Looking beyond the company’s credit history

One of the questions we are asked most is whether a company’s past financial difficulty rules it out. For many lenders, the answer is a flat yes. For us, it is not that simple.

We do not refuse a business solely on past events. If the company fell behind at some stage — perhaps during a difficult trading period that has since passed — we will not treat that as the whole story.

How we assess affordability

Instead, we look at how the company is trading today. That means considering its current income and essential, regular outgoings, so that any loan we offer is one we are confident the business can manage. Affordability works both ways: it protects the company from borrowing more than is sensible, and it means a realistic decision rather than an automatic rejection.

This is not the same as saying yes to everyone. Responsible lending means lending only where it is genuinely affordable. But it does mean a fairer hearing, and a decision based on the bigger picture.

You can read more about our products on the What We Offer page, or see How It Works for the steps involved.