Oxbury Bank review: farm loans and agricultural finance for UK farmers

Oxbury Bank is a UK bank built entirely around farming, lending to farm businesses for everything from seed and feed to land, buildings and diversification projects. It describes itself as the UK's only bank dedicated entirely to the rural economy, with relationship managers who understand agriculture. Oxbury is one of the lenders on our panel. As an independent broker, we can compare an Oxbury proposal with other agricultural lenders on your behalf. You can read more on Oxbury Bank's own website.

01About Oxbury Bank

Oxbury Bank Plc is headquartered in Chester. It launched as a bank in February 2021 and says it was founded to give the food and farming industries the funding and support they need. Its founders included bankers, farmers, agricultural businesses and technologists, and Oxbury describes itself as the first bank of its kind to be set up in the past two centuries.

Its message is simple: for most banks, farming is a small part of the business, while at Oxbury it is the whole business. Lending is supported by savings accounts, and Oxbury says money saved with it goes to help farmers produce food and look after the countryside. Customers get a dedicated relationship manager and face-to-face support, including on-farm visits.

Smart Funding Solutions is an independent broker and is not part of Oxbury Bank.

02What Oxbury Bank funds

Oxbury's lending covers short-term working capital, asset finance and long-term borrowing. Its main products include:

Product	What it is for	Typical size	Typical term
Oxbury Farm Loans	Land and property, infrastructure, renewables, consolidating debt, diversification and succession	£25,001 to £25 million	6 months to 25 years
Oxbury Farm Credit	A credit line for seed, feed, fertiliser, fuel and stock from approved suppliers	Case by case	Repayments aligned with farm cash flow
Oxbury Flexi Credit	Flexible working capital	Case by case	Case by case
Oxbury Transition Facility	Supporting the move to lower-carbon farming systems	Case by case	Case by case
Asset finance	Machinery, equipment and other farm assets	Case by case	Case by case

Farm Loans can be structured on a capital repayment or interest-only basis, with repayments matched to the seasonality of your business. That makes them a realistic option for buying agricultural land, putting up new buildings or funding farm diversification such as holiday lets or farm shops.

Oxbury Farm Credit works differently from a loan. Approved suppliers upload invoices to an online dashboard and Oxbury pays them, giving you extra credit for inputs without switching your main bank account. Oxbury also has a product called New Gen aimed at the next generation of farmers.

03Who Oxbury Bank suits (and who it may not)

Oxbury suits UK farm businesses of most shapes: sole traders, partnerships, trusts and limited companies. It is a strong fit if you:

• want a lender that understands harvest timing, lambing and milk cheques
• are planning land, building or renewable energy investment
• need extra input credit without moving your current account
• value having a relationship manager who will visit the farm

For Oxbury Farm Credit, it says applicants typically need a good credit history and at least three years of trading with an approved supplier. That rules out brand-new farm businesses for that product. And as a farming specialist, Oxbury is not the place for non-agricultural businesses, although rural diversification linked to a farm is within its scope.

Oxbury's lending covers short-term working capital, asset finance and long-term borrowing.

04What Oxbury Bank looks at

For Farm Loans, Oxbury's process starts with an enquiry form and an introductory phone call, followed by a credit application. It says it will typically ask for:

• farm accounts
• management information
• recent business bank statements
• a business plan, where relevant

Once approved, you sign a facility agreement and Direct Debit mandate. Larger loans for land or property will usually also involve a valuation and legal work, so allow time for that in your plans.

05Pros and cons

Pros

• Dedicated entirely to farming and the rural economy.
• Wide loan range, from £25,001 to £25 million, over up to 25 years.
• Repayments can be matched to seasonal income, with interest-only options.
• Farm Credit adds input credit without changing your main bank.
• Relationship managers with agricultural knowledge.

Cons

• Only for agricultural and rural businesses.
• Farm Credit requires a trading history with an approved supplier.
• Larger secured loans involve valuations and legal costs.
• A relatively young bank, fully launched in 2021.

06Applying through a broker vs going direct

Many farmers talk to their existing bank first, and some approach Oxbury directly. Comparing first helps because agricultural lending varies widely: some lenders are stronger on land and long-term loans, others on machinery or input credit. Seeing several proposals helps you avoid tying all your borrowing to one lender's view of your farm.

We search the market across more than 300 lenders, including farming specialists, put your case together once and approach the lenders that suit it. It is free to enquire; any broker fee is disclosed separately before you proceed. To see what is available, use our Instant Quotes tool to compare lenders in minutes. Our agricultural finance guide covers the wider market.

07Alternatives to Oxbury Bank

• Close Brothers: worth comparing for machinery and equipment finance for farms.
• Novuna: lists agricultural machinery among the assets it finances, a good comparison for farm machinery finance.
• Paragon Bank: offers asset finance with seasonal payment options for agricultural equipment.