Which bank and card statements are needed for a pub merchant cash advance?

Summary (quick answer): For a pub applying for a merchant cash advance (MCA) most providers will ask for the last 3 months of business bank statements and 3–6 months of merchant/acquirer (card) statements or EPOS reports to prove card takings, settlement patterns, fees, refunds and chargebacks. Seasonal businesses or larger advances often require up to 6–12 months of evidence plus supporting VAT returns or management accounts. Complete checklist, file naming, redaction and alternatives are listed below. Ready to check eligibility? Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

Quick essentials lenders want

• Last 3 months minimum: business bank statements (PDFs) — 6–12 months preferred for seasonal pubs or higher advances.
• Last 3–6 months merchant/acquirer statements (Barclaycard, Worldpay, Elavon, Square, SumUp, Zettle etc.).
• EPOS/till reports showing daily sales, card vs cash split and category breakdown (bar vs food) where available.
• Supporting documents if available: latest VAT return(s), management accounts or accountant letter.
• Note: UK Business Loans does not lend — submit an enquiry and we’ll match your pub with suitable lenders/brokers for advances from around £10,000 upwards. Free Eligibility Check — Get Quote Now

What is a merchant cash advance (MCA)?

An MCA is a form of short-term business finance where repayment is taken from a share of future card takings or by a fixed daily/weekly debit from your business account. It’s popular with hospitality businesses because repayments flex with takings — but because pubs receive a mix of cash and card, lenders closely scrutinise both bank and merchant statements to understand true trading performance.

Why bank & card statements matter for pubs

Pubs are seasonal and often have high cash sales (weekends, events, holidays). Lenders use bank and card evidence to check:

• Consistency of takings and peak trading months;
• Card penetration — how much of turnover is card vs cash (affects repayment ability);
• Settlement patterns (daily batches, rolling averages) and processor fees/refunds;
• Unusual deposits or one-off income that shouldn’t be counted;
• Chargebacks, high refunds or frequent transfers between accounts that could indicate cash leakage.

Good, organised evidence can lead to faster decisions and better terms.

Bank statements — exactly what lenders and brokers will ask for

Time period lenders typically request

• Minimum: last 3 months of business current account statements (PDF).
• Preferred: 6 months for most MCAs; 12 months for larger advances, seasonal pubs or if there is variability in takings.
• New businesses: 3 months + supporting evidence (EPOS reports, VAT returns, accountant statement).

Which bank accounts to include

• Main business current account(s) where takings are deposited.
• Merchant settlement accounts (if different from main current account).
• Savings accounts only if used for trading or deposits/withdrawals relevant to turnover.
• Personal accounts only if the trading company uses them — explain in a cover note (but expect lenders to prefer business accounts).

What details must be visible on statements

Statements should clearly show:

• Bank name or logo, account holder name, sort code and account number (last 4 digits acceptable).
• Date, payer/payee reference, amount and running balance for each transaction.
• Deposit descriptions that show takings (e.g., “Bar takings,” “Card settlement”) — lenders will check for regular settlement patterns.

Example items lenders will check

• Regular card settlement deposits (daily/weekly batches) and the net amounts arriving after fees.
• Supplier payments (breweries, food suppliers), wages, rent and director drawings.
• Large irregular deposits (sale of assets, one-off grants) which lenders may strip out.
• Transfers between owner accounts — flagged and may need explanation.

What to highlight for pubs

When you submit statements, add a short cover note that points out:

• Busy periods (e.g., bank holidays, Christmas, match days) and why they cause spikes;
• Typical card penetration percentage (card receipts ÷ total takings);
• Regular supplier/beer house payments and payroll entries;
• Any temporary one-off deposits or owner transfers that should be excluded from turnover calculations.

Bank statement checklist (ready-to-upload)

• PDF format (downloaded from online banking) — no blurry screenshots.
• Last 3 months minimum; label files clearly (see naming guidance below).
• Include the account number last 4 digits and bank logo where possible.
• Provide a short one-page cover note explaining anomalies.

Card and merchant acquirer statements — what to provide

Which merchant statements matter

Provide statements from the company that processes your card payments: e.g., Barclaycard, Worldpay, Elavon, Global Payments, Square, SumUp, Zettle, PayPal Here. Lenders need to see settlement totals and fees from the acquirer.

Key items lenders check on merchant statements

• Gross card takings vs net settlements (after fees);
• Processing fees and chargeback amounts;
• Daily batch totals and frequency of settlements (daily vs weekly);
• Refunds and returns which reduce net income;
• Merchant ID/schema showing the location and trading name (verifies the account is for the pub).

EPOS / till reports and reconciliation

EPOS exports (Zonal, Lightspeed, Toast, Micros, iZettle back-end, etc.) are extremely helpful. Provide:

• Daily/weekly sales reports showing cash vs card split;
• Category breakdowns (bar drinks vs food) if available;
• CSV exports or PDF reports showing daily takings to reconcile with merchant/acquirer statements.

When EPOS reports reconcile with acquirer settlements, lenders have a clearer picture of true trading income and that speeds decisions.

Merchant statement checklist

• Last 3–6 months of acquirer statements (PDF).
• Daily batch/settlement reports and merchant IDs.
• EPOS daily sales reports (CSV or PDF) showing card versus cash.
• Chargeback history or refunds summary.

If you don’t have all statements — acceptable alternatives

Missing documents don’t always stop an MCA, but lenders may offer less or require higher pricing. Alternatives commonly accepted:

• Accountant-prepared management accounts (summary P&L & cashflow) covering the same months;
• VAT returns for the last 2–4 quarters that corroborate turnover;
• EPOS CSV exports or till rolls combined with bank deposit slips showing when cash was banked;
• Till roll images + bank deposit slips + a signed letter from your accountant confirming trading and takings.

Be upfront in your enquiry — lenders/brokers can advise which alternatives they will accept for your situation.

Preparing and uploading statements — best practice & security

• Download native PDF statements from online banking / merchant portal — avoid photos or screenshots.
• File naming: PubName_Bank_HSBC_01-2025.pdf or PubName_Square_Merchant_03-2025.pdf — keep consistent.
• Redaction: You may obscure unrelated personal details, but do not hide dates, amounts, payer/payee or bank name — lenders must verify these fields.
• Do not edit or alter statement content; doctored documents are fraud and will end the application.
• Upload via secure portal or an encrypted link. If emailing, ensure TLS is used. Keep local copies only as long as necessary.

Practical tips to speed approval for pubs

• Include a one-page cover note summarising peak months, card penetration % and reasons for any unusual deposits.
• Highlight EPOS reconciliation — attach CSV exports where possible to allow automated underwriting.
• Provide contact details for your accountant or bookkeeper for quick verification.
• Be honest about cash vs card mix — lenders value transparency and it reduces follow-up questions.

Next steps — reassurance & how UK Business Loans helps

If you’re ready, gather your bank and merchant statements (PDFs) and complete a short enquiry — it’s not an application, it’s just information we use to match your pub with lenders and brokers who specialise in hospitality. We typically handle enquiries for advances from around £10,000 upwards. Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check

UK Business Loans introduces your enquiry to finance partners — we are an introducer, not a lender. Submitting an enquiry will not affect your credit score and there’s no obligation to proceed.

For sector-specific guidance and other pub finance options see our industry page on pubs business loans.

Frequently asked questions

How many months of bank statements do I really need?

Most MCA providers ask for at least the last 3 months; 6 months is common and 12 months may be required for larger advances or highly seasonal pubs.

Do I need to include personal bank statements?

Only if the business trades through a personal account. Lenders prefer business accounts — if personal accounts are used, disclose and explain transfers in a cover note.

Will EPOS reports be enough if my merchant statements are limited (e.g., SumUp)?

EPOS CSV exports often help support or replace limited acquirer statements, but many lenders still want processor settlement records. Provide both where possible.

Do cash sales matter?

Yes. High cash sales reduce the fraction of turnover available for MCA repayment (which is taken from card receipts or bank debits). Lenders will want to understand cash vs card split.

Will uploading statements affect my credit score?

No — submitting documents for a Free Eligibility Check is an information-gathering step and does not affect your credit file. Lenders may perform checks later if you proceed.

Can I redact customer names on statements for privacy?

You can obscure unrelated personal data, but keep transaction dates, amounts, payer/payee fields and bank identifiers visible. Don’t alter or remove critical information.

How quickly will lenders respond after I submit statements?

Response times vary — many brokers can respond within hours or the same day if documents are complete; complexity or missing docs may lengthen the process.

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Ready to check your pub’s eligibility? Complete a short enquiry and we’ll match your pub with the lenders or brokers best suited to your needs. It’s quick, free and no obligation: Free Eligibility Check — Get Quote Now

– What bank and card statements do I need for a merchant cash advance (MCA) for a pub? — Most MCA providers ask for the last 3 months of business bank statements plus 3–6 months of merchant/acquirer (card) statements or EPOS reports, with 6–12 months preferred for seasonal pubs or larger advances.
– How many months of bank statements do lenders typically request for a pub MCA? — Minimum 3 months is common, 6 months is preferred and 12 months may be required for larger or highly seasonal businesses.
– Can EPOS reports replace merchant acquirer statements when applying for an MCA? — EPOS CSV exports and till reports are very helpful and can sometimes substitute for limited acquirer statements, but many lenders still want processor settlement records to verify takings.
– What alternatives are accepted if I don’t have complete bank or merchant statements? — Lenders often accept accountant-prepared management accounts, recent VAT returns, EPOS CSVs with bank deposit slips, till rolls and an accountant’s letter, though offers may be smaller or priced higher.
– Will submitting statements to UK Business Loans for a Free Eligibility Check affect my credit score? — No — uploading documents for an eligibility enquiry does not affect your credit file; lenders may perform checks later if you choose to proceed.
– What do lenders look for on bank and merchant statements when assessing a pub for an MCA? — They check consistency of takings, card penetration (card vs cash split), settlement frequency, processor fees, refunds/chargebacks and any unusual deposits or transfers.
– How quickly can I expect a response after submitting my bank and merchant statements? — Many brokers and lenders can respond within hours or the same day if documents are complete, while incomplete or complex files may take longer.
– How much can a pub typically borrow with a merchant cash advance? — MCAs commonly start from around £10,000, with the maximum based on your card takings, trading history and lender appetite.
– How should I prepare, name and redact statement files before uploading? — Download native PDFs from your bank/processor, name them clearly (e.g., PubName_Bank_HSBC_03-2025.pdf), lightly redact unrelated personal info but keep dates, amounts and bank identifiers visible, and upload via a secure portal.
– Are personal bank accounts acceptable when applying for a pub MCA? — Only if the business trades through a personal account — lenders prefer business accounts and expect you to explain owner transfers in a cover note.