Business Overdrafts
Be financially flexible with a business overdraft.
Pay As You Grow
Additional support for businesses with an existing Bounce Back Loan.
As a confirmed accredited lender of the Bounce Back Loan scheme, we’re here to support our customers during the coronavirus outbreak.
If you require additional information about Pay As You Grow, please visit the British Business Bank website.
Pay As You Grow options:
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You can extend your 6-year Bounce Back Loan term to 10 years, at the same interest rate of 2.5%.
You can use this option once over the lifetime of your loan.
- May be suitable if you want to reduce your monthly repayments for the length of your loan.
- You can request an extension at any time during the term of your loan.
- You’ll pay back your loan at a slower rate, so the total amount you owe will go up and you’ll pay more interest over a longer term.
- If you’re considering this option you should think carefully about your ability to repay over a longer timeframe, taking into account things such as if you intend to cease trading or retire within the revised term of your Bounce Back Loan.
- If you select this option and you want to use a repayment holiday at the same time, please allow 2-3 working days for this request to be processed first. You can then choose another option.
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You can choose to reduce your monthly repayments for 6 months by paying interest only.
You can use this option up to 3 times over the lifetime of your loan.
- May be suitable if you need short-term support, but expect to be in a better position to repay in the future.
- You can switch to interest-only repayments up to 3 times during the term of your loan – this can be taken back-to-back (e.g. 18 consecutive months) or on 3 separate occasions.
- By selecting this option, you can add 6 months to your loan term each time you switch to interest-only repayments, unless you’ve already extended your term to 10 years.
- Taking a capital repayment holiday will mean you are charged more interest and your loan will cost you more overall.
- If you select this option, you’ll need to wait until the end of the 6-month period before you can use any other option.
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You can request a 6-month full repayment holiday (both capital and interest).
You can use this option once over the lifetime of your loan.
- May be suitable if you need short-term support, but expect to be in a better position to repay in the future.
- If you select this option, you will pause monthly repayments (both capital and interest) entirely for 6 consecutive months.
- You can also choose to add 6 months to your loan term, unless you’ve already extended your term to 10 years.
- Taking a full repayment holiday will mean you are charged more interest and your loan will cost you more overall.
- Interest charged during your 6-month repayment holiday will be deferred for 6 months and spread out over the remaining term of your loan.
- We’ll change your monthly payments at the end of the payment holiday and the amount you owe will go up. That’s because even though you don’t make payments during your repayment holiday, we will still add interest to your loan amount and interest will be charged at the same rate (2.5% (fixed) per annum).
- You can use a full repayment holiday once during the term of your loan.
- If you select this option, you will need to wait until the end of the 6-month period before you can use any other option.
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You can choose to extend the term of your loan to 10 years AND request either a 6-month capital repayment holiday OR a 6-month full repayment holiday before your first repayment is due.
- May be suitable if you need short-term support and need to reduce your monthly repayments for the length of your loan.
- Please make sure you have read information about each option before making your decision.
- This option will reduce your average monthly repayments, but the total amount you owe will increase and you’ll pay more interest over a longer term.
- If you choose to combine options, you will need to select the 10 year term extension before requesting the 6-month repayment holiday via a separate submission.
- If you’re considering this option you should think carefully about your ability to repay over a longer timeframe, taking into account things such as if you intend to cease trading or retire within the revised term of your Bounce Back Loan.
Pay As You Grow calculator
Use our calculator to understand the impact each Pay As You Grow option has on your monthly repayments, and on the overall cost of your loan.
If you’re registered for Online for Business, log on to view your options in more detail.
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Can I apply for multiple ‘Pay As You Grow’ options at a time?
Over the term of your loan you can utilise a Term Extension to 10 Years, 1 Full Repayment Holiday and up to 3 Capital Repayment Holidays.
For example, you could choose the repayment holiday options consecutively, or you could choose a Term Extension (up to 10 years) alongside a repayment holiday. Simply choose the term extension first and request a repayment holiday separately.
You can only request one Pay As You Grow option at a time, using Online for Business.
We advise you to wait at least four working days between submissions to ensure they are processed correctly.
Register for Online for Business if you haven’t already
Can I make additional payments to my Bounce Back Loan?
Yes you can make additional payments. Please note there is no minimum amount required for any additional payments.
How do I make additional payments to my loan?
- You can make additional repayments on a regular basis by logging into Online for Business.
- There are no early repayment charges for making additional payments or for paying off your loan early.
Can I still select a ‘Pay As You Grow’ option if I have already topped up my Bounce Back Loan?Yes. If you have a Bounce Back Loan Top-Up, your original loan amount and Top-Up amount will be treated as one consolidated facility.
Will I be warned before I return to repayments on my Bounce Back Loans?You will receive communications three, two and one month(s) before your first repayment is due.
For example, if you had your loan on 4th June 2020, your first repayment will be due on 4th July 2021 and you will therefore receive your 3-month communication by 4th April 2021.
You will be informed when and how you can make ‘Pay As You Grow’ selections in these communications.
Can I cancel a ‘Pay As You Grow’ option if I change my mind?No, this will not be possible.
However, if you subsequently decide you no longer require the support provided by the PAYG options, you can still reduce the interest you will pay by making full or lump sum repayments.
Can I change the date repayments are taken from my account?No, unfortunately this is not possible as the date will be based on when you first opened your Bounce Back Loan.
Do I have to be in financial difficulty in order to select a ‘Pay As You Grow’ option?No. Under ‘Pay As You Grow’, all borrowers – that is, any borrowers who request it, whether you are in (or approaching) financial difficulty and seeking forbearance or not – will be able to utilise the options.
Can I only extend the term of my loan to 10 years?You can choose to extend the term of your loan to 10 years if required.
There is no intermediate option for this term extension, you are only able to extend from 6 years to 10 years.
If you haven’t already extended the term of your loan to 10 years, you can choose to extend your term by the same length of your Capital Repayment Holiday or Full Repayment Holiday (if selected).
Will using Pay as You Grow affect my ability to obtain finance in the future?Using Pay as You Grow will not, in principle, affect a business’s ability to obtain finance in the future. Pay As You Grow is designed to alleviate borrowers’ financial difficulty, even before it arises, by giving borrowers flexibility in meeting their repayment obligations. Using Pay as You Grow will not affect a borrower’s credit rating, but it may affect lenders’ future creditworthiness assessments. For example, when considering a request for additional funding a lender will take into consideration incomings and outgoings, including existing debt repayments such as the Bounce Back Loan Scheme facility. It will also consider a business’s total debt exposure, which will again include the outstanding Bounce Back Loan Scheme facility.
When is the latest I can select a Pay As You Grow option before my next repayment?You should allow at least two working days for your PAYG selection to take effect before your next repayment is due.
If you want to select a PAYG option but your next monthly repayment is due within 2 working days, then you will need to make the monthly repayment in full before the option takes effect.
We’ll automatically collect your repayments. Please ensure you have enough money available in your nominated account.
If you still want to progress and select a PAYG option, the chosen option will take effect before the following month's repayment date.
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Do you need to understand your options better?
- If you feel like you’d prefer to talk to someone about these options, call us on 0345 600 4610 (+44 207 477 2423 from outside the UK). Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).
- If you have a hearing or speech impairment you can use Relay UK. Visit the Relay UK website for more information on their services.
We’re here to help
You do not need to contact us in advance. We will send you a repayment schedule outlining your options, around three months before your first payment is due.
However if you’re worried about your finances, call us on 0345 600 4610 (+44 207 477 2423 from outside the UK). Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm (excluding bank holidays).
What are your other options?
Debt Management Services are available to assist you with establishing a debt management plan through one of their advisors. Visit the Debt Management Service website for more information.
In addition, the British Business Bank has a range of guidance and resources available to all businesses, including content on managing your cashflow and a list of independent advice services.