Kriya vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance: 2026 Comparison

Kriya, a British fintech now part of Allica Bank, provides invoice finance and working capital solutions to UK businesses via its online platform, with core products detailed on its invoice finance page and business funding overview on its main site.¹ Close Brothers Invoice Finance, part of Close Brothers Group plc, offers relationship led invoice discounting, factoring and asset based lending to established UK firms, as outlined on its invoice finance products hub and About Us page.² Both providers aim to unlock cash tied up in accounts receivable, but they differ in ownership structure, service model and the way facilities are packaged and delivered.^1,2 This comparison looks at products, pricing mechanics, service approach and eligibility so that UK SMEs can understand where each lender fits, using only information that can be verified from official and reputable sources as of 2026.^1,2,3,4

1. Products and terms at a glance

1.1 Kriya

Kriya is a UK based fintech that provides business finance and embedded B2B payment solutions, including invoice finance and working capital lending, as summarised on its main site.¹ The company positions its invoice finance product as a way to turn unpaid invoices into instant capital, with the process and key features outlined on its invoice finance solution page.³ Key product features, based on the invoice finance page and FAQ:^3,5

• Type of facility: selective or ongoing invoice finance, where businesses can upload individual invoices or use a rolling facility
• Use of funds: general working capital, smoothing cash flow while waiting for customers to pay
• Core process: upload invoice, Kriya verifies the customer and terms, then advances a percentage of the invoice value, with the balance (minus fees) paid when the customer settles
• Support model: primarily online via a web portal, with support options signposted through its Get Support page
• Other products: Kriya also offers PayLater and working capital loans, but this comparison focuses on invoice finance

Kriya describes eligibility in broad terms across its FAQs and lender review summaries. Finder notes that for Kriya’s confidential invoice finance, historically the business needed to be a UK or Ireland limited company or LLP with a minimum turnover threshold, although the specific figures can change, so current criteria **varies**.⁶ As of 2026, Kriya is part of Allica Bank, which signals a focus on established SMEs rather than micro businesses, according to Allica’s acquisition announcement.⁴ Kriya’s detailed invoice finance FAQs state that customers are expected to keep Kriya updated about any delay or dispute on funded invoices and to notify them within a set period, which underlines the ongoing monitoring involved in a facility.⁵

1.2 Close Brothers Invoice Finance

Close Brothers Invoice Finance trades as a specialist invoice finance division within Close Brothers Group plc, a UK merchant banking group, as confirmed on its About Us page.² It presents itself as an invoice finance and asset based lending specialist, with core products listed on its products hub.⁷ Core products for UK businesses include:^7,8

• Invoice discounting, described as offering instant access to cash tied up in unpaid invoices while the business retains control of credit control, on the invoice discounting product page
• Invoice factoring, where Close Brothers advances funds against invoices and its in house team manages collections, as described on the invoice factoring page
• Asset based lending, where additional facilities secured against stock, plant and machinery or other assets can sit alongside invoice finance, as noted on Close Brothers Group’s invoice finance overview
• Invoice finance calculator, a simple tool that illustrates potential funding against debtor book size, linked from the products hub

According to Close Brothers’ own description, these products are relationship managed, with local teams across the UK providing ongoing support to clients, as highlighted on its About Us and marketing materials.^2,8 A 2026 comparison by Hello Aria describes Close Brothers as focusing on established B2B businesses and offering both invoice factoring and discounting, again indicating that the lender targets more mature firms rather than startups, though specific eligibility thresholds **vary** and can change over time.⁹

1.3 Facility structures and terms compared

Based on the official product pages and 2026 secondary reviews:^3,5,8,9,10

• Facility type: Kriya emphasises flexible, often selective invoice finance that can be used on individual invoices as needed, while Close Brothers tends to offer full ledger invoice discounting or factoring facilities and can wrap these into wider asset based lending structures
• Ownership and funding: Kriya operates as a fintech brand within Allica Bank, which is a UK SME focused bank; Close Brothers Invoice Finance is a division of Close Brothers Group plc, a London listed merchant banking group
• Service model: Kriya is primarily digital and portal based, whereas Close Brothers stresses relationship management and in person or phone based account handling
• Minimum and maximum facility sizes: Neither lender publishes a complete, current range of facility limits for every product, and figures reported in older reviews may be out of date, so available limits **vary** subject to underwriting
• Contract length: Kriya is widely described by reviewers as offering flexible, pay as you go style facilities for invoice finance, while Close Brothers more often structures committed facilities, but current contract terms and notice periods **vary** and must be confirmed in each offer letter

2. Costs and repayments in practice

Neither Kriya nor Close Brothers Invoice Finance publishes a full public tariff of discount rates, service fees or arrangement fees across all products. As a result, any numerical examples in this section are illustrative only and should not be relied on as a quote. Where possible, this section focuses on cost structures using information from official and reputable sources.

2.1 Cost components for Kriya

Kriya’s invoice finance FAQ explains the general commercial model without giving specific prices. It indicates that Kriya advances a percentage of each approved invoice and then charges fees, which are deducted when the customer pays, with the balance remitted to the business.⁵ External reviews such as ExpertSure describe Kriya’s model as PAYG invoice finance with charges that reflect the invoice value and how long funds are advanced, but they also confirm that exact pricing depends on the business profile and facility, so it **varies**.¹⁰ Typical cost elements, based on Kriya’s explanations and standard invoice finance practice, are:

• An advance rate, the percentage of the invoice value Kriya pays upfront
• A discount charge, effectively interest on the funds advanced until the customer pays
• Service or transaction fees, which may apply per invoice or as a facility charge

Kriya’s materials do not state specific APRs, factor rates or fixed fee bands for 2026, so businesses must obtain personalised quotes.

2.2 Cost components for Close Brothers Invoice Finance

Close Brothers’ product pages explain how invoice discounting and factoring work but do not publish a detailed rate table.^7,8 Its invoice discounting page notes that the facility provides instant access to cash tied up in invoices, suggesting that, as with most invoice finance facilities, pricing is based on a combination of a service fee and a discount charge rather than a single APR.⁷ The invoice factoring page similarly focuses on features, such as outsourced credit control, rather than specific prices.⁸ A 2026 ExpertSure invoice factoring review confirms that Close Brothers typically structures costs around a service fee and discount rate that depend on turnover, sector and risk profile, and that there can be additional charges for optional services, but again stresses that exact fees **vary**.¹¹ Common cost components under Close Brothers’ model include:^7,8,11

• Service fee, often calculated as a percentage of gross invoice value, covering administration and credit control (for factoring)
• Discount charge, interest on the amount advanced until the debtor pays
• Optional extras, such as bad debt protection or additional audit fees, where taken

2.3 Illustrative comparison table

The table below provides a qualitative comparison of typical structures. It is based on the lenders’ product descriptions and independent reviews but contains no specific rates or fees.

2.4 Worked example 1, selective invoice finance

This example illustrates how costs might work when a business finances a single invoice with Kriya or a similar selective invoice finance product. Numbers are purely illustrative, not based on any published Kriya pricing. Assumptions:

• Invoice value: £100,000 including VAT
• Advance rate: 85 percent (illustrative, actual rate varies)
• Customer pays in 45 days
• Illustrative discount cost equivalent to 8 percent per annum on funds advanced
• Illustrative transaction fee: 1 percent of invoice value

Illustrative cash flows:

• Day 1, advance received: 85 percent of £100,000 = £85,000
• Discount cost: £85,000 × 8 percent × 45 / 365 ≈ £837 (rounded)
• Transaction fee: 1 percent × £100,000 = £1,000
• Total costs: £1,837
• On customer payment, remaining 15 percent (£15,000) minus £1,837 is released, so the final balance received would be about £13,163

In this illustration, the business ultimately receives £85,000 + £13,163 = £98,163 from a £100,000 invoice, implying an effective cost of around 1.84 percent of the invoice value over 45 days. Real world pricing could be higher or lower depending on the facility and risk profile.

2.5 Worked example 2, full ledger invoice discounting

This example shows how a typical invoice discounting facility, like those offered by Close Brothers, might work in practice. Figures are illustrative only and not based on any disclosed Close Brothers pricing. Assumptions:

• Annual turnover: £5 million
• Average debtor days: 45
• Eligible debtor book at any time: £600,000
• Advance rate: 85 percent (illustrative, actual rate varies)
• Illustrative service fee: 1 percent of annual turnover
• Illustrative discount charge: 7 percent per annum on funds advanced

Illustrative calculations:

• Maximum funds available: 85 percent of £600,000 = £510,000
• Service fee: 1 percent of £5 million = £50,000 per year
• Average utilisation: assume the business borrows £400,000 on average
• Discount cost: £400,000 × 7 percent = £28,000 per year
• Total annual cost: £50,000 + £28,000 = £78,000

If the facility enables the business to take on additional contracts or smooth cash flow so that it can negotiate better supplier terms, the net benefit might outweigh the cost, but each business would need to model this using its own data, ideally with a dedicated cash flow or finance planning tool.

2.6 Practical cost considerations

For both lenders, SMEs should pay close attention to:^5,7,8,10,11

• Minimum fees or annual service charges that apply even if utilisation is low
• Notice periods and early termination fees, which may apply for contract based facilities
• Additional charges for credit checks, audits or bad debt protection
• How quickly invoices are funded and any surcharges for higher risk debtors or export invoices

Because neither lender provides a public rate card for 2026, the only reliable way to compare hard costs is by obtaining like for like quotes and modelling them against projected usage, ideally using internal cash flow models or a business loan style calculator.

3. Speed and service

3.1 Kriya

Kriya’s positioning as a fintech platform emphasises speed and digital processes, highlighting that businesses can upload invoices through a portal and receive advances once the invoices are approved.^3,5 Its FAQ notes that the approval process involves verifying the customer and payment terms, but it does not guarantee specific funding timescales in 2026, so actual approval and payout times **vary**.⁵ Customer experience is partly reflected in third party reviews. A 2026 ExpertSure review describes Kriya as offering fast, flexible facilities for SMEs, while also noting that suitability depends on turnover and trading profile.¹⁰ Trustpilot scores show a generally positive rating, but as reviews change frequently, current ratings and feedback should be checked directly on Trustpilot’s Kriya page at the time of decision.¹² Support for existing Kriya customers is routed through its Get Support contact page, which details phone and email options, and the main FAQ portal for general queries.^2,5

3.2 Close Brothers Invoice Finance

Close Brothers frames itself as a relationship based provider. Its About Us page states that it is part of Close Brothers Group plc, a UK specialist banking group, and emphasises long term support for businesses across cycles, with local specialist teams.² Product materials and external reviews note that every facility is relationship managed, which can include visits and ongoing support from dedicated managers, although the frequency and format of this support **varies**.^8,9,11 Close Brothers does not publish guaranteed approval or funding timescales for invoice finance in 2026. As a bank owned provider, onboarding may involve more extensive due diligence and legal documentation than some purely digital platforms, so timelines will depend on facility type, complexity and the quality of information supplied. Independent reviews like the 2026 ExpertSure guide describe Close Brothers as a strong option for established firms that value support and stability over pure speed, but they do not quantify timing, again noting that it **varies**.¹¹

3.3 Service and speed comparison

Based on the available evidence:^{2,3,5,8,9,10,11}

• Kriya may feel faster and more self service for routine transactions, especially where the facility is already in place and the business is simply uploading new invoices
• Close Brothers may involve more initial work to set up but provides closer ongoing contact with named relationship managers
• Neither lender commits publicly to specific same day or next day standards for all customers, so actual speed will depend on due diligence, sector and invoice quality

4. Who each lender suits

This section interprets the lenders’ own positioning and reputable reviews. It is intended as a qualitative guide only and not as personalised advice.

4.1 Kriya, indicative fit

Based on Kriya’s product descriptions and reviews:^1,3,4,6,10

• Business profile, limited companies or LLPs trading B2B with regular invoices, often in services or technology sectors
• Turnover: Kriya is associated with SME working capital finance in the low to mid millions, but exact minimum and maximum turnover requirements **vary**
• Facility needs: selective or flexible invoice finance rather than fully outsourced ledger management
• Digital readiness: businesses comfortable using an online portal for onboarding, invoice upload and reporting
• Ownership preference: comfortable with a fintech provider backed by a specialist bank rather than a traditional high street bank

4.2 Close Brothers Invoice Finance, indicative fit

Close Brothers’ materials and secondary reviews suggest it is often chosen by larger or more established SMEs and lower mid market firms:^2,7,8,9,11

• Business profile: B2B firms with substantial debtor books, including manufacturers, wholesalers and service businesses
• Turnover: ExpertSure reports that Close Brothers is best suited to businesses with at least several hundred thousand pounds of annual turnover, often £500,000 or more, although exact thresholds **vary** by product and risk profile
• Facility needs: full ledger invoice discounting or factoring, potentially combined with asset based lending against stock or plant
• Service expectations: preference for a named relationship manager and a bank affiliated brand

4.3 Overlaps and alternatives

There is overlap between the two providers, particularly for established SMEs seeking working capital secured on invoices. Businesses operating at the margin of each lender’s target profile may also want to look at other selective invoice finance and working capital loan providers to benchmark.

5. How to apply

5.1 Applying with Kriya

The Kriya website allows prospective business customers to start the process online. Steps, based on Kriya’s invoice finance and support pages:^3,5

• Initial enquiry: businesses typically start by completing an online form or booking a call via the invoice finance solution page
• Information submission: Kriya will request details such as company information, recent financials and debtor information so it can assess eligibility
• Offer stage: if the business meets criteria, Kriya provides indicative terms; these will specify advance rates, fees and any concentration limits
• Onboarding: once terms are accepted, Kriya will undertake KYC and AML checks and complete legal documentation, with directors often required to sign agreements electronically
• Using the facility: invoices are uploaded through the portal, assessed, and funded subject to agreed parameters

Kriya’s FAQs emphasise that customers must keep it informed about disputed invoices and respond to information requests, which is standard for invoice finance facilities.⁵

5.2 Applying with Close Brothers Invoice Finance

Close Brothers focuses on a consultative onboarding process. Steps, based on its products hub and external guides:^7,8,11

• Initial contact: businesses can submit an enquiry form or call regional teams from the invoice finance website
• Exploratory discussion: a relationship manager typically gathers information about the business, its debtor book and funding objectives
• Indicative proposal: if the business appears eligible, Close Brothers issues indicative terms for an invoice discounting, factoring or asset based lending facility
• Due diligence: more detailed financial information, debtor analysis and possibly field audits are carried out before final approval
• Documentation and onboarding: legal documentation is completed and any security registered; the lender then integrates with the client’s ledger and sets up processes for funding and reconciliations

Because this process can be detailed, lead times can be longer than a simple unsecured loan, and may vary widely depending on complexity.

5.3 Documentation and preparation

Whichever lender businesses choose, preparation can influence both eligibility and timelines. Commonly requested items include:^5,7,8,10,11

• Recent management accounts and filed statutory accounts
• Debtor aged analysis and major customer breakdown
• Details of any existing invoice finance or banking facilities
• Directors’ information for KYC and AML checks

SMEs may find it useful to review general guidance on documentation and due diligence before applying so that they can respond quickly to information requests.

6. Final verdict

Both Kriya and Close Brothers Invoice Finance are credible options for UK businesses that want to unlock cash from unpaid invoices, but they occupy slightly different positions in the market. Choose Kriya if:

• You want a digitally delivered invoice finance solution and are comfortable managing invoices through an online portal
• Your business profile fits a fintech style SME working capital facility rather than a traditional bank relationship
• You value the ability to finance selected invoices or adapt facility usage over time, subject to Kriya’s underwriting
• You are comfortable obtaining quotes and managing the relationship primarily online or by phone

Choose Close Brothers Invoice Finance if:

• Your business is established with a sizeable debtor book and you want relationship managed invoice finance
• You may benefit from combining invoice discounting or factoring with wider asset based lending against stock or plant
• You prefer a bank owned provider with an emphasis on long term relationships and regional teams
• You are prepared for a more involved onboarding process in exchange for a potentially more bespoke facility

Given that neither lender publishes a full 2026 rate card, SMEs should approach both for tailored proposals and compare them alongside other invoice finance providers, taking into account not only pricing but also service, contract terms and facility flexibility.

7. Sources

• Kriya main site, product overview
• Close Brothers Invoice Finance About Us
• Kriya invoice finance solution page
• Allica Bank press release on acquiring Kriya
• Kriya invoice finance FAQs
• Finder, Kriya (formerly MarketInvoice) business loan and invoice finance review
• Close Brothers Invoice Finance products hub
• Close Brothers invoice discounting product page
• Hello Aria, top invoice financing providers in the UK
• ExpertSure 2026 Kriya finance review
• ExpertSure 2026 Close Brothers invoice factoring review
• Trustpilot, Kriya customer reviews
• Close Brothers Group, invoice finance overview