Step 4: Your application's assessment

It's in everyone's interest that we make the right decisions about business lending. Here's how a Barclays Business Manager makes an application assessment.

• Your Business Manager will examine your request, checking affordability and product suitability. 
• If he or she thinks finance could be right for your business, the application is entered into our system and checks are made on your personal details. 
• If the value of the finance request is over a certain amount, your Barclays Business Manager can refer the application to a regional Credit Team. Find out more about  how the Credit Teams are involved
• A Barclays Business Manager uses his or her knowledge of your business and the local business market and – if appropriate – the information from the Credit Team to make a decision about your application.

We aim to make a decision within 24 hours and – in urgent cases – we can even transfer funds into your account in a matter of hours. 

Processing times can sometimes take longer due to a number of factors, including these common reasons:

• Gaps in supporting evidence. Make sure you provide all the documents and evidence needed to make a decision as missing information could delay the process. 
• Level of risk. The time it takes us to make a lending decision depends on the amount you have requested and your credit history. In some cases applications are referred to the Credit Team for further analysis. For more information read The Credit Team: who they are and how they make their decisions
• Legal complexity. If you are providing security to support your business finance application, you select your own solicitor and we will correspond with them until the legal agreement has been settled. This can take anything from 2 weeks to 2 years, but an average land charge takes about 10–12 weeks.

For further information on how long your lending application could take to process, speak to your Business Manager.

At Barclays, the interest rates and fees for our finance solutions are always competitive and fair. 

We take into account a range of factors – including the probability of default – to offer your business individual pricing that ensures you won’t subsidise the costs of higher-risk loans. Pricing is also dictated by the cost of acquiring the funds through the wholesale money markets and any operational costs. 

We try to be as flexible as possible, and your Barclays Business Manager will be happy to discuss how interest rates and set-up fees are agreed.

Step 1: Deciding on business finance

Step 2: Contacting us

Step 3: Building your application

Step 4: Your application's assessment

Step 5: Business Manager makes an initial decision

Step 6: Business Manager works with Credit Team

Step 7: The Credit Manager's role

Step 8: Business Manager explains the decision