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Lombard Review

Lombard is the UK's oldest and largest asset finance company, founded in 1861 and now part of NatWest Group. Lombard provides hire purchase, finance leases, and operating leases for vehicles, plant, machinery, and equipment across virtually every sector. With over 160 years in business, Lombard has funded billions of pounds in assets for UK businesses ranging from sole traders to large corporations.

Written by the Lendus editorial team. Last updated: April 2026.

200+ UK lenders
2-minute application
No credit check to apply
FCA-regulated brokers

Amount

£3k – £50M

Rates

4% – 15%

per annum

Speed

Within 2–5 working days

Trustpilot

3.8/5

300 reviews

What is Lombard?

Lombard (Lombard North Central Plc) is a UK-based business finance provider founded in 1861 and headquartered in London. Lombard is the UK's oldest and largest asset finance company, founded in 1861 and now part of NatWest Group. Lombard provides hire purchase, finance leases, and operating leases for vehicles, plant, machinery, and equipment across virtually every sector. With over 160 years in business, Lombard has funded billions of pounds in assets for UK businesses ranging from sole traders to large corporations. They have lent £30 billion to date, helping 500,000+ UK businesses.

Founded 1861 London Lombard North Central Plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA reference number 137710. Part of NatWest Group Plc.

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Products offered

Asset Finance

Rates and costs

Rate range
4% – 15% (per annum)
Representative APR
8.5% APR representative
Amount range
£3,000 – £50,000,000
Approval speed
Within 2–5 working days

Representative example

Borrow £100,000 over 48 months. Total repayable: £116,000. Cost of credit: £16,000. Your rate depends on your circumstances.

Eligibility requirements

Minimum trading history
24+ months
Minimum turnover
£100,000
Credit requirements
Good to excellent credit preferred. Asset finance secured against the financed asset. Full business financials required for larger deals.

How to apply

1

Check eligibility through Lendus — answer a few questions about your business and funding needs (2 minutes)

2

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3

Review your matched options — see rates, terms, and eligibility from multiple providers including Lombard

4

Choose the best offer and complete the application with your matched lender directly

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • UK's oldest asset finance company with over 160 years of expertise
  • Handles very large deal sizes up to £50 million for major acquisitions
  • Wide asset coverage: vehicles, plant, machinery, technology, and more
  • Part of NatWest Group — financial strength and regulatory security

Cons

  • Traditional underwriting process is slower than fintech asset finance providers
  • Minimum 2 years trading and strong credit profile required
  • Less suitable for small ticket deals under £10,000
  • Less flexible terms compared to independent asset finance specialists

Is Lombard right for you?

Best for

Established businesses needing large or complex asset finance deals for vehicles, plant or machinery, especially those already banking with NatWest or RBS

Not ideal for

Startups, young businesses, or companies needing fast approval on small asset finance deals

Lombard alternatives

If Lombard isn't the right fit, consider these alternatives:

Close Brothers Nucleus Commercial Finance Funding Circle Fleximize

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Frequently asked questions about Lombard

Is Lombard legit?
Yes, Lombard is one of the UK's most established and reputable financial institutions. Lombard North Central Plc was founded in 1861 and is part of NatWest Group, one of the UK's largest banking groups. It is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA reference 137710) and has provided asset finance to UK businesses for over 160 years. You can verify their regulatory status at register.fca.org.uk.
What are Lombard interest rates?
Lombard asset finance rates typically range from around 4% to 15% per annum, depending on the asset type, deal size, term, and credit profile of the business. The representative APR for typical hire purchase facilities is approximately 8.5%. Rates for large, creditworthy businesses may be significantly lower. All rates are individually quoted based on your specific circumstances.
Can I get Lombard asset finance with bad credit?
Lombard applies traditional credit standards as part of NatWest Group and generally requires a good to excellent credit profile for standard products. Asset finance is secured against the asset itself, which provides some mitigation, but businesses with recent CCJs or significant adverse credit history are unlikely to qualify. Businesses with credit issues should consider specialist asset finance providers such as Close Brothers or nucleus-commercial-finance.
How much can I borrow from Lombard?
Lombard can finance assets from around £3,000 up to £50 million or more for large corporate transactions. Most SME deals fall in the range of £25,000 to £2 million. Deal size is determined by the value of the asset, your business's financial strength, and creditworthiness. Lombard is one of the few asset finance providers capable of handling very large individual asset purchases.
Is Lombard FCA regulated?
Yes, Lombard North Central Plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FCA reference number 137710. As part of NatWest Group, Lombard operates under the same regulatory framework as one of the UK's largest banking groups. This provides strong consumer protection and regulatory oversight for all customers.
How long does Lombard asset finance take to approve?
Lombard typically takes 2 to 5 working days for standard SME asset finance applications. Larger or more complex deals requiring full credit committee approval may take longer — sometimes 1 to 2 weeks. The process involves reviewing business accounts, credit history, and asset details. Lombard is not designed for same-day decisions; businesses needing fast funding should consider fintech alternatives.
Can I repay Lombard finance early?
Early settlement is possible on Lombard hire purchase and finance lease agreements, though an early settlement charge may apply. The settlement figure will typically include an element of future interest, calculated in accordance with the Consumer Credit Act or your specific agreement terms. Contact your Lombard relationship manager to request a formal early settlement quotation.
Lombard vs Close Brothers — which is better for asset finance?
Both Lombard and Close Brothers are well-established UK asset finance providers, but they have different strengths. Lombard, as the UK's oldest asset finance company and part of NatWest Group, has greater scale and can handle significantly larger deal sizes, making it preferable for large plant and vehicle fleets. Close Brothers offers a broader product suite including invoice finance alongside asset finance, and tends to have deeper specialist sector expertise in areas such as agriculture and professional services. For most SME asset finance needs, either is a strong choice — the decision often comes down to your existing banking relationship.

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