Head to head
Close Brothers vs Starling Bank: Which UK Business Finance Provider in 2026?
Independent, side by side. Rate, ticket band, decision speed and eligibility compared for UK limited companies and LLPs.
Start here · What do you need?
Starling Bank is the stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but Close Brothers wins on specific files. Starling Bank offers business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca (ticket range: Set by iwoca (Starling doesn't offer its own business loans); rate: Set by iwoca); Close Brothers offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans (ticket range: £25k to £25m+; rate: Bespoke, quoted at offer). The right answer depends on ticket size, trading history and sector. Close Brothers beats Starling Bank for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance. Read the side-by-side, then jump to the "When Starling Bank wins" and "When Close Brothers wins" sections for the buyer-fit logic.
Source: FundBiz methodology. Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).
Close Brothers, at a glance
- Product
- Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans
- Ticket range
- £25k to £25m+
- Typical rate
- Bespoke, quoted at offer
- Decision time
- 5 to 14 business days
- FundBiz editorial view
- Wins on specific files; best for established SMEs needing asset or invoice finance
Starling Bank, at a glance
- Product
- Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca
- Ticket range
- Set by iwoca (Starling doesn't offer its own business loans)
- Typical rate
- Set by iwoca
- Decision time
- Set by iwoca
- FundBiz editorial view
- Stronger all-round; best for existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app
Side-by-side
Full profiles: Close Brothers · Starling Bank
| Compared on | Close Brothers | Starling Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Product type | Asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans | Business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca |
| Ticket range | £25k to £25m+ | Set by iwoca (Starling doesn't offer its own business loans) |
| Typical rate | Bespoke, quoted at offer | Set by iwoca |
| Decision time | 5 to 14 business days | Set by iwoca |
| Soft search at quote | No (hard search) | Yes |
| Ltd-only? | No | Yes |
Sources: Close Brothers's own site · Starling Bank's own site. Figures change; confirm with the lender before you rely on one.
FundBiz enquiries are for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Some lenders on this page also accept other business types; we do not arrange those and do not recommend a lender on that basis.
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
- Loan offers can appear inside the existing Starling business app for eligible customers.
- PRA and FCA authorised; FSCS-protected deposits.
- iwoca, the lender behind the in-app loans, says it only runs soft credit checks when you apply.
Best for
Existing Starling business customers who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app.
Watch outs
- Starling doesn't lend its own business loans, so there's no Starling rate or criteria to compare.
- The in-app route is for Starling business customers only; others can apply to iwoca directly.
FAQ
Close Brothers or Starling Bank: which is the better UK business finance provider in 2026?
Starling Bank is our stronger all-round pick in our reviews, but the right answer depends on what your file looks like. 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 who want to see an iwoca offer inside their banking app. If your file sits in one of those buckets, pick the right fit rather than the headline. See our /methodology/ for how we assess each lender.
What does each product look like, Close Brothers vs Starling Bank?
Close Brothers offers asset finance, invoice finance, commercial loans (ticket range: £25k to £25m+; rate: Bespoke, quoted at offer; decision time: 5 to 14 business days). Starling Bank offers business banking; loans shown in the Starling app are provided by iwoca (ticket range: Set by iwoca (Starling doesn't offer its own business loans); rate: Set by iwoca; decision time: Set by iwoca).
Close Brothers runs a hard credit search at full application. Starling Bank uses a soft search at quote. Verify live commercials before signing because lender pricing moves and bespoke rates are common above £100k tickets.
Which is weakest 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 file, look at the side-by-side table for the alternative, or read our other lender reviews.
Can FundBiz help with Close Brothers or Starling Bank?
FundBiz is not a lender and is independent of both. This comparison and our lender reviews are editorial research to help you decide which to approach. FundBiz doesn't send enquiries to lenders. If you send an enquiry through FundBiz, we pass it to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options.
Who can send an enquiry through FundBiz?
The FundBiz enquiry form is for limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners. Eligibility for Close Brothers and Starling Bank is set by each lender, and trading history requirements vary, so check each lender's own criteria.
Related comparisons
Other UK specialty finance head-to-heads involving Close Brothers or Starling Bank:
How we ranked these lenders
Every lender is scored on the same four FundBiz criteria: pricing transparency, eligibility clarity, decision speed and treatment of declined applicants. Scores are our own desk-research assessment built from the FCA Register, Companies House filings and each lender's published product sheets, not customer reviews and not hands-on product testing. Each comparison shows the date it was last updated. Inclusion is never paid for, and FundBiz receives no commission from lenders. FundBiz is paid a fixed fee by a business finance broker for each enquiry we pass on. See our full methodology.
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Tell us what you need in 2 minutes. FundBiz is not a lender and does not run a credit check. We pass your enquiry to a business finance broker, who will contact you about your options. For limited companies, LLPs and partnerships with four or more partners.
Send an enquiry →FundBiz is owned and operated by Best Business Loans Ltd, directed by Oliver Mackman. Last updated: . Editorial by Best Business Loans Ltd (16833937).