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Recognise Bank Review

Figures last checked . Independent review by Lendus — we are an introducer, not a lender, and are not paid by Recognise Bank.

What does Recognise Bank offer UK businesses?

Recognise Bank lends £250k to £10M at rates from 0.79% per month (bridging, residential security) to 9.50% p.a. (commercial mortgage Standard Variable Rate). Approval: Online enquiry takes just minutes to submit; Recognise Bank aims to make initial contact within 24 hours and to provide indicative terms within 48 hours. A specific timeframe for final funds release is not published.. Minimum trading history 2+ years. Minimum turnover Not published by Recognise Bank; assessed individually per application.. Figures checked 23 August 2026 and indicative only.

Recognise Bank is a UK challenger bank founded in 2017 that received its full banking licence in 2021. It offers secured business lending, specifically business bridging loans and commercial mortgages, alongside personal and business savings accounts. The bank is headquartered in London and is dual-regulated as a UK bank, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

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

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Amount

£250k – £10M

Rates

0.79% per month (bridging, residential security) – 9.50% p.a. (commercial mortgage Standard Variable Rate)

Recognise Bank does not publish a single blended rate. Business bridging loan rates start from 0.79% per month on residential security or 0.84% per month on commercial security; these are quoted per month, not as an APR. Commercial mortgages are available on fixed or variable terms; the Commercial Standard Variable Rate is currently 9.50%, while fixed rates are individually assessed and not published.

Speed

Online enquiry takes just minutes to submit; Recognise Bank aims to make initial contact within 24 hours and to provide indicative terms within 48 hours. A specific timeframe for final funds release is not published.

What is Recognise Bank?

Recognise Bank (Recognise Bank Limited) is a UK-based business finance provider founded in 2017 and headquartered in London. Recognise Bank is a UK challenger bank founded in 2017 that received its full banking licence in 2021. It offers secured business lending, specifically business bridging loans and commercial mortgages, alongside personal and business savings accounts. The bank is headquartered in London and is dual-regulated as a UK bank, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. .

Founded 2017 London Recognise Bank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the PRA, under Firm Reference Number (FRN) 849404, as stated on its own Terms of Use page.

Where these details come from

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Products offered

Bridging LoansCommercial Mortgages

Rates and costs

Rate range
0.79% per month (bridging, residential security) – 9.50% p.a. (commercial mortgage Standard Variable Rate) (Recognise Bank does not publish a single blended rate. Business bridging loan rates start from 0.79% per month on residential security or 0.84% per month on commercial security; these are quoted per month, not as an APR. Commercial mortgages are available on fixed or variable terms; the Commercial Standard Variable Rate is currently 9.50%, while fixed rates are individually assessed and not published.)
Representative APR
No published representative APR
Amount range
£250,000 – £10,000,000
Approval speed
Online enquiry takes just minutes to submit; Recognise Bank aims to make initial contact within 24 hours and to provide indicative terms within 48 hours. A specific timeframe for final funds release is not published.

Eligibility requirements

Minimum trading history
2+ years
Minimum turnover
Not published by Recognise Bank; assessed individually per application.
Credit requirements
Recognise Bank requires a minimum of 2 years' trading history. Applicants must have no more than five satisfied CCJs in the last 3 years, no missed secured loan repayments in the last 12 months, and must not have been declared bankrupt or entered an IVA or CVA in the last 3 years.

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 Recognise Bank

4

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Large loan sizes available: bridging loans up to £10 million and commercial mortgages up to £3 million
  • Fast initial response, with contact within 24 hours and indicative terms within 48 hours of enquiry
  • High loan-to-value ratios available (up to 80% on residential bridging security, up to 70% on commercial)
  • Wide range of eligible borrower types, including sole traders, partnerships, LLPs, limited companies, PLCs, trusts and SIPPs
  • Strong customer reputation, with a 4.7 Trustpilot score (rated Excellent) from 916 reviews as of August 2026

Cons

  • Minimum loan size of £250,000 rules out businesses needing smaller amounts of finance
  • Requires a minimum of 2 years' trading history, so unsuitable for start-ups
  • No unsecured business loan, invoice finance, or asset finance products; lending is limited to property-secured bridging loans and commercial mortgages
  • Specific fixed rates and minimum turnover criteria are not published; pricing is individually assessed and only revealed after enquiry
  • Recognise Bank's own FAQs describe its business lending as 'unregulated lending products', so these loans sit outside FCA consumer credit conduct protections

Is Recognise Bank right for you?

Best for

Established UK businesses, property investors, and SIPPs with at least 2 years' trading history who need a large, property-secured bridging loan (up to £10 million) or commercial mortgage (up to £3 million), and who value a fast initial response over a published, standardised rate.

Not ideal for

Start-ups or businesses trading under 2 years, businesses needing unsecured working capital, or those needing amounts under £250,000. Also not ideal for borrowers who want fixed, published rates upfront rather than a bespoke quote.

Recognise Bank alternatives

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

West One Loans Shawbrook Bank Allica Bank

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Frequently asked questions about Recognise Bank

Is Recognise Bank legit and FCA regulated?
Yes. Recognise Bank Limited (company number 10603119) is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, under Firm Reference Number 849404, as stated on its own Terms of Use page. It was founded in 2017 and received its full UK banking licence in 2021.
What business lending products does Recognise Bank offer?
Recognise Bank offers two secured business lending products: business bridging loans (from £250,000 to £10 million, terms up to 24 months) and commercial mortgages (from £250,000 to £3 million, terms up to 5 years with repayment profiles up to 25 years). It does not offer unsecured business loans, invoice finance, or asset finance.
What interest rates does Recognise Bank charge?
Recognise Bank does not publish a single blended rate. Business bridging loan rates are quoted per month, starting from 0.79% per month on residential security and 0.84% per month on commercial security; these are monthly rates, not APRs. Commercial mortgages can be fixed or variable rate; the Commercial Standard Variable Rate is currently 9.50%, while fixed rates are individually quoted and not published.
How much can I borrow from Recognise Bank?
Loan sizes range from £250,000 up to £10 million for bridging loans, and £250,000 up to £3 million for commercial mortgages. There is no facility for loans below £250,000.
How fast does Recognise Bank approve applications?
Recognise Bank states that an online enquiry takes just minutes to submit, that it aims to make initial contact within 24 hours, and to provide indicative terms within 48 hours. A specific timeframe for final funding is not published; the bank says only that it aims to release funds 'as quickly as possible' once terms are agreed.
What are the eligibility requirements for Recognise Bank business lending?
Businesses must have a minimum of 2 years' trading history. Applicants must have no more than five satisfied CCJs in the last 3 years, no missed secured loan repayments in the last 12 months, and must not have been declared bankrupt or entered an IVA or CVA in the last 3 years. Eligible borrower types include limited companies, LLPs, sole traders, partnerships, PLCs, trusts and SIPPs registered in the UK, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.
Recognise Bank vs West One, which is better for a bridging loan?
Both lenders offer property-secured bridging loans and commercial mortgages, so the better choice depends on your specific loan size, property type and the rate quoted at the time, since neither publishes a full rate card upfront. Comparing indicative terms from both via Lendus before deciding is worthwhile.
Is Recognise Bank's business lending regulated by the FCA?
Recognise Bank itself is dual-regulated as a bank (authorised by the PRA, regulated by the FCA and PRA, FRN 849404). However, its own FAQs describe its bridging loans and commercial mortgages as 'unregulated lending products', meaning these business-purpose loans generally sit outside FCA consumer credit conduct rules. Deposits held with Recognise Bank are separately protected under the FSCS up to the standard limit.

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