Lime Finance Solutions Achieves NACFB Assurance – the Trade Body’s Highest Standard

Lime Finance Solutions has achieved NACFB Assurance, the trade body’s highest hallmark for commercial finance brokers. Here’s what it means for you.

July 21st, 2026

Lime Finance Solutions Achieves NACFB Assurance – the Trade Body’s Highest Standard

There isn’t a certificate on the wall for “gives a straight answer”. If there were, I’d like to think we’d have had one for years.

What there is, though, is NACFB Assurance. And as of 21 July 2026, Lime Finance Solutions holds it.

What it actually is

The NACFB – the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers – is the UK’s largest independent trade body for commercial finance brokers. It’s been going since 1992 and it’s not-for-profit, which matters, because nobody is selling anybody a badge here.

Assurance is their hallmark. To get it, a firm sits an independent Assurance Consultation with the NACFB’s compliance team. They go through your processes, your policies, your regulatory reporting, your complaints record and your training.

Not a form you fill in. An assessment somebody else conducts on you.

Lime Finance Solutions Achieves NACFB Assurance - the Trade Body's Highest Standard

Ours was carried out by Dalal Aachoui, Compliance Officer at the NACFB, and certified by their Chief Executive, Jim Higginbotham. It runs to 21 July 2027, at which point we do it all again.

What they looked at

Anti-money laundering and financial crime. Anti-bribery and corruption. Data protection. Financial promotions. Treating customers fairly. Vulnerable customer policy. Complaints handling. Training and competency, with annual appraisal-led assessments. Regulatory reporting and standing data, all confirmed up to date.

I’m quietly pleased about that last bit.

Why any of this matters to you

Being FCA-authorised is the floor. It means you’re allowed to do the job. It doesn’t tell a borrower much about how the job gets done.

Assurance is a bit like a restaurant hygiene rating. Everyone who’s open has passed the basic checks – that’s the law. The rating tells you who’s gone further and let someone poke around the kitchen. Not everyone volunteers for that.

For borrowers, it means the firm arranging your funding has been independently checked on integrity, process and regulatory adherence. For lenders, it saves the usual round of due diligence – the NACFB has already done it, and the Lender Assurance certificate sets our details out in one place. Deals move quicker as a result. That’s not a small thing when you’re up against a completion date.

It also sits comfortably with something I’ve written about before – the fiduciary duty a broker owes you, and the difference between advice from someone who’s accountable and advice from someone on the internet who isn’t. Independence only means something when someone checks it.

Nothing changes, which is rather the point

We’re not doing anything differently today than we were last week. The work was already being done this way – NACFB Assurance just puts a stamp on it.

If you want to see the certificates, ask. We’ll send them over. And if you’d rather judge us on the actual deals, the real case studies are probably a better read.

If you’ve got a commercial mortgage, a development project or a business funding requirement on the go, and you’d like it handled by a firm that’s been independently checked, I’m always happy to have that conversation.

David Farmer Lime Finance Solutions

FAQ

What is NACFB Assurance?

It’s the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers’ hallmark for member firms. To hold it, a broker must complete an independent Assurance Consultation covering business integrity, regulatory compliance and the robustness of their processes. It compliments our fidicuary duty to clients.

Is it the same as being FCA regulated?

No. FCA authorisation is a legal requirement to arrange regulated credit. NACFB Assurance is a voluntary, independent assessment on top of that. We hold both – Lime Finance Solutions is a trading name of Lime Coaching & Consultancy Ltd, FCA firm reference 726314.

How long does it last?

Our certificate is valid from 21 July 2026 until 21 July 2027. It’s reassessed annually and we have held this kitemark since it’s inception – being one of the first NACFB brokers to achieve this standard.

What does it change for me as a borrower?

Nothing about how we work, but it gives you independent confirmation of it. It also means lenders can skip a layer of due diligence on us, which usually means your case moves faster.

Do all brokers have this?

No. NACFB membership is voluntary, and NACFB Assurance is a further step on top of membership. Plenty of brokers operate without either.

David Farmer

Over 30 years finance experience. Former credit underwriter, founder of Lime Finance Solutions in 2012. Multi Award winning business, featured in Sunday Telegraph, Parliamentary Review, Sky TV and others. Regular contributor to press and business associations. FCA Authorised, ALIBF Qualified. Specialist in Commercial Mortgages, Business Lending, Property and Development Finance.