Lender Criteria Guide

Clydesdale Bank for Contractors — Criteria & Approach

Clydesdale Bank offers sector-blind contractor lending across structures, with underwriting fluency inherited from a long professional-lending heritage. Part of the Virgin Money group, it provides a distinct criteria personality and a useful third door alongside Virgin and Nationwide.

Criteria at a glance

Assessment Policy Table
Criteria Requirement Assessment Policy
Income basis Contract / day rate–based assessment
Day-one lending Case-by-case
Minimum history Standard
IR35 (inside) stance Assesses inside-IR35 on gross where evidenced
Umbrella accepted Yes
Limited company Yes
Gaps between contracts Standard
Adverse credit Clean credit preferred
Underwriting Hybrid
Broker access Direct & intermediary

Is Clydesdale Bank right for you?

Best suited to

Watch-outs

Frequently asked questions

Yes — its policy applies without sector carve-outs, across limited company, umbrella and other structures. Exact terms are confirmed live at application.

Inside-IR35 engagements can be assessed on evidenced gross contract value, keeping it on the shortlist for that profile. Specifics are confirmed at application.

Both sit within the Virgin Money group (itself part of Nationwide), offering different criteria personalities — we check across the group's brands.

Yes to both, with appropriate income evidence for each structure.

Yes — it built underwriting fluency lending to professionals, which transfers to reading complex contractor income. Qualifying professionals may access professional products.

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