Compare loans companies
Which loan providers do we compare?
Read on to find out what loans could be available if you compare today.
List of loan companies in the UK that we compare
Here are some of the loan providers in the UK that we compare. There are well-known high street banks alongside some smaller loan brands. See which loans you could be accepted for before you apply, without affecting your credit rating, with our loan finder comparison service.
The rate providers will offer you depends on their own lending criteria, your individual circumstances, the loan amount and the payback period. All loans are subject to status.
118 118 Money
Set up in 2013 with the aim of shaking up the traditional UK financial services industry with its unsecured personal loans, 118 118 Money offers loans from £1,000 to £5,000 to be paid back over 12-36 months.
Abound
Abound offers loans of £2,000 to £10,000. Abound is a trading name of Fintern Limited. It was launched in January 2023 to replace its Fintern brand for borrowers.
Admiral
Admiral was originally set up in 1993 to specialise in car insurance but has expanded into other areas including loans. Admiral says you’ll need a minimum annual income of £19,000 to be eligible for a loan (as of March 2024).
Bamboo
Bamboo offers personal loans from £2,000 to £15,000 over 12-60 months. Borrowers need to be generally in good credit standing. Its loan repayments are collected from your debit card using a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA).
Barclays
Barclays offers loans from £1,000 up to £50,000 for up to five years. It’s also possible to top up an existing Barclays loan if the need arises.
Finio Loans
Finio Loans is a new brand of loans from Oakbrook Finance. It offers loans up to £5,000. It uses open banking for some applications to make sure that the loan you’re applying for is affordable for you.
Fluro
Fluro offers loans from £1,000 to £25,000, paid back over up to 60 months. You can make overpayments at no extra cost or settle everything at any time.
Halifax
Halifax will let you borrow up to £50,000, if you have a Halifax current account. If you don't bank with Halifax, you can ask to borrow up to £25,000. Halifax offers terms between one to seven years. You can ask for up to two repayment holidays a year (subject to approval).
Hastings Direct
Hastings offers loans between £1,000 and £25,000, for up to five years. To be eligible you’ll need to be in employment or retired and have a minimum annual income of £15,000.
HSBC
Borrow from £1,000 to £25,000 with fixed monthly payments of up to 60 months for loans up to £15,000, or up to 96 months for loans over £15,000 with HSBC. You must have an annual UK taxable income or pension, before tax, of £10,000 or more. You don’t have to bank with HSBC to apply but loans are not available for customers with a Basic Bank Account.
M&S Bank
Borrow between £1,000 and £25,000 for between 12 and 84 months. To apply for an M&S Loan, you must have an annual income of at least £10,000.
MBNA
MBNA offers loans of between £1,000 to £25,000 to repay over one to seven years. You can apply for up to two repayment holidays of one month in a rolling 12-month period, depending on approval. Interest will still be charged for the months that you don’t make any payments.
My Community Finance
Credit unions are not-for-profit financial organisations, offering loans and savings accounts. My Community Finance is your way to access these. The credit unions it works with provide loans between £1,500 and £25,000 and payback periods of 12-60 months. My Community Finance is a credit broker, not a lender.
Novuna Personal Finance
Previously known as Hitachi Capital, it only offers loans, no other financial products. Borrow from £1,000 to £35,000 and spread your repayments over two to seven years.
Oakbrook Loans
Oakbrook Loans range from £1,000 to £5,000. Depending on the amount borrowed, its loans are available from 12-36 months. It will consider applications from people who don’t have perfect credit scores as long as you have some UK credit history and haven’t been made bankrupt in the last 12 months.
Plata
A Fintech lending company, Plata’s application process is supported by open banking and digital verification. It offers loans between £2,000 and £20,000 with terms of 12-60 months. You’ll need to have a debit card to apply for a Plata loan as loan repayments are collected from the card using a Continuous Payment Authority (CPA).
Santander
Santander has a range of personal loans from £1,000 to £25,000 to repay over one to five years. You must be aged 21 or over and have a good credit record. For loans up to £19,999, you must have a regular yearly income of over £10,500, or over £20,000 for loans between £20,000 and £25,000.
Shawbrook Bank
Shawbrook is a specialist bank concentrating on lending and saving. Borrow £1,000 to £50,000 over one to seven years. You have to be 21 with an annual income of at least £15,000 to apply.
Tesco Bank
Borrow from £1,000 to £35,000, with loan terms of 1-10 years. Tesco Bank is being taken over by Barclays. The sale is expected to take place in the second half of 2024 and will include Tesco Bank’s Credit Card, Loans and Savings accounts.
Zopa
Zopa offers loans of £1,000 to £35,000 to be paid back between one and seven years. In 2005, Zopa built the first ever peer-to-peer (P2P) lending company, and in 2020, it launched Zopa Bank, offering a wider range of products.
Compare the Market Limited acts as a credit broker, not a lender. To apply you must be a UK resident and aged 18 or over. Credit is subject to status and eligibility.
Other loan providers
As well as the providers we work with, there are other loan providers, including banks, high street lenders and finance companies.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best loan provider?
There is no one best loan provider. Choosing the right loan provider for you will depend on your own personal circumstances and credit history, how much you want to borrow and for how long.
The best loan provider for you can also depend on whether you want to be able to pop into your local bank branch if you have a question or whether you’re happy to deal with your loan solely online. When choosing, you may also want to look at how lenders are rated and reviewed for their customer service, if this is important to you.
Should I get my loan from my bank or building society?
Some banks and building societies offer preferential rates to their current account customers, so it may depend on who you bank with.
It can be a good idea to see if you’re eligible for a building society or bank loan and what interest rate you could be offered, if you can do this without it going on your credit record. This will give you something to compare other potential lenders against.
Should I get a loan from a high-street lender or supermarket?
When choosing a loan, you should choose the deal that’s right for you. Make sure you fully understand the terms of any loan, and how this compares with other loans you’re likely to be accepted for.
Loans are offered by a wide range of providers from supermarkets, banks and building societies and a range of new specialist providers that use technology to help them decide who to lend money to.
Each may have their own advantages. For example, supermarkets may offer lower loan rates to holders of their loyalty cards, while banks may offer preferential rates to their current account customers. That’s why it makes sense to compare loans.
When getting a loan, make sure any lender is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, particularly if it’s a name you don’t recognise.
Which types of loans can I get?
Personal loans are typically unsecured loans or secured loans where you put something you own, like your home, as security. If you don’t keep up your loan payments you could lose your home.
You may also find different types of loans to help pay for a car.
Debt consolidation loans enable you to combine several existing debts into one payment plan to simplify your bills and lower your monthly repayments. But they could mean that you pay more overall.
A guarantor loan is a type of unsecured personal loan. It’s guaranteed by someone – a family member or friend – who promises to take over repayments if you can’t pay back your loan.
Bad credit loans are designed for people with poor credit history. They typically have high rates of interest and lower loan amounts. You may need a guarantor too.