Lombard
NatWest Group's asset finance arm, describing itself as the UK's largest asset finance provider by volume, with a brand that traces back to the North Central Wagon Company in 1861. It suits established Ltd companies needing larger plant, vehicle and equipment finance where a bank-grade balance sheet and a stable, well-documented business matter more than speed. Not a post-decline or fintech-speed route; expect a full corporate underwriting process.
Quick verdict
- Product: Asset finance.
- Ticket band: No published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets.
- Pricing: Not published; quoted case by case.
At a glance
Lombard, at a glance
- Legal entity
- Lombard North Central PLC
- Companies House
- 00337004
- Ownership checked
- 23 September 2026, against Companies House and published sources
- Product
- Asset finance
- Ticket range
- No published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets
- Decision time
- Days to weeks, corporate credit process
- Ltd-only
- No, the lender also accepts other structures
Where Lombard is strong
- Scale and sector depth few independents can match, backed by NatWest Group balance sheet.
- Broad asset coverage: plant, vehicles, technology, agriculture and specialist equipment.
- A named relationship manager rather than an app-only process, useful for complex or repeat deals.
Watch-outs, and when another lender may suit better
- No published rates or ticket floor; everything is quoted case by case, so a soft-search comparison isn't possible here.
- A bank-standard credit process, so decisions run to days or weeks, not hours.
- Not a fit for recent-incorporation or adverse-credit applicants; this is a mainstream, not a specialist post-decline, lender.
Best fit applicants
- Established Ltd companies with a clean credit history needing mid-market or larger asset finance
- Applicants who value an institutional lender over fintech speed
Where Lombard is the wrong fit
- Post-decline or adverse-credit applicants, who may suit a specialist MCA or asset-refinance lender better
- Small tickets or same-week funding needs
If declined by Lombard
If your application to Lombard is declined, ask the lender for the reason in writing. Some alternatives are named in the watch-outs section above. See also our guide to why lenders decline, by reason.
Other lenders we list
- 365 Business Finance, Merchant cash advance (revenue-based finance)
- Aldermore, Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial mortgages
- Allica Bank, SME term loan, asset finance + commercial mortgage
- Bizcap, Specialist post-decline / fast cash
How we rate Lombard
This review is FundBiz's own editorial assessment, scored against a published framework. See our methodology for how we rate each lender.
FAQ
What can I borrow through Lombard?
Lombard offers asset finance. Ticket range: No published minimum; institutional-scale mid-market and larger tickets. Typical rate: Not published; quoted case by case.
How long does Lombard take to decide?
Days to weeks, corporate credit process
Who is Lombard the best fit for?
First on the list: Established Ltd companies with a clean credit history needing mid-market or larger asset finance. The full list is under Best fit applicants above.
When might another lender suit better than Lombard?
First on the list: Post-decline or adverse-credit applicants, who may suit a specialist MCA or asset-refinance lender better. The other cases are under Where Lombard is the wrong fit above.
Send an enquiry
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Send an enquiry →Official site: Lombard
Last updated: . By Adam Parker. FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman.