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- Allica Bank has secured £26m in follow-on funding from existing investors
- The bank has had over £1bn of loan enquiries in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic
- To build the leading SME challenger bank for the decade ahead and help meet surging demand, Allica Bank has announced the launch of a £100m funding round
Business bank, Allica Bank, is launching a £100m funding round to help it meet the current high levels of demand for finance it is experiencing from British businesses, and continue broadening services and product lines. The bank, which received full UK banking authorisation in late 2019, has had over £1bn of enquiries from businesses in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The new funding round will allow Allica to accelerate its lending to British businesses and also position it for any M&A opportunities that materialise in the non-bank lending market, which has been severely disrupted by Covid-19.
The announcement comes as Allica successfully completes a follow-on investment of £26m led by existing majority shareholder, Warwick Capital Partners.
Allica Bank’s CEO, Richard Davies, joined the organisation from Revolut in August 2020 with ambitions to accelerate Allica Bank’s growth trajectory and fill the fast-emerging SME funding gap. As the UK has come out of lockdown, substantial disruption has been seen in the supply of finance to established small and medium sized businesses outside of the government backed initiatives, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILs). A recent survey of commercial finance brokers, conducted by Allica Bank, revealed that 63% had seen a significant reduction to the supply of business lending following on from the COVID pandemic. Additionally, 98% of commercial finance brokers are concerned about business lenders’ credit appetite and liquidity over the next two years.
Allica Bank, which is focused on supporting small and medium sized businesses across the UK, has offices in Milton Keynes and London, alongside its regional Business Relationship Managers. Of the lending it has provided to date, the vast majority has been to businesses outside the capital (95% of loans by value, and 97% by volume). In recent years there has been a widening funding gap in the UK, with SMEs outside the capital finding it harder to secure funding and support from bank and non-bank lenders alike.
Richard Davies, Chief Executive Officer, Allica Bank, said:
“Established small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) will be vital to the recovery and health of the UK economy, but it is clear that the supply of finance has been very badly damaged by Covid-19 outside of the government schemes.
The time is now for Allica to scale up its operations to meet this business funding gap, bringing a blend of human relationships, deep lending expertise, and digital disruption. Together with potential acquisition opportunities of non bank lenders impacted by the pandemic, we intend to create the leading SME challenger bank for the decade ahead.”
Investor enquiries
Allica Bank is pleased to confirm the appointment of Goodbody and Ashcombe Advisers, with which it has been working closely since before the global pandemic as it seeks to execute on its growth strategy.
With opportunities for both organic and inorganic growth becoming more prevalent as a direct consequence of the global pandemic, Allica Bank would ask all interested parties to use the contact details below, for further information.
Contact Details:
Allica Bank
+44 (0) 20 3911 0200
Investorenquiries@allica.bank
Goodbody
+44 (0)7789 942 743
James.felix@goodbody.co.uk
Ashcombe Advisers
+44 (0)7930 313 653
Paul.goodwin@ashcombeadvisers.com
PR contact details:
Ben Wright
t: +44 (0)7841 920 622
About Allica Bank
Allica Bank exists to empower small and medium businesses to succeed. Having been granted their full banking authorisation in September 2019, they use tailored expertise, local relationships and modern technology to deliver expert banking for business Britain.
Starting out with commercial mortgages, along with a range of business and retail savings products, and with asset finance launching before the end of 2020, their aim is to provide a full suite of banking services for the underserved SME community – powered by innovative technology, but built on real human relationships and trust.
Acting with integrity, working collaboratively and being straightforward are the values Allica Bank lives by.
Allica Financial Services Register number – 821851. Allica is backed by Warwick Capital Partners.
Allica Bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority
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