Compare Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans

The Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) is designed for small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) who don’t meet the normal lending requirements for a commercial loan, but who are considered viable businesses in the long term. If a lender can offer finance on normal commercial terms without needing to make use of the government-backed scheme, they will do so.

The following trades and organisations are not eligible to apply: Banks, Building Societies, Insurers and Reinsurers (excluding insurance brokers); The public sector including state funded primary and secondary schools; Employer, professional, religious or political membership organisation or trade unions.

CBILS is managed by the British Business Bank, a state-owned economic development bank established by the UK government. CBILS loans are provided only through accredited lenders and supported by a range of approved partners. They include high street banks, challenger banks, asset-based lenders and smaller specialist local lenders.

A CBILS accredited lender can provide a loan of up to £5 million in the form of term loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance.

For term loans and asset finance facilities, up to six years. For overdrafts and invoice finance facilities, up to three years.

To be eligible for the scheme, SMEs must be UK based with a turnover of no more than £45 million per year. Applicants must have a borrowing proposal which would be considered viable by the lender were it not for the Coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the lender must believe the provision of finance would allow the applicant to trade out of any short to medium term difficulty.

Browse our comparison table of lenders and partners accredited by the British Business Bank.