We use a combination of data you supply directly and data we obtain from third-party sources to form a lending decision. Understanding the sources can help you ensure the information we see is accurate and complete.
Companies House and filed accounts
We check the company's registration status, filing history, and any charges registered at Companies House. Filed accounts — whether full, abbreviated, or micro-entity — give us a view of revenue, profitability, and net asset position over prior years. Where accounts are not yet filed for the most recent period, we may request management accounts instead.
Commercial credit bureau data
We obtain a commercial credit report on the company from one or more of the major UK bureaux. This report includes payment performance on existing credit facilities, any County Court Judgements (CCJs) registered against the company, and a bureau-generated risk score. We will tell you which bureau we used if a decline is partly based on bureau data, so you can check your own report.
Information you provide in the application
The application form asks for details including the purpose of borrowing, the amount and term required, recent turnover figures, and your existing credit commitments. This information is used to assess affordability — specifically whether the company's cash flow can comfortably support the proposed repayments alongside existing obligations. Inaccurate or inconsistent information can delay or adversely affect the decision, so it is worth cross-checking figures against your management accounts before submitting.
What we do not use
We do not conduct a personal credit search on directors, and we do not require a director personal guarantee. Our assessment is of the limited company or LLP as a legal entity in its own right.
We lend only to UK limited companies and LLPs, and the loan is to the company with no director personal guarantee required. As business finance outside the consumer-credit regime, it is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or FSCS.
See also: Why was my application declined?, How long does a lending decision take?.