Secure Trust Bank Invoice Finance Review
Secure Trust Bank offers invoice discounting and factoring with advance rates of up to 90% of qualifying invoices. Pricing and minimum criteria are quoted per facility rather than published. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and established in 1954, it is a well-capitalised specialist commercial lender.
Secure Trust Bank offers invoice discounting and factoring with advance rates up to 90% of qualifying invoices. Pricing is quoted per facility, not published. It is LSE-listed and established in 1954. More detail + scope
Summary
Secure Trust Bank offers invoice discounting and factoring with advance rates up to 90% of qualifying invoices. It does not publish service charges, discount margins, minimum turnover or setup times; facilities are quoted individually. Listed on the London Stock Exchange and established in 1954, it is a well-capitalised specialist commercial lender.
This page covers
Secure Trust Bank invoice finance minimum turnover, advance rate, service charge, setup speed and listing
Not covered here
General invoice finance education (see /guides/), sector pages (see /industries/), the full provider directory (see /providers/)
Key Facts
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Bank-backed facilities priced per file
- LSE-listed, well-capitalised
- Combined with asset finance and real estate lending
- Strong mid-market focus
Limitations
- Aimed at established businesses rather than startups
- Relationship-led onboarding is slower than digital-first providers
- Less flexible than independents on credit
When Secure Trust Bank Invoice Finance Fits
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Manufacturing businesses with longer payment terms
Secure Trust Bank has a strong manufacturing book and understands longer production cycles, extended credit terms, and seasonal working capital swings common in this sector.
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Recruitment agencies seeking a regulated banking relationship
As an FCA-authorised bank (not just a lender), Secure Trust offers the security of deposit protection on reserve accounts and a stable balance sheet for agencies managing contractor payroll weekly.
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Distribution and wholesale businesses needing confidential invoice discounting
Their confidential discounting service lets larger wholesalers maintain direct customer relationships while accessing a high advance against qualifying invoice value.
When to Look Elsewhere
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Startups and early-stage businesses
Better fit: Kriya. Kriya accepts businesses from £100k turnover with faster digital onboarding and no minimum contract term.
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Businesses needing same-day funding or purely digital service
Better fit: Triver. Triver offers approval and first drawdown within hours via automated credit decisioning, versus Secure Trust's relationship-based setup.
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Construction subcontractors with retention-heavy invoices
Better fit: Ultimate Finance. Ultimate Finance specialises in construction-specific facilities that advance against certified applications and handle retention releases automatically.
How Secure Trust Bank Invoice Finance Compares
| Provider | Type | Min facility | Fee from | Advance to | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Close Brothers Invoice Finance | both | £250k | 0.5% | 90% | 7-10 days |
| Aldermore Invoice Finance | both | £250k | 0.65% | 85% | 10-14 days |
| Time Finance | both | £100k | 0.75% | 90% | 5-7 days |
| Triver | both | £50k | 0.8% | 90% | 1-2 days |
vs Close Brothers Invoice Finance: Close Brothers has larger sector teams and a broader product range including asset finance and property finance, making them better for cross-product relationships.
vs Aldermore Invoice Finance: Aldermore focuses heavily on professional services and has dedicated underwriters for legal, accountancy, and consultancy practices.
vs Time Finance: Time Finance accepts smaller facilities from £100k and combines invoice finance with asset finance and development funding in single relationships.
vs Triver: Triver is fully digital with automated credit decisions and no minimum contract term, whereas Secure Trust operates relationship-based banking with 12-month initial terms.
Worked Example
A Manchester-based metal fabrication company with £1.2m turnover
Setting Up With Secure Trust Bank Invoice Finance
- 1
Initial enquiry and ledger review
Submit three months of aged debtor reports and management accounts. Secure Trust reviews your customer concentration, payment patterns, and credit control processes. Expect a relationship manager call within 48 hours to discuss sector-specific requirements.
- 2
Credit assessment and facility structuring
The credit team assesses your top 10 debtors and may request credit insurance or concentration caps if over 25% of turnover sits with one customer. They propose facility size, advance rate, and pricing based on your sector risk profile and turnover stability.
- 3
Legal documentation and account setup
Secure Trust prepares a debenture and facility agreement. You will need director guarantees for businesses under £2m turnover. Once signed, they set up your reserve account and funding mechanics, typically ready to draw within 10 working days of initial application.
- 4
Onboarding and first drawdown
Submit your first invoice batch via their client portal or email. Secure Trust verifies invoices against delivery notes, advances funds to your business account, and sets up direct debit collection from your customers if using factoring.
FAQs
Does Secure Trust Bank require personal guarantees from directors?
Yes, for limited companies with annual turnover below £2m, Secure Trust typically requires personal guarantees from directors holding 20% or more equity. For larger businesses or those with strong balance sheets, they may waive this or limit guarantees to a capped amount. Guarantees secure the discounting element and any overdrawn reserve position.
Can I use Secure Trust's invoice finance alongside my existing bank account?
Yes. Secure Trust does not require you to move your day-to-day banking. Your invoice payments will flow into a Secure Trust-controlled account, advances are paid to your existing business account, and the reserve is held separately. This works well for businesses wanting to keep their main banking relationship with a high street bank while accessing specialist funding.
What happens if a customer disputes an invoice or fails to pay?
Under factoring, Secure Trust manages collections and will pursue disputed invoices directly. If a customer does not pay within 90 days, the advance is typically reversed from your reserve account. Under confidential discounting, you remain responsible for collections and must repay the advance if the invoice is not settled within agreed terms, usually 90-120 days depending on your sector.
How does Secure Trust's service charge compare to a traditional overdraft?
Secure Trust's 0.6-1% monthly service charge equals 7.2-12% annualised, which appears higher than overdraft rates. However, invoice finance provides significantly larger funding capacity, grows with turnover, and does not require property security. For a £1m turnover business, you might access £700k of working capital versus a typical £50-100k overdraft, making the effective cost per pound of growth funding much lower.
Does Secure Trust Bank offer bad debt protection or credit insurance?
Secure Trust does not provide non-recourse factoring as standard. If a customer becomes insolvent, you remain liable for the advance. However, they can integrate with third-party credit insurance policies from providers like Atradius or Coface. If you already hold trade credit insurance, Secure Trust will advance against insured invoices at higher rates, often 90%, and the insurance covers bad debt risk.
Our Verdict
Secure Trust Bank is a solid mid-market choice for businesses wanting a regulated banking partner. Competitive pricing and LSE-listed security are the main draws. The higher minimum turnover and slower setup are the trade-offs.
Source: Secure Trust Bank, invoice finance (advance rates of up to 90% of qualifying invoices). Secure Trust Bank does not publish service charges, discount margins, minimum turnover or setup times; those are quoted per facility.
Founder & Managing Director, Muswell Rose, founder and PSC of Best Business Loans Ltd
Adam is the founder and managing director of Muswell Rose and a founder of Best Business Loans Ltd, the company behind Market Invoice. He spent over three years as managing director of Penny, a UK invoice finance business, and his career runs through insurance, mortgages, commercial finance and fintech lending. He writes the Market Invoice library.
Last reviewed: 24 July 2026