We have partnered with a specialist identity-verification provider to carry out the director identity checks that are part of every application. This is a normal and necessary step for any responsible lender, and the most important thing to understand is what it is and is not: it confirms that you are who you say you are and meets our anti-money-laundering obligations, and it is not a search of your personal consumer credit file. This article explains how the check works, why we do it, and what it means for you.
What the check is for
Two things sit behind a director identity check. The first is knowing our customer, often called KYC: confirming that the person applying on behalf of a company really is that person, and is authorised to borrow for the company. The second is anti-money-laundering, or AML: the legal duty all lenders have to guard against financial crime. Working with a dedicated identity provider lets us do both quickly and reliably, using specialists whose job is verifying identity. For the customer-facing detail, see our guide on ID verification at application.
How it works in practice
When you apply, you confirm your identity as the director, typically using a current photo ID such as a passport or UK driving licence, and sometimes a quick check that the document genuinely belongs to you. The provider verifies the document and your identity against trusted sources. For most people it takes seconds. If a check needs a second attempt, that is routine; replying promptly keeps your application moving.
What it is not: not a personal credit search
This is the point worth being completely clear about. A director identity check is an identity and AML check. It is not a personal consumer credit search, it does not assess your personal creditworthiness, and it does not record the loan on your personal credit file. We lend to the company, not to you personally, and we take no personal guarantee from the director. The credit assessment that does happen is run on the company, through business credit reference agencies such as Experian Business, Creditsafe and Equifax Business. Those are two separate things: identity verification on the director, business credit on the company.
So checking your identity will not leave a footprint on your personal credit file in the way a personal loan application might, and it does not affect your personal credit score. If you want the wider picture of how a director’s identity check and a company’s credit check fit together, our support library covers both.
Why we chose a specialist partner
- Accuracy. A provider focused on identity verification is better placed to confirm genuine documents and flag fraudulent ones than a general process would be.
- Speed. Reliable verification in seconds keeps clean applications moving quickly.
- Security. Specialist handling of sensitive identity data, in line with the standards described across our technology and our privacy notice.
- Fraud protection. A thorough identity check protects real directors from someone trying to borrow in their name.
A word on scams
Because identity checks are a known part of applying, fraudsters sometimes imitate them. We will never ask you to send copies of your ID by email or text to release a loan, and we never ask for an upfront fee. A genuine identity check happens inside your application, not through a stray message. If something feels off, stop and contact us through the details on our website.
What this does not change
A new identity partner improves one step of the journey; it does not change the product, its cost, or the regulatory position. Our live product is a short-term Business Bridging Loan of £50 to £500 over 14 to 84 days, with your figures on your Key Information Sheet (KIS) and in your Business Loan Agreement; current amounts, terms and costs are on our business loans page. And because we lend to companies for business purposes, the borrowing sits outside FCA consumer-credit regulation under Article 60B FSMA RAO 2001 and is not covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service or the FSCS.
The honest summary
A good identity check protects you as much as it protects us, and partnering with a specialist makes it faster and more reliable. It confirms who you are; it is not a personal credit search and does not touch your personal credit file. To see what to expect at the point of applying, read ID verification at application.
