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What most borrowers really want to know is when the money lands in the account. This article covers the last leg specifically — what happens between approval and cleared funds, how long each step typically takes, and what can add a day. For the decision itself, see how long a lending decision takes.
The sequence after approval
Approval is an offer, not a transfer. Three things stand between an approved application and the funds:
- You review the Key Information Sheet (KIS). It sets out the amount, term, total cost of credit and the full repayment schedule. This step is in your hands — take the time it deserves, because nothing moves until you accept.
- You sign the Business Loan Agreement online. Signing is the trigger. Until the agreement is signed, no funds are released, however long ago the approval landed.
- We release the funds. Payment goes to the company's own business bank account — the same account we verified during the application, not a different account and never a personal one.
How long the transfer itself takes
Release is typically made by Faster Payments, the standard UK bank-to-bank rail. Once a payment is sent, it usually shows in the receiving account within minutes, and almost always within two hours — most UK business accounts receive Faster Payments around the clock. The transfer is rarely the slow part. In practice, the elapsed time from "approved" to "funds visible" is driven by when you sign:
- Sign during the business day and funding the same business day is the normal outcome.
- Sign late in the evening and release may fall to the next business day, even though the approval and signature happened today.
These are typical patterns, not promises — an individual payment can take longer if the receiving bank queues it or a final check is needed.
What can add a day
- An account mismatch. If the account you want funds sent to is not the one we verified, we will need to re-verify — releasing money to an unverified account is a fraud risk we will not take. Keep it simple: use the account the company trades through, start to finish.
- An unsigned agreement sitting in your inbox. The most common delay is no delay on our side at all. Sign as soon as the figures look right to you, and raise anything you are unsure about with us beforehand.
- A final verification query. Occasionally a release is held for one more check — usually resolved the same day, and always faster when you respond promptly.
When the money lands
Check the amount received against the KIS, note the first repayment date, and make sure the repayment account will hold enough to meet it. What to expect from that point on is covered in after you sign the Business Loan Agreement.
One caution that belongs in every article about speed: fast money is still borrowed money. A short-term business loan is expensive, and same-day funding is a convenience, not a reason. If the need can wait a week, use the week to check the figures. This borrowing is to a company for business purposes, so it sits outside FCA consumer-credit regulation under Article 60B FSMA RAO 2001 and is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FSCS. Current amounts, terms and costs are on our business loans page.