About The Co-operative Loan Fund

The Co-operative Loan Fund aims to strengthen the size and scope of the co-operative sector through the provision of ethical, accessible loan finance.

It exclusively lends to co-ops, and is entirely funded and run by co-ops, so unlike many conventional lenders it truly understands and actively supports democratically owned and controlled enterprises. It also reinvests its surpluses to continue its support.

Loan applications are welcome from new and existing co-operatives that need between £5,000 - £75,000 of loan finance to:

• Set up as a new co-operative
• Expand their size and scope
• Assist an employee buyout or company succession
• Purchase a property or business
• Purchase capital equipment or create working capital

Special features

The Co-operative Loan Fund is able to make loans with initially low repayments of capital and interest.

Lending by the Loan Fund will be at or near market terms.

Security

The Co-operative Loan Fund is willing to take secondary security behind other investors and is also able to make unsecured loans. We do not take personal guarantees on loans.

Borrower criteria

Loans are only available to co-operatives. Loans are only made to economically viable enterprises.

Funders

The company is funded by The Co-operative Group , Midcounties Co-operative and the East of England Co-operative Society, as well as the Co-operative Bank and Co-operative Insurance Society. It is overseen by a board of directors who represent each of the funders.

Co-operative & Community Finance has been providing loan finance for co-operatives, employee owned businesses and social enterprises for 36 years.