Aldermore vs Allica Bank: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Allica Bank edges this matchup in our 2026 UK review, scoring 4.4 of 5 against Aldermore on 4.1. Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage at From 7.99% APR with decisions in 5 to 10 business days; Aldermore runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages at From 7.5% APR equivalent. That said, the headline rating is not the whole answer: Aldermore beats Allica Bank for asset-finance and if deals. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "when X wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Director, BestBusinessLoans
Oliver leads BestBusinessLoans's editorial reviews and methodology. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender research, rate verification and review independence.
Last reviewed: 26 April 2026
Side-by-side
| Aldermore | Allica Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages | SME term loan + commercial mortgage |
| Founded | 2009 | 2019 |
| Ticket range | £25k to £5m | £150k to £5m |
| Typical rate | From 7.5% APR equivalent | From 7.99% APR |
| Decision time | 5 to 10 business days | 5 to 10 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | Yes | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 00947662 | 11470391 |
| Best for | Asset-finance and IF deals; Commercial property £150k+; Broker-introduced deals | Established Ltd companies; £250k to £5m tickets; Asset-backed lending |
| Overall rating | 4.1 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Trustpilot | 4.2/5 (4,500 reviews) | 4.4/5 (1,300 reviews) |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-26 | 2026-04-26 |
When Aldermore wins
- Specialist asset finance and IF lines.
- Strong commercial mortgage product.
- Established underwriting team with sector specialism.
- PRA-regulated bank.
Best for
Asset-finance and IF deals, Commercial property £150k+, Broker-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
- Hard search at full application.
- Not self-serve; broker-introduced or relationship-led.
When Allica Bank wins
- Genuine PRA-regulated bank; FSCS deposit protection on linked accounts.
- Rate transparency among the best on the market.
- Strong for £250k+ tickets.
- Real underwriting human attached to the case.
Best for
Established Ltd companies, £250k to £5m tickets, Asset-backed lending.
Watch outs
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
- Hard credit search at full application.
- Below £150k they will not engage.
FAQ
Aldermore or Allica Bank: which is the better UK business loan in 2026?
Allica Bank scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.4 of 5 versus 4.1 for Aldermore. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade and what you need. Aldermore is the stronger pick for asset-finance and if deals, while Allica Bank is the stronger pick for established ltd companies. If your business sits inside one of those use cases, ignore the headline rating and pick for fit.
What rates and ticket bands do Aldermore and Allica Bank offer?
Aldermore runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages with tickets of £25k to £5m at From 7.5% APR equivalent. Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage with tickets of £150k to £5m at From 7.99% APR. Decision time on Aldermore is 5 to 10 business days; on Allica Bank it is 5 to 10 business days. Headline rates rarely match the offered rate, so verify on the lender site before committing, and assume bespoke pricing above £100k where the data allows it.
Eligibility: Aldermore vs Allica Bank, who qualifies?
Aldermore is a hard-search lender (footprint visible to other credit checkers) and lends only to UK limited companies. Allica Bank is hard-search at quote and lends only to UK limited companies. Aldermore is FCA regulated; Allica Bank is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Aldermore is the wrong answer for self-serve consumer journey. Allica Bank is the wrong answer for sub-£150k tickets. If either of those describes your business, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or get a quote from our UK lender panel and we will surface the right shortlist.
Can BestBusinessLoans help me choose between Aldermore and Allica Bank?
Yes. Our reviews are editorial; we run a UK lender panel via our /get-quotes/ form that includes both. Tell us monthly turnover, sector and what you need the money for. We match you against the lenders most likely to approve and beat your current cost, then route the application without affecting your credit file at quote stage.
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Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-04-26. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).