Close Brothers vs Starling Bank: Which UK Business Loan Provider in 2026?
Starling Bank edges this matchup in our 2026 UK review, scoring 4.3 of 5 against Close Brothers on 4.2. Starling Bank runs a business term loan + overdraft at From 7% APR with decisions in 2 to 5 business days; Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans at Bespoke, quoted at offer. That said, the headline rating is not the whole answer: Close Brothers beats Starling Bank for established smes needing asset or invoice finance. 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
| Close Brothers | Starling Bank | |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans | Business term loan + overdraft |
| Founded | 1878 | 2014 |
| Ticket range | £25k to £25m+ | £25k to £250k |
| Typical rate | Bespoke, quoted at offer | From 7% APR |
| Decision time | 5 to 14 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | No (hard search) |
| Limited companies only | No | Yes |
| FCA regulated | Yes | Yes |
| Companies House | 00195626 | 09092149 |
| Best for | Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance; Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade; Broker-introduced deals | Existing Starling business customers; Ltd companies wanting bank pricing; Borrowers wanting bank + loan in one app |
| Overall rating | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Last reviewed | 2026-05-08 | 2026-05-08 |
When Close Brothers wins
- Genuine UK merchant bank with 145+ years of trading history.
- Multiple product lines under one underwriter (asset, invoice, commercial loans).
- Strong sector specialisms in print, transport, manufacturing and motor trade.
- PRA-regulated; FSCS deposit protection on linked savings products.
Best for
Established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance, Print, transport, manufacturing, motor trade, Broker-introduced deals.
Watch outs
- Broker-distributed, not self-serve.
- Headline rates not published; quoted at offer.
- Slower than fintech alternatives.
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
Close Brothers or Starling Bank: which is the better UK business loan in 2026?
Starling Bank scores higher overall in our 2026 review at 4.3 of 5 versus 4.2 for Close Brothers. That said, the right answer depends on what you trade and what you need. Close Brothers is the stronger pick for established smes needing asset or invoice finance, 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 Close Brothers and Starling Bank offer?
Close Brothers runs a asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans with tickets of £25k to £25m+ at Bespoke, quoted at offer. Starling Bank runs a business term loan + overdraft with tickets of £25k to £250k at From 7% APR. Decision time on Close Brothers is 5 to 14 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: Close Brothers vs Starling Bank, who qualifies?
Close Brothers is a hard-search lender (footprint visible to other credit checkers) and accepts sole traders and partnerships as well as Ltd companies. Starling Bank is hard-search at quote and lends only to UK limited companies. Close Brothers is FCA regulated; Starling Bank is FCA regulated.
Which is the wrong answer for what?
Close Brothers is the wrong answer for self-serve sub-£25k. 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 Close Brothers 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).