Q: How do I start using Credit Flex?

For an upcoming payment*, in your Tide app tap: Account > Send Select an existing Payee or enter the recipient’s details > Pay with Credit Flex Read and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms > sign the personal guarantee Confirm the loan We’ll transfer the money to your main account instantly *Unsuccessful payments or payments that take more than 24 hours to process, will become ineligible for Credit Flex. You’ll receive an error message to tell you that something went wrong. If afterwards, you make the payment again, or it eventually clears, you can use Credit Flex to cover a payment you’ve already made. For a payment you’ve already made, in your Tide app tap: Account > select transaction from your timeline Cover with Credit Flex Read and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms > sign the personal guarantee Confirm the loan We’ll transfer the money to your main account instantly We review eligibility regularly, and the availability of new Credit Flex loans may differ.

Question 1

What is Credit Flex?

Accepted Answer

Credit Flex is a short-term loan that must be paid back in 4 or 6 fixed instalments, over 4 or 6 months. The loan can be used for:

Previous payment – to increase your balance
Upcoming payment* – to split it into smaller repayments

*You must first have the money available in your main account to cover this. Once you make the payment, you'll receive your Credit Flex loan.

Credit Flex is available only for eligible transactions with a:

Minimum amount of a single loan is £5100
Maximum transaction amount is not fixed

Credit Flex loans count towards your total credit limit with Tide, and the maximum will vary depending on how much of that limit is still unused.

If you don’t see the option to use Credit Flex for a transaction, it’s not eligible.

What's the difference between Instant Loan and Credit Flex?

The main difference lies in how you access the funds and your commitment. With:

Instant Loan – choose a fixed amount for your loan, up to your limit. You'll have repay it within 12 months
Credit Flex – pay for or "cover" specific eligible transactions. This loan is either 4 or 6 months

Both loans share the same interest rate of 3.3% monthly against the outstanding balance. Credit Flex loans can sometimes have a 4.25% monthly interest, based on eligibility.

Question 2

How does Credit Flex work?

Accepted Answer

To split a payment you are making into smaller repayments to avoid a sudden balance dip:

Select the Credit Flex option when making a payment
Review and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms including interest
The full payment will be transferred to the recipient from your main account
We’ll then credit the funds back to your main account
Your monthly repayments will start the following month
Track your Credit Flex repayments from your Credit Flex dashboard.

To get an instant cash boost equal to the value of a previous payment:

Go to your account timeline in the Tide app
Select the Credit Flex option for the payment you want to cover
Review and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms including interest
You’ll receive the funds in your main account instantly
Your monthly repayments will start the following month
Track your Credit Flex repayments from your Credit Flex dashboard

Question 3

How do you determine Credit Flex eligibility?

Accepted Answer

We look at:

Your company credit score,
The revenue and turnover paid into your Tide account,
How long you've been a Tide member
When your company was incorporated
How often you use your Tide account, and more.

We recheck your eligibility every day, so you’ll never have to apply for Credit Flex.

How can I see if my transaction is eligible?

All eligible transactions will have the tag Split with Credit Flex.

For a past payment, in your Tide app tap:

Account > select a transaction from your timeline. If you see Cover with Credit Flex, the transaction is eligible OR
Finance > Loans > Credit Flex

For an upcoming payment, in your Tide app tap:

Account > Send > select an existing Payee or enter the recipient’s details. If you see Pay with Credit Flex, the transaction is eligible

If you don’t see either option, your transaction doesn’t qualify for Credit Flex.

Question 4

How do I start using Credit Flex?

Accepted Answer

For an upcoming payment*, in your Tide app tap:

Account > Send
Select an existing Payee or enter the recipient’s details > Pay with Credit Flex
Read and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms > sign the personal guarantee
Confirm the loan
We’ll transfer the money to your main account instantly

*Unsuccessful payments or payments that take more than 24 hours to process, will become ineligible for Credit Flex. You’ll receive an error message to tell you that something went wrong.

If afterwards, you make the payment again, or it eventually clears, you can use Credit Flex to cover a payment you’ve already made.

For a payment you’ve already made, in your Tide app tap:

Account > select transaction from your timeline
Cover with Credit Flex
Read and accept your Credit Flex repayment terms > sign the personal guarantee
Confirm the loan
We’ll transfer the money to your main account instantly

We review eligibility regularly, and the availability of new Credit Flex loans may differ.

Question 5

Can I have multiple Credit Flex loans at the same time?

Accepted Answer

Yes you can have multiple Credit Flex loans at the same time. You have to make at least one repayment from your first Credit Flex loan before you can have multiple loans at the same time.

Can I use Credit Flex more than once?

Yes, you can use Credit Flex more than once. You can use it whenever you see the Credit Flex option.

Question 6

Why can’t I see Credit Flex as an option when I could see it before?

Accepted Answer

We regularly review eligibility for all our credit products, and regularly update individual member eligibility for Credit Flex.

You are more likely to be eligible for Credit Flex if you use your Tide account more often.

Question 7

How much does Credit Flex cost?

Accepted Answer

There’s no subscription fee for using Credit Flex - you’ll only pay the interest rate on the money you borrow.

We apply a monthly interest rate of 3.3% or 4.25% for the outstanding amount over the repayment period.

A representative example:

You take an assumed unsecured loan for £1,000.

The annual percentage rate is 47.6%
The fixed monthly interest rate is 3.3%

Over a 4-month repayment period, you’ll pay back 4 monthly instalments of £270.96 – the total amount payable would be £1,083.84.

Tо see your repayment amounts and scheduе, in your Tide app, tap: Finance > Loans > Credit Flex.

Question 8

What is a personal guarantee?

Accepted Answer

A personal guarantee is a legally binding agreement, where you – as the business owner or director of the company – agree to be personally liable for the repayment of the company loan.

Signing a personal guarantee means that if your business becomes unable to pay the monthly instalments, you will take responsibility for repaying the loan in your personal capacity.

View your personal guarantee in your Tide app. Tap:

Finance > Loans
Credit Flex > Manage
Personal Guarantee

Question 9

How do Credit Flex repayments work?

Accepted Answer

Your monthly repayments start one month later – on the exact date you've taken out the loan.

On this fixed due date, we’ll automatically collect the payment from your main Tide account. To make sure you don’t miss a payment, top up your primary Tide account the day before.

Before you confirm the loan, we’ll show you the repayment amounts and schedule. You can also see this on your Credit Flex dashboard. In your Tide app, tap:

Finance > Loans > Credit Flex

Can I pay off my Credit Flex loan early?

Yes, you can repay your loan before the 4 or 6 months are up. You’ll have to repay the full outstanding amount, including any interest accrued up to the date of full repayment.

Tap Support in the app to speak to us about this and we’ll help you.

Paying your loan from an external account when your Tide account is closed.

If you need to pay your loan from an external account, you should manually send the monthly repayment amount on the due date.

Early repayments with your external account

If you choose to make an earlier payment, please be aware that interest on your loan accrues daily.

An early payment will cover interest up to the date of payment, but a small amount of interest will still be accrued – for the days until your actual due date.

Here's what happens, when you pay your installment early:

Any additional money is allocated to your next repayment
The few days of uncovered interest will be due on your standard repayment date

This is not additional or extra interest – it is the actual interest due for the repayment.

To avoid falling into arrears, we strongly recommend making your repayments on the exact due date. This way the repayment flow will continue smoothly.

Question 10

When will repayments come out of my account?

Accepted Answer

Each monthly repayment will come out of your primary Tide account in the morning of the day it’s due. To make sure you don’t miss a payment, top up your primary Tide account the day before.

Question 11

What happens if I miss a repayment?

Accepted Answer

We’ll automatically debit your account, starting the next day, until we’re able to take the repayment. Our Collections team will also get in touch with you.

We’ll give you a grace period of 7 days starting from your repayment due date, before we start to apply late interest on the 8th day. The late interest rate is the same rate as the 3.3% or 4.25% fixed monthly interest rate, but it is due together with the missed repayment.

If a repayment becomes 45 days late, the whole outstanding amount you’ve borrowed and the interest will become due immediately. We’ll take steps to retrieve this money from you.

We may default your Credit Flex facility if two or more repayments are overdue at any time. This means you’ll be required to pay the outstanding amount you’ve borrowed, the interest and any fees.

If you can’t make a repayment for any reason, tap Support to message us in the app. The sooner you let us know, the sooner we can help.

Question 12

How do I make a repayment I’ve missed?

Accepted Answer

If you miss a repayment, you'll need to top up your account. We’ll automatically make a further debit attempt on a daily basis and will collect any money you receive, until the monthly repayment is settled.

Our Collections team may also email, call or send you an SMS to remind you of the overdue payment.

Keep in mind that we report Credit Flex payment history to credit reference agencies. Your business credit score may be affected positively or negatively, depending on whether you make your monthly Credit Flex or other loan repayments on time.

Days your Credit Flex loan is overdue

4 days past the due date

If you have an Additional Account, we’ll also use that account to collect your monthly instalment

8 days past the due date

We’ll give you a 7-day grace period, starting from the repayment due date, and on the 8th day - you’ll start accruing late interest of 3.3% or 4.25% fixed monthly rate, same as the standard interest rate for your loan. It’s calculated and due over the entire overdue amount

45 days past the due date

We’ll ask you to immediately pay back the rest of the loan, plus any accrued interest. We may forward this to a debt collection agency

Two or more late payments

If you miss two or more monthly repayments, we may ask you to pay the full outstanding amount, plus all accrued interest, regardless of how long the repayments are overdue

We’re here to help:

If you’re having concerns about meeting your monthly repayments, please tap Support in the app, or email collections@tide.co to speak to us.

Close gaps in your cash flow with Credit Flex

Why choose Credit Flex?

Spread the cost of your business purchases

Pay nothing until next month

Find Credit Flex whenever you need it in your Tide app

Already paid? Get an instant cash boost and start repaying after a month

Credit Flex FAQs