Branch vs online time calculator

Why the branch route takes longer than it looks

On paper, a bank appointment is an hour. In reality it's the drive there and back, finding a park, the wait in the foyer, the meeting itself — and, more often than not, a second visit because a statement, a tax return or a second director's signature was missing the first time. For a business owner, every one of those hours is an hour the shop is short-staffed, a job is pushed back or someone is paid to cover.

The online route compresses all of that into a handful of short sessions you fit around your day: a one-minute enquiry, a phone call at a time that suits, a few minutes to share bank statements through a secure read-only link, a quick identity check with your phone's camera, and time to read and e-sign the documents.

What this calculator doesn't do

It doesn't estimate approval times or funding speed. Those depend on the loan, the amount, your documents and how quickly everyone responds — and funding always follows approval. It also doesn't suggest online is right for everyone. If you value a face-to-face relationship with your bank and have time to spare, that's a fair choice; our honest comparison of banks, online lenders and brokers can help you decide.

Making the online route even quicker

• Check your licence or passport hasn't expired before you start.
• Know your internet banking login, and any token or second approver for business accounts.
• Answer the specialist's first call, or text back a time that suits.
• Use the Skip-the-Branch Checklist to see which documents your situation needs.

When you're ready, start your enquiry. It takes about a minute, involves no credit check, and goes to one team rather than a list of lenders. Please answer accurately — it's what keeps the online route short.