NatWest: products, terms and eligibility

NatWest is a UK provider of commercial mortgages and bank lending. The legal entity named on its site is National Westminster Bank Plc, company number 00929027. It is based in London. It is part of NatWest Group.

NatWest’s footer names National Westminster Bank plc, registered in England and Wales (No. 929027) with its registered office at 250 Bishopsgate, London, Financial Services Firm Reference Number 121878. It says Lombard Asset Finance, part of NatWest Group, has been supporting businesses for over 160 years. It says NatWest Social & Community Capital is a charity funded and supported by NatWest to lend to social enterprises and community businesses.

In its own words on scale:

• Says it has 21 Broker Development Managers covering a range of sectors (broker page, October 2026).

Everything on this page comes from what NatWest publishes itself. We show the date we last checked it, and we do not rate or rank lenders.

NatWest publishes 5 products for UK businesses. The table above gives the amounts and terms as it states them.

• Small Business Loan: Fixed monthly repayments (fixed interest rate).
• Fixed and Variable Rate Loans: Monthly; interest-only payment break available, subject to approval.
• Commercial Mortgage: Capital & Interest or Straight Line repayment profiles.
• Business Overdraft: Revolving; no set minimum monthly repayment.
• Invoice Finance (Invoice Discounting and Asset Based Lending): Revolving facility.

Small Business Loan

An unsecured, fixed-rate loan of £1,000 to £100,000 over 1 to 7 years for small to medium businesses. It says there are no set-up, early repayment or early closure fees, and payment breaks are not available on this loan. Existing customers can get a quote using Online Banking details; non-customers can still apply online.

Fixed and Variable Rate Loans

Loans from £25,001, up to £10m on a fixed rate (fixed terms of 3, 5, 7, 10 or 15 years) or with no upper limit on a variable rate tracking the NatWest Bank base rate, repaid over up to 25 years. An online quote is available up to £750,000; larger enquiries go to a dedicated team.

Commercial Mortgage

A loan secured against commercial property, from £25,001 over 1 to 25 years on a fixed or variable rate, with Capital & Interest or Straight Line repayment and a capital repayment holiday available subject to approval (interest still payable). As a guideline it says 25% of the property value is typically required as a deposit. Arrangement and security fees may apply.

Real Estate Finance

Funding from £50,000 upwards over up to 20 years for building or developing residential property to sell, investing in residential property let to third parties, or investing in commercial premises leased to businesses.

Asset Finance (Lombard)

Hire purchase over 12 to 84 months on fixed or variable rates, finance and operating leases, and contract hire of cars and vans (typically 24 to 48 months) through Lombard and Lombard Vehicle Solutions. The asset secures the finance agreement.

NatWest says its finance is used for:

• Business growth and long-term projects
• Buying or refinancing commercial premises
• Property development and investment
• Managing short-term cash flow
• Releasing cash tied up in invoices or assets
• Financing vehicles, machinery and equipment

Sectors and business types it says it funds:

• Haulage
• Manufacturing
• Recruitment
• Charities and social enterprises

NatWest publishes these criteria. Meeting them does not mean an application will be accepted: every lender makes its own decision.

• Lending products are for business use only and available to customers aged 18+.
• Applications are subject to status and eligibility.
• Invoice Discounting needs a minimum turnover of £300k.
• Asset Based Lending needs a minimum turnover of £6.5m.
• You don’t need a NatWest business account to apply for a loan.
• Business Overdraft is for existing NatWest customers.

NatWest describes its process like this:

1. Get an online quote, which it says won’t affect your credit score.
2. Complete the application, giving business details, address history and existing lending.
3. Consent to a credit check; the application may be approved in principle and further information requested.
4. Receive an email when funds are available in your chosen account.
5. Brokers on its Broker Panel can request quotes through the Broker Portal.

Information it says it asks for:

• Net profit from the past 12 months (if information doesn’t match its records)
• Evidence that existing lending is due to close or has expired
• 6 months of bank statements if you’ve only recently banked with NatWest
• Evidence of income from a key principal, if relied on
• Proof of business changes, such as a change of name, address or key principals

Every application is subject to status and the lender’s own criteria at the time.

A commercial mortgage is a long-term loan secured on business premises or investment property. Lenders look at the property’s value, the deposit, and whether the business’s profits or the rent comfortably cover the repayments.

Banks often lend across several products, from overdrafts to asset finance, and some can offer facilities under government schemes. See government-backed business loans for how those work.

Our guide to commercial mortgages and bank lending explains the costs, who it suits and how to compare offers.

Points NatWest publishes that are worth knowing:

• Says a personal, director or member’s guarantee may be required; limited companies are asked for a personal guarantee.
• Says there are no early repayment fees on its Small Business Loan, Fixed and Variable Rate Loans and Commercial Mortgage (eligibility criteria apply).
• Invoice finance is provided by RBS Invoice Finance Limited; asset finance is provided by Lombard, and contract hire by Lombard Vehicle Solutions.
• Small Business Loans and overdrafts up to £50,000 can be applied for online; larger amounts go through its lending team.
• Says getting an initial lending quote won’t affect your credit score; a full application involves a credit check.

Security and guarantees

Small Business Loans and online overdrafts up to £50,000 are unsecured. Limited companies are asked for a personal guarantee; a personal, director or member’s guarantee may be required. Commercial mortgages are secured against the commercial property; security fees may apply. Asset finance is secured by the asset being financed; invoice finance may require security.

NatWest’s site states: “Financial Services Firm Reference Number: 121878. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.”

You can check any firm’s permissions on the FCA’s Financial Services Register, listed in the sources below, before you sign anything.

Protections differ by borrower type and loan size. Most lending to limited companies is not regulated consumer credit, so read the agreement and ask the lender what applies to you.

Other providers of commercial mortgages and bank lending with profiles here include OakNorth Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland and Recognise Bank. Each profile uses that lender’s own published terms.

The full list, grouped by product type, is in our directory of UK business lenders.

Capzy is a credit broker, not a lender, and gets paid by the lender. One application lets your business compare options across lenders, so you can weigh this kind of facility against the alternatives. You can check your funding options with a soft search that does not affect your credit score. A full application to a lender may involve a hard search, and any offer is subject to status and lender criteria.