The annual Business Moneyfacts Awards is the highlight of the business finance calendar, and last night, 2017's winners were crowned at a ceremony held at the prestigious Lancaster London hotel.
Hosted by Romesh Ranganathan, the event welcomed over 600 industry professionals from leading financial institutions and trade bodies, all of whom were eager to hear who the winners would be. Those winners can justly be proud of their achievement – the awards are presented to companies and brokers who have consistently offered the most competitive products, the best levels of service and shown the greatest innovation in the business and commercial finance world over the last 12 months.
But it isn't all about the companies – it's about their customers, too. If you're in the world of business finance and are in the market for a new commercial mortgage, for example, need a bridging loan to plug a funding gap or simply want to know who can provide a top business credit card, looking for a company that proudly displays our Business Moneyfacts Winners' logo means you'll be getting a product you can trust.
"The seventeenth annual Business Moneyfacts Awards has recognised those providers, brokers and trade bodies that helped to make the previous twelve months more positive for businesses," said Lee Tillcock, editor of Business Moneyfacts. "While the last year has proven somewhat unpredictable on a political level, it has been profitable for many businesses, as well as their broker and finance providing partners.
"While challenges remain, there is little doubt that the levels of choice and willingness to find real funding solutions both improved throughout the year. The need to continue the good work that has been started is vital, and a continued commitment to quality and product choice as displayed by the worthy finalists and eventual winners of these awards is of paramount importance."
A full list of the winners is displayed below, but you can find more information on them and the awards themselves on our website. Congratulations to all, and we'll see you next year!
Best Business Current Account Provider | Best Business Variable Rate Deposit Account Provider |
Winner: Santander Highly Commended: Lloyds Bank Commended: NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland | Winner: Cambridge & Counties Bank Highly Commended: Aldermore Commended: Hampshire Trust Bank |
Best Business Fixed Account Provider | Best Charity Account Provider |
Winner: Hampshire Trust Bank Highly Commended: Aldermore Commended: Cambridge & Counties Bank | Winner: The Co-operative Bank Highly Commended: CAF Bank Commended: Lloyds Bank |
Best Franchisee Banking Provider | Best Online Banking Provider |
Winner: Allied Irish Bank (GB) Highly Commended: HSBC Commended: NatWest/ Royal Bank of Scotland | Winner: Lloyds Bank - Online for Business Highly Commended: Santander Commended: HSBC |
Best Business Card Provider | Commercial Finance Specialist Distributor of the Year |
Winner: Barclaycard Commercial Highly Commended: American Express Commended: HSBC | Winner: Brightstar Financial Highly Commended: Crystal Specialist Finance Commended: Finance 4 Business |
Best Buy-to-Let Mortgage Provider | Best Service from a Buy-to-Let Mortgage Provider |
Winner: Virgin Money Highly Commended: Accord Mortgages Commended: Platform | Winner: Aldermore Highly Commended: Fleet Mortgages Commended: Foundation Home Loans |
Buy-to-Let Mortgage Broker of the Year | Best Commercial Mortgage Provider |
Winner: Mortgages for Business Highly Commended: London & Country Mortgages Commended: One77 Mortgages | Winner: Shawbrook Bank Highly Commended: Lloyds Bank Commended: N&P Commercial Mortgages |
Best Service from a Commercial Mortgage Provider | Commercial Mortgage Introducer of the Year |
Winner: N&P Commercial Mortgages Highly Commended: Shawbrook Bank Commended: Aldermore | Winner: Christie Finance Highly Commended: Watts Commercial Finance Commended: Omega Commercial Solutions Ltd |
Best Bridging Finance Provider | Best Service from a Bridging Finance Provider |
Winner: Together Highly Commended: Amicus Commended: Octopus Property | Winner: MT Finance Highly Commended: Ortus Secured Finance Commended: Funding 365 |
Bridging Finance Introducer of the Year | Best Development Finance Provider |
Winner: Specialist Finance Highly Commended: Adapt Finance Commended: Vantage Finance | Winner: Octopus Property Highly Commended: Regentsmead Commended: United Trust Bank |
Development Finance Broker of the Year | Best Factoring & Invoice Discounting Provider |
Winner: Arc & Co Highly Commended: Pure Commercial Finance Commended: SPF Private Clients | Winner: Close Brothers Invoice Finance Highly Commended: Bibby Financial Services Commended: Hitachi Capital Invoice Finance |
Best Leasing & Asset Finance Provider | Best Business Motor Finance Provider |
Winner: Lombard Highly Commended: Investec Asset Finance Commended: Aldermore | Winner: Hitachi Capital Business Finance Highly Commended: Close Brothers Motor Finance Commended: Aldermore |
Best Service from an Asset Based Finance Provider | Asset Based Finance Broker of the Year |
Winner: Investec Asset Finance Highly Commended: LDF Commended: Aldermore | Winner: Touch Financial Support Highly Commended: Hilton Baird Financial Solutions Commended: B2B Cashflow Solutions |
Best Alternative Business Funding Provider | Best International Solution Provider |
Winner: Funding Circle Highly Commended: Catalyst Finance Commended: ThinCats | Winner: Santander Highly Commended: Lloyds Bank Commended: Smart Currency Business |
Business Product Innovation of the Year | Innovation in the SME Finance Sector |
Winner: Kuflink Bridging (20% P2P funding) Highly Commended: Santander (Working Capital Loans) Commended: Lloyds Bank (Capped Rate Loan) | Winner: Amicus (Intelligent Cashflow) Highly Commended: ThinCats (Loan grading system) Commended: Brightstar (EasySource) |
Business Start-up Bank of the Year | Best Service from a Business Bank |
Winner: Barclays Bank Highly Commended: Santander Commended: Lloyds Bank | Winner: The Co-operative Bank Highly Commended: Aldermore Commended: Shawbrook Bank |
Business Bank of the Year | |
Winner: Santander Highly Commended: Lloyds Bank Commended: Barclays Bank |
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