Allica Bank vs Starling Bank: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Allica Bank edges this matchup in our 2026 UK review, scoring 4.4 of 5 against Starling Bank on 4.3. Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage at From 7.99% APR with decisions in 5 to 10 business days; Starling Bank runs a business term loan + overdraft at From 7% APR. That said, the headline rating is not the whole answer: Starling Bank beats Allica Bank for existing starling business customers. 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: 8 May 2026
Side-by-side
| Allica Bank | Starling Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | SME term loan + commercial mortgage | Business term loan + overdraft |
| Founded | 2019 | 2014 |
| Ticket range | £150k to £5m | £25k to £250k |
| Typical rate | From 7.99% APR | From 7% APR |
| Decision time | 5 to 10 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | Yes | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 11470391 | 09092149 |
| Best for | Established Ltd companies; £250k to £5m tickets; Asset-backed lending | Existing Starling business customers; Ltd companies wanting bank pricing; Borrowers wanting bank + loan in one app |
| Overall rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-04-26 | 2026-05-08 |
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 Starling Bank wins
- Real bank pricing rather than fintech mark-up; rates from 7% APR for strong applicants.
- Application lives inside the existing Starling business app.
- PRA and FCA authorised; FSCS-protected deposits alongside.
- Loan + overdraft + account in one place reduces admin.
Best for
Existing Starling business customers, Ltd companies wanting bank pricing, Borrowers wanting bank + loan in one app.
Watch outs
- Only available to existing Starling business banking customers.
- Hard credit search at full application.
- Slower than fintech lenders; 2 to 5 days versus same-day.
FAQ
Allica Bank or Starling 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 4.3 for Starling 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 Starling Bank is the stronger pick for existing starling business customers. 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 Starling Bank offer?
Allica Bank runs a sme term loan + commercial mortgage with tickets of £150k to £5m at From 7.99% APR. Starling Bank runs a business term loan + overdraft with tickets of £25k to £250k at From 7% APR. Decision time on Allica Bank is 5 to 10 business days; on Starling Bank it is 2 to 5 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 Starling Bank, who qualifies?
Allica Bank is a hard-search lender (footprint visible to other credit checkers) and lends only to UK limited companies. Starling Bank is hard-search at quote and lends only to UK limited companies. Allica Bank is FCA regulated; Starling Bank is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Allica Bank is the wrong answer for sub-£150k tickets. Starling Bank is the wrong answer for borrowers banking elsewhere. 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 Starling 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: 2026-05-08. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).