Commercial Finance — Which Business Bank Statements & Accounts Lenders Will Ask For

Summary: When you apply for commercial finance, lenders and brokers will ask to see business bank statements and related accounts to verify trading, cashflow and affordability. For most limited companies and commercial facilities you’ll usually need 3–12 months of business current account statements, recent filed accounts and management accounts, VAT returns (if registered), and any payment‑service provider reports (Stripe/PayPal/Revolut) that show real turnover. Preparing these documents in PDF or CSV format, explaining unusual deposits and naming files clearly will speed up matching and decisions. Ready to check your eligibility? Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check.

Quick summary checklist

You’ll usually need:

• 3–12 months of business current account statements (PDF or CSV).
• Most recently filed company accounts (Companies House) and management accounts if available.
• VAT returns (if registered) and aged debtor lists for invoice finance.
• Payment‑service provider reports (Stripe, PayPal, Square) and merchant statements where relevant.
• Invoices, purchase orders or client contracts to explain large deposits or project income.
• Proof of identity and address for directors (ID, utility bill) — when requested by lenders.

Ready? Start your free check: Free Eligibility Check

Why lenders need bank statements

Lenders and brokers use bank statements as the primary source of evidence for how a business actually trades. Statements show:

• Real cashflow: receipts from customers, outgoing costs, payroll and VAT payments.
• Affordability: can the business meet monthly repayments alongside normal operating costs?
• Deposit and security: where funds for deposits or project costs come from.
• Consistency and risk: irregular or unexplained transactions raise questions and can affect terms.

Underwriting ranges from automated affordability checks for small facilities to detailed credit committee reviews for larger commercial loans — but bank statements are central to both.

Exactly which accounts & statements lenders commonly require

The exact documents depend on business type and product. Below are the typical asks by facility and sector.

Limited companies

• Business current account statements: typically the last 3–6 months for standard loans, but expect 6–12 months for commercial mortgages or development lending; sometimes 12–24 months for complex or large facilities.
• Filed statutory accounts: Companies House accounts for the last 1–3 years (helps confirm turnover and profitability).
• Management accounts: recent monthly or quarterly management accounts if your filed accounts are out of date — very useful for fast decisions.
• Corporation tax computations / CT600: sometimes requested for verification of declared profits.
• VAT returns: showing declared sales and VAT payments (if VAT-registered).
• Bank reference or confirmation letters: less common, but may be asked for larger facilities or unfamiliar accounts.

Partnerships (including LLPs)

• Business account statements: last 3–12 months depending on product size.
• Partnership accounts or tax computations: recent partnership financials or tax returns.
• Management accounts and contracts: to show recurring revenue and identify key clients.
• Lenders will check partners’ personal financial position for security or guarantees on larger loans.

Development & commercial property finance

Property and development lenders require deeper scrutiny because they need to see fund flow into and out of projects:

• 6–12+ months business and project bank statements (sometimes more for staged or complex developments).
• Project cost schedules, contractor/supplier contracts, planning consents and valuations.
• Evidence of deposits/funding sources and client/forward sale contracts if applicable.
• Director personal statements and sometimes personal asset declarations if security is required.

Asset, equipment & vehicle finance

• 3–6 months business account statements showing regular turnover and ability to afford repayments.
• Supplier quotes or invoices for the asset being purchased.
• VAT registration details where VAT is reclaimable.
• Some lenders accept shorter trading histories for asset finance but may request a larger deposit or personal guarantees.

Invoice finance & merchant cash advance

• Invoice finance: 3–6 months showing invoice receipts, aged debtor schedules and client concentration details.
• Merchant cash advance (MCA): 3–6 months card and merchant statements (Stripe/PayPal), plus business bank statements to show actual banked turnover and chargebacks.
• Lenders analyse daily/monthly turnover patterns rather than just annual figures for these products.

Alternative banking & payment platforms (Stripe, PayPal, Revolut, Wise)

For e‑commerce and platform businesses, lenders accept PSP reports as primary evidence of trading:

• Downloadable transaction reports and settlement histories from PSP dashboards.
• Bank statements showing transfers from PSP accounts to your business bank account (to reconcile PSP receipts).
• CSV exports or PDF statements from PSPs are preferred over screenshots.

How many months of statements & format

Typical expectations:

• Quick working-capital or small asset finance: 3 months may be sufficient.
• Most commercial loans and asset finance: 6 months is common.
• Commercial mortgages, development finance and larger facilities: 6–12 (or 12–24) months and audited accounts for big-ticket deals.

Acceptable formats: bank PDFs, official monthly statements, CSV exports from online banking or accounting software. Avoid low-quality screenshots unless specifically asked. If you only have electronic statements, saving each month as a clear PDF is best.

What else lenders will usually ask for

Beyond bank statements, lenders commonly request:

• VAT returns, corporation tax filings or SA figures for partners.
• Management accounts, cashflow forecasts and business plans for growth or development loans.
• Invoices, purchase orders and major customer contracts to explain large receipts.
• Proof of deposit for property or asset purchases.
• Identification and proof of address for directors/partners (when progressing to application stage).

Practical checklist & ready-to-upload guide

Prepare before you submit an enquiry to speed matching and offers:

• Name files clearly: e.g., CompanyName_Statement_Apr2025.pdf.
• Include the most recent management accounts if filed statutory accounts are old.
• Provide PSP transaction exports and bank transfers that reconcile PSP receipts to your business account.
• Don’t alter amounts or dates when redacting — you may redact unrelated personal details but not transaction values.
• If you have unusual deposits, add a short note (one page) explaining the source (invoice number, client name).

Use this checklist when you complete our enquiry. It reduces back-and-forth and speeds responses from brokers and lenders.

Common problems, red flags & how to fix them

Typical issues and quick fixes:

• Large unexplained deposits: provide invoices, sales agreements or a short letter explaining the source.
• Mixed personal & business accounts: open a separate business current account and move future trading through it; provide an explanation and supporting invoices for earlier months.
• Frequent overdrafts: prepare a cashflow forecast and explain seasonality or one‑off issues.
• Missing months: request reissued statements from your bank or export CSVs from online banking.
• Non‑UK accounts / multi‑currency flows: provide conversion summaries and extra documentation to show final GBP banked amounts.

Honesty and documentation go a long way — it’s better to explain unusual items than to let lenders guess.

How UK Business Loans uses your statements and data

UK Business Loans is an introducer that matches your enquiry with lenders and brokers — we do not lend. When you submit documents via our secure enquiry process we will only share them with selected partners that are most likely to help your business, and only with your consent.

• Documents are handled securely using encrypted uploads and limited access.
• We share your information only to obtain a free eligibility check and to enable lenders/brokers to make an informed contact or offer.
• Submitting an enquiry and documents for an eligibility check does not, by itself, affect your credit score. Lenders may carry out credit checks later if you progress with an application.

Ready to prepare your documents and get matched?

Complete our short enquiry and upload your statement pack — it only takes a few minutes and there’s no obligation. We’ll match you to lenders and brokers with relevant commercial finance solutions (from around £10,000 upward) and they’ll contact you with options.

Get Quote Now — Free Eligibility Check — quick, confidential and no obligation.

Frequently asked questions

Will submitting bank statements affect my credit score?

No. Uploading documents for a free eligibility check via our enquiry does not affect your credit file. Lenders may perform credit searches later if you choose to proceed with an application.

Can I redact customer names on statements?

Yes — you can redact unrelated personal data for privacy, but do not alter transaction amounts or dates. Provide supporting invoices or a short note to clarify redacted entries if needed.

How do I send statements securely?

Use our secure upload during the enquiry process. Avoid sending unencrypted documents by regular email where possible.

What if I don’t have 6 months of history?

Some lenders accept 3 months for smaller facilities or asset finance; for larger commercial or property facilities lenders generally prefer 6–12 months. If you have limited history, provide invoices, contracts and management accounts to support the application.

Are PSP statements (Stripe, PayPal) accepted?

Yes. Provide downloadable reports from your PSP dashboard plus bank statements showing transfers to your business account so turnover can be reconciled.

Do you handle property & development finance?

Yes — for commercial property and development funding expect to provide project-specific bank statements, cost schedules and valuations. For more on options for property projects see our commercial finance information here: commercial finance.

Legal / compliance disclaimer

UK Business Loans acts as an introducer and does not lend or provide regulated financial advice. We connect businesses with lenders and brokers who will provide terms specific to any offer. All finance options are subject to eligibility, credit checks and provider terms. Check representative terms with any lender or broker before proceeding.

1. What documents do lenders usually ask for when applying for a business loan in the UK?
Most lenders request 3–12 months of business bank statements (PDF/CSV), recent filed accounts and management accounts, VAT returns if registered, invoices/contracts to explain large deposits, and ID/address for directors when progressing an application.

2. How many months of business bank statements do I need for a commercial loan or commercial mortgage?
Expect to provide 3 months for small working-capital or asset finance, 6 months for most commercial loans, and 6–12 (sometimes 12–24) months plus audited accounts for commercial mortgages and larger development finance.

3. Will uploading my bank statements through UK Business Loans affect my credit score?
No — submitting documents for a free eligibility check does not affect your credit file, though lenders may carry out credit checks later if you choose to proceed.

4. Are Stripe, PayPal, Revolut and other PSP statements accepted as proof of trading for a business loan?
Yes — lenders accept downloadable PSP transaction reports and settlement histories provided you also supply bank statements that reconcile PSP transfers into your business account.

5. Can I redact customer names or sensitive information on my bank statements before uploading?
Yes — you can redact unrelated personal data for privacy but must not alter transaction amounts or dates and should provide supporting invoices or a short explanation for any redactions.

6. What should I do if my accounts show mixed personal and business transactions?
Open a dedicated business current account, start channeling trading through it, and provide a brief note and supporting invoices to explain historic mixed transactions to lenders.

7. How quickly will UK Business Loans match my enquiry to lenders and brokers?
Our introducer service typically matches you with relevant UK lenders and brokers within hours of your enquiry so you can receive fast, no‑obligation responses.

8. Can I get finance with limited trading history or imperfect credit?
Yes — some lenders specialise in start-ups or businesses with limited trading history and others consider applications with imperfect credit provided you supply strong supporting documents and realistic cashflow forecasts.

9. What extra documents are required for development and commercial property finance?
You’ll usually need extended project bank statements, detailed cost schedules, contractor contracts, planning consents, valuations, evidence of deposits and forward-sale or tenant contracts where applicable.

10. Will lenders ask for personal guarantees or director security for commercial or asset finance?
Some lenders may require personal guarantees or director security depending on loan size, sector and risk, so be prepared to provide director ID, personal financials and possibly security if requested.