August 28, 2025

Finance

White Oak vs LendingCrowd: A Complete Guide for UK SMEs in 2025

Q: Is White Oak a direct lender or a broker?

White Oak is both. It lends from its own balance sheet but also brokers some deals, giving flexibility in sourcing.

Q: How quickly can I get funding from each lender?

LendingCrowd often processes applications within days. White Oak’s timing depends on product complexity, simple loans may fund in under a week, large facilities take longer.

Q: Does White Oak serve sole traders or partnerships?

Yes. White Oak accepts Ltd companies, LLPs, sole traders, and partnerships. LendingCrowd only accepts Ltd companies and LLPs.

Q: Which lender is better for working capital loans?

White Oak has more variety, offering working capital, VAT, or commercial loans. LendingCrowd is suitable for quick, unsecured capital between £75k and £500k.

Q: Can I repay early without fees?

LendingCrowd allows early repayment without penalty. White Oak’s policy varies, some loans may allow it while others, such as hire purchase, may include interest minimums.

Q: Do these lenders offer government-backed loans?

Yes. Both White Oak and LendingCrowd have been accredited under UK schemes like CBILS, RLS, and GGS for government-backed SME funding.

Explore the strengths, weaknesses, and differences between White Oak and LendingCrowd, two leading UK SME finance providers. Learn which is right for your business, based on funding type, speed, eligibility, and cost.

James Laden

Co-founder and CEO

Navigating the world of business finance can be complex. For UK SMEs seeking alternatives to high street banks, two prominent names often appear: White Oak UK and LendingCrowd. Both offer fast, flexible funding solutions, but they operate on different models and cater to distinct business needs.

So, how do you choose? This guide provides a detailed, head-to-head comparison to help you understand which lender is the perfect fit for your company's ambitions.

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At a Glance: Who Are They?

White Oak UK is a long-established, non-bank lender with roots tracing back to 1986. It operates as a traditional balance-sheet lender, using its own capital, a balance sheet of approximately £500 million, to fund a wide array of business finance products. With a national presence and a focus on building client relationships, White Oak has established itself as one of Britain's largest alternative finance providers. During the pandemic, they were a major provider of government-backed loans, facilitating £400 million under the CBILS scheme to support UK businesses.

LendingCrowd, launched in 2014, is a younger, fintech-driven platform based in Edinburgh. It began as a peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace, connecting businesses seeking loans directly with investors. It has since incorporated institutional funding and has also made significant commitments to the SME community, having pledged £100 million to support SME recovery. Both lenders are accredited by the British Business Bank to deliver government-backed schemes.

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Funding Options: A One-Stop-Shop vs. A Focused Specialist

Your specific funding requirement is the most crucial factor in your decision. Here, the two lenders diverge significantly.

White Oak offers a comprehensive suite of products, positioning itself as a one-stop shop for SME funding. Their offerings include:

Business Loans: For working capital, development, and commercial purposes, with amounts ranging from £25,000 to £2 million.
VAT & Tax Loans: Short-term facilities designed to help businesses spread the cost of tax bills over 3 to 12 months.
Asset Finance: Funding for vehicles, machinery, and equipment through leasing or hire-purchase agreements.
Invoice Finance: Unlocking cash from unpaid invoices, advancing up to 90-95% of their value.
Asset-Based Lending (ABL): Large, revolving facilities of £5 million to £50 million for bigger companies, secured against a pool of assets.

LendingCrowd has a much narrower focus, specialising in one core product: unsecured business term loans.

Loan Size: £75,000 to £500,000.
Loan Term: 6 to 60 months (5 years).
Purpose: These loans are flexible and can be used for various purposes, including working capital, expansion projects, or debt refinancing.

The takeaway: If you need specialised finance like invoice factoring or asset leasing, or a loan over £500,000, White Oak is your clear choice. If you need a straightforward, unsecured cash loan between £75,000 and £500,000, LendingCrowd is designed precisely for that purpose.

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Loan Comparison Dashboard

Toggle between charts to explore how White Oak and LendingCrowd compare across key funding metrics.

This chart illustrates the vast difference in funding capabilities. White Oak offers a significantly wider range, from smaller loans of £25k up to £2 million for standard products, while LendingCrowd focuses on a specific mid-market segment from £75k to £500k.

This visual compares the minimum and maximum loan repayment periods. White Oak provides greater flexibility at the short end with terms as brief as 3 months for specific needs like tax loans, whereas LendingCrowd's maximum term of 60 months is slightly longer than White Oak's typical 48 months for standard loans.

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Eligibility: Can You Apply?

Both lenders target established businesses and do not serve start-ups. However, their specific criteria differ.

White Oak generally requires businesses to have at least 3+ years of trading history and a record of profitability. It lends to limited companies, LLPs, partnerships, and sole traders. Many of its products also have turnover criteria, often starting at £200,000.
LendingCrowd requires a minimum of 2 years of filed accounts and an annual turnover of ge£100,000. It only lends to Limited companies or LLPs, excluding sole traders²². Crucially, they also require that at least one of the directors providing a personal guarantee is a homeowner.

Feature	White Oak	LendingCrowd
Minimum Trading History	3+ Years	2+ Years
Minimum Annual Turnover	£200,000+	£100,000+
Accepts Sole Traders	Yes	No
Requires Homeowner Guarantor	No	Yes

This table outlines the core eligibility requirements. It highlights that White Oak typically requires a longer trading history and higher turnover, but is more flexible regarding business structure (accepting sole traders).

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The Cost of Borrowing: Rates & Fees

Pricing is tailored to each applicant's risk profile, but their fee structures are different.

White Oak does not publish a rate card, describing its rates as "competitive in the market". An arrangement or documentation fee, typically 1-3% of the loan, is likely. Terms for early repayment vary by product, but they do not advertise a blanket penalty for their standard loans. LendingCrowd provides more specific guidance.

Interest rates start from 6.95% per annum for the strongest borrowers.
An arrangement fee of up to 9% of the loan amount is charged, and this is typically deducted from the loan proceeds.
A key feature is that they charge no early repayment penalties. Businesses can settle their loan at any time or make partial overpayments (of £5k or more) without any extra fees, saving on future interest.

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Speed and Process

Both lenders are significantly faster than traditional banks, often delivering funds in a matter of days.

White Oak combines a relationship-driven model with impressive speed. They claim most lending decisions are made "within 24 hours," with funds often available the next working day after approval. The process typically involves a dedicated relationship manager who helps tailor the solution, adding a human touch without slowing things down.

LendingCrowd offers a streamlined, digital-first experience. The online application can be completed in minutes, and a decision is often provided within 24 hours. Once approved, funds can be in your account the next working day³⁵. The process is highly automated but overseen by an experienced human credit team.

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Security Requirements

For unsecured loans, a Personal Guarantee (PG) from the directors is standard practice for both lenders. This means the director is personally liable if the business fails to repay the debt.

White Oak offers both secured and unsecured lending. While a PG is standard for unsecured loans, their ability to secure loans against specific business assets (equipment, invoices, property) means they can be more flexible. For an asset-rich business, this could lead to larger facilities or potentially limited PGs.

LendingCrowd's loans are fundamentally unsecured, but a Personal Guarantee is mandatory on all loans. As mentioned, at least one guarantor must be a homeowner for loans up to £350,000⁴². For loans above £350,000, LendingCrowd may require additional security, such as a charge over business assets.

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Customer Reviews

Both lenders score highly on independent review platforms.

White Oak enjoys stellar ratings, including a 4.9/5 on Feefo and an "Excellent"
4.7/5 on Trustpilot.
LendingCrowd also holds an "Excellent" rating with a 4.5/5 on Trustpilot, with borrowers frequently praising the speed and efficiency of the service.

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Comparison Summary Table

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Feature	White Oak UK	Lending Crowd
Loan Size	Very broad range. £25,000 up to £2,000,000 for standard loans. Can fund	larger facilities up to £50 million with asset-based lending.	£75,000 to £500,000 per loan.
Rates & Fees	Rates are	tailored and described as competitive. Likely arrangement fee ~1-3%.	Interest rates from ~6.95% APR. Arrangement fee: up to 9%.	No early repayment fees.
Security	Offers both	secured and unsecured loans. A personal guarantee (PG) is standard for unsecured loans.	Unsecured loans, but personal guarantees are mandatory on all loans. At least one guarantor must be a homeowner.
Speed	Most decisions in	24 hours. Can fund within	1 working day of approval.	Rapid, online process. Approval can be within 24-48 hours, with funds transferred the next working day.

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Making the Right Choice for Your Business

Your decision should be guided by your specific circumstances. Ask yourself these key questions:

How much do I need and for what purpose? For loans over £500,000 or for specific needs like asset finance or invoice factoring, White Oak is the only option of the two. For a simple, unsecured loan between £75,000 and £500,000, LendingCrowd is a strong contender.
How established is my business? If you have been trading profitably for over 3 years, you'll meet the ideal profile for White Oak. If you've just passed the 2-year mark with solid turnover, LendingCrowd could be a great fit.
Am I likely to repay the loan early? If there's a good chance you'll be able to clear your debt ahead of schedule, LendingCrowd's no-early-repayment-fee policy is a significant advantage that could save you thousands.
Do I prefer a personal touch or a digital process? If you value speaking with a dedicated manager to structure a tailored solution, you'll appreciate White Oak's consultative approach. If you prefer a quick, self-service online application, LendingCrowd's fintech platform will appeal.

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How Funding Agent Can Help

Choosing the right lender is a critical decision. While White Oak and LendingCrowd are both excellent, they are just two of the many options available in the alternative finance market. Each has its own unique credit appetite, pricing model, and ideal client profile. You can also use tools like our business loan calculator to get an idea of repayments.

At Funding Agent, we take the guesswork out of the process. Our experts work with you to understand your business's unique needs and financial situation. We leverage our deep knowledge of the market and our relationships with a wide panel of lenders, including specialists like White Oak and LendingCrowd, to find the most suitable and competitive funding for you.

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