to head
Aldermore vs OakNorth: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Side by side: what each lender offers UK limited companies and LLPs, and what each one publishes.
Free · 2 mins
Start here · What do you need?
What Aldermore offers: asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages. Rate: quoted per deal (not published). What OakNorth offers: SME term loan + bridging. Ticket range: £1m to tens of millions (its own figure). Rate: bespoke. Aldermore suits established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank. OakNorth suits £1m+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story. The table below compares typical rate and limited-company rule.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Aldermore, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank
OakNorth, at a glance
- Product
- SME term loan + bridging
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for £1m+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Aldermore · OakNorth
| Compared on | Aldermore | OakNorth |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages | SME term loan + bridging |
| Ticket range | Not published for asset or invoice finance; commercial real estate loans of £3m to £100m (its own figures) | £1m to tens of millions (its own figure) |
| Typical rate | Quoted per deal (not published) | Bespoke |
| Decision time | Not published | Typically funds within weeks (its own figure) |
| Lender lends to limited companies only | Yes | Yes |
Sources: Aldermore's own site · OakNorth's own site. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
FundBiz enquiries are for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Some lenders on this page also accept other business types; we do not arrange those and do not recommend a lender on that basis.
When Aldermore may fit
- Specialist asset finance and invoice finance lines that mainstream banks no longer prioritise.
- Strong commercial mortgage product for property-backed Ltd borrowers.
- Established underwriting team with sector specialism, useful for files with complexity that needs a human.
- PRA-regulated bank, which matters to applicants who want a deposit-taking institution rather than a fintech.
Best for
Established Ltds wanting asset finance or invoice finance with a real bank, Commercial property borrowers with time for full underwriting, Intermediary-introduced deals with sector complexity.
Watch outs
- Slower than fintech alternatives, so borrowers who need cash inside the week may prefer iwoca, Capify or YouLend.
- Hard search at full application, so it is worth applying only once you're committed.
- It doesn't publish a minimum for asset or invoice finance; small, urgent asks may suit iwoca or Capify.
Lender figures and criteria: Aldermore's own site; full notes in our Aldermore review.
When OakNorth may fit
- PRA-regulated UK bank, useful when applicants want a deposit-taking institution behind the deal.
- Proprietary credit modelling means OakNorth will engage with some cases that mainstream banks would refuse.
- Significant facility size available, from £1m up to tens of millions.
- Strong record on commercial real estate and acquisition finance, which suits property-backed and acquisition-led borrowers.
Best for
£1m+ tickets backed by clear acquisition, growth or property story, Established Ltds with strong financials and time for a proper underwrite, Commercial real estate and acquisition finance deals.
Watch outs
- Not self-serve, so a banker has to engage and the borrower has to commit time.
- Headline rates not published, so there's no rate guide before the conversation.
- Loans start at £1 million; smaller tickets may suit Allica, Aldermore or Funding Circle.
Lender figures and criteria: OakNorth's own site; full notes in our OakNorth review.
FAQ
Aldermore or OakNorth: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Neither is better for every business. The 'When Aldermore may fit' and 'When OakNorth may fit' sections above say who each one suits, and the side-by-side table shows what each lender publishes. Check each lender's own criteria before you apply.
Which is weakest for what?
Aldermore is a poor fit for speed-critical files, consider iwoca, Capify or YouLend. OakNorth is a poor fit for sub-£1m tickets, consider Allica, Aldermore or Funding Circle. If either of those describes your business, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or read our other lender reviews.
Can FundBiz help with Aldermore or OakNorth?
FundBiz is not a lender and is independent of both. This comparison and our lender reviews are editorial research to help you decide which to approach. FundBiz doesn't pass your enquiry to either lender. If you send an enquiry through FundBiz, we pass it to one of the finance partners we work with, who will contact you about your options.
Who can send an enquiry through FundBiz?
The FundBiz enquiry form is for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Eligibility for Aldermore and OakNorth is set by each lender, and trading history requirements vary, so check each lender's own criteria.
How we ranked these lenders
Every lender is scored on the same four FundBiz criteria: pricing transparency, eligibility clarity, decision speed and treatment of declined applicants. Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product sheets, not customer reviews and not hands-on product testing. Each comparison shows the date it was last updated. Inclusion is never paid for, and FundBiz receives no commission from lenders. FundBiz is paid a fixed fee by one of the finance partners we work with for each enquiry we pass on. See our full methodology.
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Send an enquiry →FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: . Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).