Head to head
Funding Circle vs Starling Bank: 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 Funding Circle offers: term loan. Ticket range: £10k to £750k (its own figure). Rate: from 6.9% per year. What Starling Bank offers: business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca. Funding Circle suits established Ltds with a trading record and clean credit. Starling Bank suits existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app. The table below compares decision time and soft search at quote.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Funding Circle, at a glance
- Product
- Term loan
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for established Ltds with a trading record and clean credit
Starling Bank, at a glance
- Product
- Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca
- FundBiz editorial view
- Best for existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Funding Circle · Starling Bank
| Compared on | Funding Circle | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Term loan | Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca |
| Ticket range | £10k to £750k (its own figure) | Set by iwoca (Starling doesn't offer its own business loans) |
| Typical rate | From 6.9% per year | Set by iwoca |
| Decision time | Decision in as little as 5 minutes, funds typically within 48 hours (its own figures) | Decision typically within 24 hours, instant possible up to £100k (iwoca's figure, shown by Starling) |
| Lender's own soft search at quote | Yes, says the lender | Yes, by iwoca |
Sources: Funding Circle's own site · Starling Bank'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 Funding Circle may fit
- Funding Circle says limited companies and LLPs can get a decision without affecting their credit score.
- A 30-second eligibility check before applying, on Funding Circle's own site.
- Decision in as little as 5 minutes on Funding Circle's own figures.
Best for
Established Ltds with a trading record and clean credit, Working-capital term loans within its £10k to £750k range, Borrowers who want a recognised brand and a fast soft-search quote from the lender.
Watch outs
- 6.9% is a starting rate, so many borrowers will be offered a higher one.
- Personal guarantee is almost always required.
- Loans stop at £750k, so larger facilities need another lender, such as OakNorth.
Lender figures and criteria: Funding Circle's own site; full notes in our Funding Circle review.
When Starling Bank may fit
- Loan offers can appear inside the existing Starling business app for eligible customers.
- PRA and FCA authorised; FSCS-protected deposits.
- iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans, says it only runs soft credit checks when you apply.
Best for
Existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app.
Watch outs
- Starling doesn't lend its own business loans, so there's no Starling rate or criteria to compare.
- The in-app route is for Starling business customers only; others can apply to iwoca directly.
Lender figures and criteria: Starling Bank's own site; full notes in our Starling Bank review.
FAQ
Funding Circle or Starling Bank: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Neither is better for every business. The 'When Funding Circle may fit' and 'When Starling Bank 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?
Funding Circle is a poor fit for very new businesses, consider iwoca or Start Up Loans Company. Starling Bank is a poor fit for borrowers banking elsewhere. 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 Funding Circle or Starling Bank?
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 Funding Circle and Starling Bank 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).