Head to head
Close Brothers vs Investec: 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 Close Brothers offers: asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans. Ticket range: asset-based lending £1m to £65m; commercial mortgages £500k to £5m (its own figures); hire purchase and leasing ranges not published. Rate: bespoke, quoted at offer. What Investec offers: corporate banking + asset finance + commercial property. Rate: bespoke. Close Brothers suits established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance. Investec suits companies turning over more than £25m. The table below compares typical rate.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Close Brothers, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance
Investec, at a glance
- Product
- Corporate banking + asset finance + commercial property
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for companies turning over more than £25m
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Close Brothers · Investec
| Compared on | Close Brothers | Investec |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans | Corporate banking + asset finance + commercial property |
| Ticket range | Asset-based lending £1m to £65m; commercial mortgages £500k to £5m (its own figures); hire purchase and leasing ranges not published | Not published |
| Typical rate | Bespoke, quoted at offer | Bespoke |
| Lender lends to limited companies only | Not stated | Yes |
Sources: Close Brothers's own site · Investec'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 Close Brothers may fit
- Part of a banking group founded in 1878.
- Multiple product lines under one underwriter (asset, invoice, commercial loans).
- A PRA-authorised bank.
Best for
Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance, Intermediary-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Distributed through intermediaries, not self-serve.
- Headline rates not published; quoted at offer.
- No published decision time, and no online application.
Lender figures and criteria: Close Brothers's own site; full notes in our Close Brothers review.
When Investec may fit
- Lending is handled by a relationship banker rather than an online application.
- Suited to larger, bespoke facilities.
- Wider banking platform (deposits, FX, treasury) attached to lending.
- PRA-regulated; FSCS protection on linked accounts.
Best for
Companies turning over more than £25m, Larger, bespoke facilities, Borrowers wanting a banker relationship.
Watch outs
- No published decision time.
- Not self-serve; direct relationship required.
- Works directly with companies turning over more than £25m (its own figure); smaller firms must go through an intermediary for asset finance.
Lender figures and criteria: Investec's own site; full notes in our Investec review.
FAQ
Close Brothers or Investec: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Neither is better for every business. The 'When Close Brothers may fit' and 'When Investec 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?
Close Brothers is a poor fit for invoice finance for firms turning over under £750k. Investec is a poor fit for companies turning over under £25m. 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 Close Brothers or Investec?
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 Close Brothers and Investec 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.
Send an enquiry
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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).