Harborline Financial · Client Approval

The businesses banks turn down are not the ones that fail

Harborline analysis finds 72% of its performing borrowers were declined elsewhere first, with default rates below the market average.

Deadline 21 Aug 2026

Story builder

All AI output is editable
Working headline
The businesses banks turn down are not the ones that fail
Central angle
Bank underwriting measures filed history; it does not measure trading behaviour — and 4,000 applications show the difference.
Story summary
Harborline analysis finds 72% of its performing borrowers were declined elsewhere first, with default rates below the market average.
Audience
SME owners, policymakers, financial journalists
Media relevance
Adds primary data to a live debate about SME credit availability.
Supporting facts
  • — 4,000 applications analysed
  • — 72% previously declined
  • — £250m lent since launch
Statistics
72% declined-elsewhere · Default rate 1.8% vs market 2.6%
Proof
Methodology note in preparation
Quotes

“A decline is a statement about the model, not the business. We keep meeting profitable companies that failed a test designed for a different kind of borrower.”David Okonjo, Chief Executive, Harborline Financial

Spokesperson
David Okonjo
Call to action
Offer data under embargo plus CEO interview
Target media
Financial Times · The Times — Business
Visual opportunities
Data visualisation · CEO portrait
Latest activity
Sent to client for compliance approval 19 Aug
Next action
Chase compliance sign-off

Media Match

Recommended journalists

Peter Lindqvist — SME Finance Correspondent

Financial Times · London

92%

Match

Peter Lindqvist covers sme lending, credit conditions, late payment for Financial Times. This story sits squarely inside their recent output and they are already the named target.

Topics covered
SME lending, Credit conditions, Late payment
Relationship
Contacted · Pitched the declined-elsewhere lending dataset.
Recommended pitch angle
Lead with 72% declined-elsewhere and offer David Okonjo plus the underlying evidence.

Sarah Jones — Business Reporter

The Times — Business · London

62%

Match

Sarah Jones covers sme productivity, ai adoption, founder-led business for The Times — Business. Their title is on the target media list for this story.

Topics covered
SME productivity, AI adoption, Founder-led business
Relationship
Established · Quoted Elena Marsh in a piece on AI in mid-market manufacturing.
Recommended pitch angle
Lead with 72% declined-elsewhere and offer David Okonjo plus the underlying evidence.

Mark Whitfield — Deputy Editor

Insider North West · Manchester

48%

Match

Mark Whitfield covers regional growth, deals, hires for Insider North West. Adjacent beat coverage makes them a credible secondary approach.

Topics covered
Regional growth, Deals, Hires, Property
Relationship
Strong Relationship · Coffee in Manchester; wants first sight of regional data.
Recommended pitch angle
Lead with 72% declined-elsewhere and offer David Okonjo plus the underlying evidence.

Aisha Rahman — Technology Editor

The Manufacturer · Birmingham

40%

Match

Aisha Rahman covers industrial automation, digital transformation, skills for The Manufacturer. Adjacent beat coverage makes them a credible secondary approach.

Topics covered
Industrial automation, Digital transformation, Skills
Relationship
Warm · Offered a plant visit around the food manufacturer deployment.
Recommended pitch angle
Lead with 72% declined-elsewhere and offer David Okonjo plus the underlying evidence.

Personalised pitch

Journalist-to-source, never marketing copy
Publication

Financial Times