Allica Bank vs Shawbrook Bank: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Allica Bank edges this matchup in our 2026 UK review, scoring 4.4 of 5 against Shawbrook Bank on 4.0. Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage at From 7.99% APR with decisions in 5 to 10 business days; Shawbrook Bank runs a term loans, asset finance, commercial property at Bespoke. That said, the headline rating is not the whole answer: Shawbrook Bank beats Allica Bank for £500k+ commercial property. 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
| Allica Bank | Shawbrook Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | SME term loan + commercial mortgage | Term loans, asset finance, commercial property |
| Founded | 2019 | 2011 |
| Ticket range | £150k to £5m | £25k to £25m |
| Typical rate | From 7.99% APR | Bespoke |
| Decision time | 5 to 10 business days | 7 to 14 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | Yes | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 11470391 | Not published |
| Best for | Established Ltd companies; £250k to £5m tickets; Asset-backed lending | £500k+ commercial property; Bespoke SME deals; Asset-backed lending |
| Overall rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Trustpilot | 4.4/5 (1,300 reviews) | 4/5 (1,900 reviews) |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-26 | 2026-04-26 |
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.
When Shawbrook Bank wins
- Genuine UK specialist bank.
- Strong on £500k+ tickets.
- Bespoke deal structuring.
Best for
£500k+ commercial property, Bespoke SME deals, Asset-backed lending.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed; needs intermediary.
- Slower than fintech.
- Pricing not headlined.
FAQ
Allica Bank or Shawbrook 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 4.0 for Shawbrook Bank. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade and what you need. Allica Bank is the stronger pick for established ltd companies, while Shawbrook Bank is the stronger pick for £500k+ commercial property. If your business sits inside one of those use cases, ignore the headline rating and pick for fit.
What rates and ticket bands do Allica Bank and Shawbrook Bank offer?
Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage with tickets of £150k to £5m at From 7.99% APR. Shawbrook Bank runs a term loans, asset finance, commercial property with tickets of £25k to £25m at Bespoke. Decision time on Allica Bank is 5 to 10 business days; on Shawbrook Bank it is 7 to 14 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: Allica Bank vs Shawbrook Bank, who qualifies?
Allica Bank is a hard-search lender (footprint visible to other credit checkers) and lends only to UK limited companies. Shawbrook Bank is hard-search at quote and lends only to UK limited companies. Allica Bank is FCA regulated; Shawbrook Bank is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Allica Bank is the wrong answer for sub-£150k tickets. Shawbrook Bank is the wrong answer for self-serve sub-£100k. 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 Allica Bank and Shawbrook 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.
Related
Get matched in two minutes
Tell us monthly turnover and what you need the money for. We match you against a UK lender panel most likely to approve and price competitively. Soft search at quote stage, no impact on your credit file.
Get quotes →Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 2026-04-26. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).