Community development finance institutions (CDFIs)
Community lenders, many of them not-for-profit, for businesses that find it hard to borrow from banks.
How this kind of finance works, its costs and its downsides: Community development finance (CDFI) loans.
Listed from public records under the listing criteria, free and without asking the firms. Being listed is not an endorsement, and paying cannot change who is listed or where. Check the FCA Register yourself before you sign anything. Something wrong or out of date?
In alphabetical order. With JavaScript on, the order is shuffled on each visit.
Adage Credit
ADAGE CREDIT
Business loans of up to £2,000 for start-ups and up to £20,000 for companies trading for three years; also small personal loans.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 07306766
- FCA
- FRN 664740: Entering into high-cost short-term credit as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
Adage Credit: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
ART Business Loans
ART SHARE (SOCIAL HELP ASSOCIATION FOR REINVESTING IN ENTERPRISE) LIMITED
Community lender (CDFI) of business loans from £10,000 to £250,000 in the West Midlands and adjoining counties.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- IP28537R
- FCA
- FRN 723068: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
ART Business Loans: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
BCRS Business Loans
BCRS BUSINESS LOANS LIMITED
Business loans from £10,000 to £250,000 for firms in the West Midlands and Wales that cannot get finance from banks.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- IP29393R
- FCA
- FRN 722855: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England, Wales
BCRS: Business loans in West Midlands and Wales (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Business Enterprise Fund
BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE FINANCE LTD.
Not-for-profit lender of business finance up to £250,000 in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and the North West.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 01792109
- FCA
- FRN 726237: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
BEF: Flexible business finance and business loans (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Business Finance Cumbria
CUMBRIA COMMUNITY ASSET AND REINVESTMENT TRUST LIMITED
Not-for-profit lender of loans from £25,001 to £150,000 to businesses in Cumbria and surrounding rural areas.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- IP29830R
- FCA
- FRN 722385: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
Business Finance Cumbria: business funding across Cumbria (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Chamber Acorn Fund
CHAMBER ACORN FUND (HUMBER) LTD
Not-for-profit lender, based in Hull, of secured business loans for equipment, premises and growth. Legal fees apply.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 05090311
- FCA
- FRN 723163: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
Chamber Acorn Fund: Expanding business (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Coventry and Warwickshire Reinvestment Trust (CWRT)
COVENTRY AND WARWICKSHIRE REINVESTMENT TRUST LTD
Not-for-profit lender of business finance up to £250,000 in Coventry, Warwickshire and the Midlands.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 05188971
- FCA
- FRN 743876: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
CWRT: business finance (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
DSL Business Finance
DSL BUSINESS FINANCE LTD
Not-for-profit lender of loans up to £100,000 to small and medium-sized businesses throughout Scotland.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- SC145739
- FCA
- FRN 708646: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- Scotland
DSL Business Finance: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Finance For Enterprise
FINANCE FOR ENTERPRISE LIMITED
Business loans up to £250,000 for extra capital or cash-flow headroom where bank support is not available.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 01925556
- FCA
- FRN 718612: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
Finance For Enterprise: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
First Enterprise
ENTERPRISE LOANS EAST MIDLANDS
Business loans from £500 to £250,000, including Start Up Loans of £500 to £25,000.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 06705550
- FCA
- FRN 679765: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
First Enterprise: Business loans and Start Up Loans (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Lancashire Community Finance
LANCASHIRE COMMUNITY FINANCE (IPS) LIMITED
Business loans, with every lending decision made in Lancashire.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- IP29863R
- FCA
- FRN 659275: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
Lancashire Community Finance: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Let's Do Business Finance
CAPITALISE BUSINESS SUPPORT LIMITED
Business loans from £25,000 to £250,000, and Start Up Loans of £500 to £25,000, across the South East and East of England.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 05003078
- FCA
- FRN 725528: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
Let's Do Business Finance: Business loans from £500 to £250k (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
River Capital
RIVER CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LIMITED
Manages regionally focused funds that provide finance to businesses based in the North West.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 03099944
- FCA
- FRN 180891: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
River Capital: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
Robert Owen Community Banking
ROBERT OWEN COMMUNITY BANKING FUND LTD
Not-for-profit lender of loans for businesses, homes and community projects across Wales.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 05832750
- FCA
- FRN 726281: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- Wales
Robert Owen Community Banking: home page (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
SWIG Finance
SWIG FINANCE LIMITED
Business loans from £25,001 to £250,000, and Start Up Loans of £500 to £25,000, in the South and West Country.
FCA authorised- Companies House
- 02688108
- FCA
- FRN 730724: Entering into regulated credit agreements as lender (consumer credit)
- Member of
- Responsible Finance
- Covers
- England
SWIG Finance: Business loans for the South and West Country (the firm's own page)
Last checked 9 October 2026
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