How do I check the status of my application?

Once you have applied, you are never left guessing. Your application moves through a small number of clear stages, and you can see the current one at any time. Here is where to look, what each stage means, and what — if anything — you need to do.

Where to see your current stage

There are two places that always show the same, up-to-date status:

• Signed in to the portal. Your application's current stage is shown on your dashboard the moment you sign in. This is the definitive view and it updates as the assessment progresses. See how to access your customer portal if you need a hand getting in.
• The email or message we send. When your stage changes — for example when a decision is ready, or when we need something from you — we send you an email or a secure message so you do not have to keep checking. The message points you back to the portal to act.

What the common stages mean

You will see one of a small set of stages. They are deliberately plain-spoken.

Received

Your application has reached us and is in the queue. Nothing is needed from you yet.

In assessment

We are working through the affordability checks — reading the company's bank activity, identity and business credit picture. This is usually the quickest stage.

Referred

A person is taking a closer look because the automated assessment did not land on a clean yes or no. This is not a decline — see below.

Offer ready

We have an offer for you to review in the portal. Take your time reading the terms before you accept.

Declined

On the information available, we did not think the borrowing was right for the company at this point. We tell you why, and you have options.

How long a decision takes

Decisions are fast because we are the lender, not a broker — your application is assessed by us directly rather than being passed around the market. For a UK limited company with a connected bank account and a clean profile, an outcome can arrive within minutes; a referral to a credit officer can take up to a working day. For the full breakdown of timing by route, see how quickly will I get a decision?

If your application is referred

A referred stage means a member of the team is taking a closer look — often we just need one more piece of information to say yes with confidence. It is not a rejection, and it is not a mark against you personally. For what happens during a referral and how you can help it along, read what 'refer' means and what happens next.

If we ask for more information or a document

Sometimes the quickest way to move an application forward is for us to confirm a detail or read a document. If you see a request like this in the portal, acting on it promptly is usually what unblocks your decision. For exactly how to provide what we have asked for, see how do I send you a document you asked for.

If the application is declined

A decline is not a dead end. We give you a clear, specific reason rather than a vague rejection, and where the decision was made by automated means you have the right to ask a person to review it. You can also apply again — there is usually a short cooldown first, which exists to protect the company from borrowing it cannot comfortably afford. The detail is in two articles:

• What happens if your application is declined — the reasons, your right to human review, and what to improve.
• The 30 to 90 day reapply cooldown, explained — how long the wait is and how to use it well.

See also: Can a newly formed company apply?, Can a charity or charitable company apply?, Can a CIC or community interest company apply?.