Rivers Leasing
Rivers Leasing is a UK-based, FCA-authorised niche asset finance funder (est. 2010), providing lease, hire purchase, business loans, and block discounting to SMEs, brokers, and small lenders primarily via broker partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersGbagi, Nigeria
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Rivers Leasing does
Rivers Leasing is a UK-based, FCA-authorised (FRN 736080) niche asset finance funder established in 2010 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rivers Finance Group Plc. The company provides finance leases, hire purchase, and equipment financing to UK SMEs, and operates a portfolio diversified across asset finance (core), business loans of £5,000-£100,000 over 3-60 months through sister company Rivers Funding, and block discounting services (incubator block discounting for new lenders and supplementary funding lines for established funders, from £250,000). Customers are sourced primarily through a broker-partner channel supplemented by supplier partnerships, direct application via the Rivers Funding website, and direct telephone sales.
The company's underlying technology is a human-led underwriting model combined with generic "technological due diligence" — explicitly branded as a "Storybook Lending Approach" that weighs creditworthiness, affordability, asset class, and security against the individual client narrative rather than relying on automated credit scoring. Decisioning is positioned around a 24-hour application turnaround and willingness to fund soft, tricky, or unconventional assets that mainstream lenders decline. Operational infrastructure is augmented by a partnership with LTi Technology Solutions for asset finance software used by small lenders in the block discounting ecosystem. Compliance footprint includes FCA regulation, FLA membership, and GDPR-compliant data handling.
Revenue is generated through interest and fees on financed assets (transaction fees), recurring monthly principal-and-interest payments on business loans, and discount spreads on block discounting lines. Capital is sourced through a medium-term note programme (extended to £40m with LGB & Co. in October 2024), a £3m public loan note launched with Crowdstacker in 2017, and a Conister Bank funding facility secured in 2021. The company has been recognised in the FT1000 Europe's Fastest Growing Companies for four consecutive years (2017-2020) and won Loan Provider of the Year at the MoneyAge Awards 2025.
Rivers Leasing firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rivers Leasing
- Legal name
- Rivers Leasing plc
- Website
- https://riversleasing.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Rivers Leasing is a UK-based, FCA-authorised niche asset finance funder (est. 2010), providing lease, hire purchase, business loans, and block discounting to SMEs, brokers, and small lenders primarily via broker partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rivers Leasing industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Asset Finance
- NAICS
- Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (5324), Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321)
- SIC
- Finance Lessors (6172), Loan Brokers (6163)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Leasing & Lease Buyout Financing (FSAKADAC)
Keywords
Where Rivers Leasing is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Gbagi
- HQ country
- Nigeria
- HQ region
- Africa
Offices1 record
Markets served
Rivers Leasing business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Asset Finance: Lease and hire purchase agreements for equipment and assets. Rivers provides financing for both hard assets (equipment, vehicles) and soft/tricky assets. Revenue generated through interest and fees on financed assets.
- Business Loans: Loans between £5,000 to £100,000 over 3 to 60 months, tailored to cash flow solutions and business development. Interest is fixed over the term with monthly repayments of both capital and interest.
- Block Discounting: Funding lines for brokers and lenders starting at £250,000. Rivers provides incubator services for new lenders and supplementary funding lines for existing funders. Revenue generated from the discounted value of loan blocks.
- Loan Notes: Public loan note investments offering fixed returns (6.5% gross p.a. over three years). The £3 million loan notes launched with Crowdstacker represent an innovative funding source.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Business loans for SMEs seeking cash flow solutions and growth capital |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Block discounting funding lines for brokers and lenders |
| Subscription | Quarterly | Public loan note investments |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Rivers Leasing product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rivers Leasing is a UK asset finance company that funds SMEs through asset finance leases, business loans (via sister company Rivers Funding), block discounting facilities (including its Incubator Block Discounting service for new lenders), and Custom Credit / Wye Finance arrangements. It also raises capital through Loan Notes and serves brokers, suppliers, and lenders as channel partners.
Product overview
Rivers Leasing is an independent niche asset finance funder offering a diversified portfolio of financial products. The core offering centers on asset finance services (including finance leases, hire purchase, and equipment financing), supplemented by business loans through sister company Rivers Funding (£5,000-£100,000 over 3-60 months), and block discounting services for lenders. Their products include specialized offerings such as incubator block discounting for brokers building their own book, supplementary funding lines for established lenders, short-term business loans for working capital, and loan notes for investors. The company also offers sub-brands including Custom Credit and Wye Finance under the Your Loans section. Rivers positions itself as serving SMEs, brokers, suppliers, and business owners with tailored financial solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Rivers Funding: Sister company providing business loans between £5,000 to £100,000 over three to 60 months for cash flow solutions and business development.
Quantifiable outcome
- 24-hour turnaround on completed financing applications with invoices paid within 24 hours of receiving all information
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rivers Leasing
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rivers Leasing technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Rivers Leasing partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- LTi Technology SolutionscoreAsset finance software solutions provider partnership that gives small lenders a platform to book deals and grow their businesses. The partnership enables Rivers to offer technology infrastructure to smaller lenders in the block discounting ecosystem.
- Finance & Leasing Association (FLA)coreMember of the Finance & Leasing Association, the industry trade body for asset finance and leasing in the UK. Rivers Leasing plc is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 736080).
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rivers Leasing competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Capify: UK-based specialist SME working capital and asset finance provider targeting small businesses and brokers. Direct peer in product set and customer segment, with a comparable niche, relationship-led approach.
- Shire Leasing: UK independent asset finance and leasing provider serving SMEs and brokers with hire purchase and lease products. Direct competitor in the same niche, UK-only footprint with comparable broker-led distribution.
- Henry Howard Finance: Welsh-based independent asset finance company offering hire purchase and leasing to UK SMEs and brokers. Comparable niche funder with similar broker channel and soft/hard asset coverage.
- Arkle Finance: UK specialist asset finance funder focused on SMEs and brokers with hire purchase and leasing products. Highly comparable niche positioning, and Stephen Bassett (Rivers NED) was formerly Managing Director of Arkle, indicating direct strategic lineage.
- Praetura Commercial Finance: UK alternative lender providing asset finance, business loans and invoice finance to SMEs and brokers. Comparable multi-product specialist with a similar regional/national UK focus.
- Propel Finance: UK asset finance provider offering hire purchase, leasing and refinancing solutions to SMEs and brokers. Direct competitor with overlapping broker channel and small-ticket asset finance positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Bibby Financial Services: UK and international provider of invoice finance, asset finance and business loans to SMEs. Competes across multiple of Rivers' product lines, including asset finance and business loans, with a broader product portfolio.
- iwoca: One of the UK's largest digital SME lenders providing business loans and credit lines up to £1m. Competes for the same SME borrower with a more automated, technology-led model at larger scale.
- Funding Circle: UK-origin SME lending platform offering business loans and asset finance via a marketplace model. Overlaps with Rivers' SME borrower base but operates at much larger scale and with different distribution.
Others
- Conister Bank: UK/Isle of Man-based bank that has provided Rivers with funding facilities (2021). Functions as both a financing counterparty and a comparable UK SME lender in the broader ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rivers Leasing social profiles
Digital presenceRivers Leasing compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Rivers Leasing financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rivers Leasing leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles10 records
Rivers Leasing subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Rivers Leasing funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rivers Leasing M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rivers Leasing
What does Rivers Leasing do?
Rivers Leasing is a UK asset finance company that funds SMEs through asset finance leases, business loans (via sister company Rivers Funding), block discounting facilities (including its Incubator Block Discounting service for new lenders), and Custom Credit / Wye Finance arrangements. It also raises capital through Loan Notes and serves brokers, suppliers, and lenders as channel partners.
Is Rivers Leasing a public or private company?
Rivers Leasing is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Rivers Leasing founded?
Rivers Leasing was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Rivers Leasing based?
Rivers Leasing is headquartered in Gbagi, Nigeria, in the Africa region.
How does Rivers Leasing make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Asset Finance is the primary driver. The others are business Loans, block Discounting and loan Notes.
Who are Rivers Leasing's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Capify, Shire Leasing, Henry Howard Finance, Arkle Finance, Praetura Commercial Finance and Propel Finance. Broad incumbents are Bibby Financial Services, iwoca and Funding Circle. Conister Bank is listed as an others.
Does Rivers Leasing have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rivers Leasing.
What industry is Rivers Leasing in?
Rivers Leasing's product category is Asset Finance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAKADAC, Leasing & Lease Buyout Financing. Its NAICS code is 5324 and its SIC code is 6172.