Close Brothers Limited Credit Rating
Close Brothers Limited holds a blended long-term credit rating of BBB+ — the "Upper Medium" band, which is investment grade, with a negative outlook. That figure combines the latest long-term issuer ratings from Moody's, Fitch onto a single comparable scale, and indicates an adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments, though it is more exposed to adverse economic conditions than higher-rated institutions. Close Brothers Limited is owned by Close Brothers Group plc (public). A credit rating measures an institution's ability to meet its financial obligations — it is an opinion, not a guarantee, and it is separate from deposit protection.
Close Brothers credit ratings by agency
| Agency | Long-term rating | Outlook | Last confirmed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitch Ratings | BBB | Negative | 15 Dec 2025 |
| Moody's | A3 | Negative | 17 Apr 2026 |
Rating History Chart
Rating History
| Date | Rating | Agencies |
|---|---|---|
10 Jul 2026 |
Fitch | |
10 Jul 2026 |
Moody's, Fitch | |
15 Jan 2016 |
Fitch |
Service record: complaints, incidents and customer survey
Complaints: in the FCA's 2025 H2 file (February 2025 to July 2025), Close Brothers received 377 banking and credit-card complaints. The bank upheld 0% of those it closed and closed 31% within three days. Compare all banks.
Market signals, ownership and group accounts
Short positions: 3.14% of Close Brothers Group plc's shares were held in disclosed net short positions at 8 October 2026, per the FCA's aggregated disclosures.
Only positions of 0.5% or more per holder are disclosed, so this is a floor. Above 2% to 3% is unusual for a UK bank; it is a view on the listed group's shares, not on deposit safety, which the FSCS covers regardless.Shareholding changes disclosed under the FCA's major-holdings rules in the last two years (listed group's shares):
| Date | Holder | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23 Apr 2026 | Third Avenue Management LLC | below 3% | 3.02% ▲ |
| 15 Apr 2026 | FIL Limited | 10.02% | 11.03% ▲ |
| 15 Dec 2025 | FIL Limited | 5.12% | 10.02% ▲ |
| 26 Sep 2025 | FMR LLC | below 3% | 5.08% ▲ |
| 22 Sep 2025 | Aberdeen Group plc | 8.50% | 8.45% ▼ |
| 26 Jun 2025 | Aberdeen Group plc | 8.52% | 8.50% ▼ |
| 24 Jun 2025 | Kopernik Global Investors, LLC | 3.04% | 2.99% ▼ |
| 9 Jun 2025 | Aberdeen Group plc | 9.87% | 8.52% ▼ |
| Fiscal year | Profit before tax | Net income | Total assets | Equity | Dividends paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | -£122m | -£100m | £14.1bn | £1.7bn | £0 |
| Jul 2024 | £133m | £89m | £14.1bn | £1.8bn | £67m |
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Frequently asked questions about Close Brothers Limited
Is Close Brothers Limited safe?
Close Brothers Limited currently holds a blended long-term credit rating of BBB+, which is investment grade and indicates an adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments, though it is more exposed to adverse economic conditions than higher-rated institutions. A credit rating is an independent opinion on an institution's ability to meet its financial obligations; it is not a guarantee and can change. Separately, Eligible deposits with UK-authorised banks and building societies are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per eligible person, per banking licence (the limit rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025). Where several brands share a single banking licence, that £120,000 limit is shared across those brands rather than applying to each one separately. This page is information about published credit ratings, not financial advice.
What is Close Brothers Limited's credit rating?
Close Brothers Limited has a blended long-term credit rating of BBB+, with a negative outlook. This blends the most recent long-term issuer ratings from Moody's, Fitch, mapped onto a common scale so ratings expressed in different agencies' notation can be compared directly.
Is Close Brothers Limited covered by the FSCS?
Eligible deposits with UK-authorised banks and building societies are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per eligible person, per banking licence (the limit rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025). Where several brands share a single banking licence, that £120,000 limit is shared across those brands rather than applying to each one separately. Close Brothers Limited is recorded with FCA reference 124750. Because protection follows the banking licence rather than the brand, check the current position and which brands share a licence on the FSCS website before relying on it.
Who owns Close Brothers Limited?
Close Brothers Limited is owned by Close Brothers Group plc (public). Ownership matters for credit ratings because agencies often factor in the likelihood of support from a parent group, and because brands under the same banking licence share a single FSCS limit.
What does a BBB+ credit rating mean?
BBB+ sits in the "Upper Medium" band, indicating an adequate capacity to meet its financial commitments, though it is more exposed to adverse economic conditions than higher-rated institutions. Ratings of BBB- (or Baa3 on Moody's scale) and above are considered investment grade; anything below that is regarded as speculative, sometimes called "high yield". Ratings are reviewed periodically and can be upgraded or downgraded.
What is Close Brothers Limited's Fitch rating?
Fitch rates Close Brothers Limited BBB (long-term) with a negative outlook, as read from the bank's own published disclosures and last confirmed on 15 December 2025. Together with the other agencies' ratings this gives the blended BBB+ shown on this page.
What is Close Brothers Limited's Moody's rating?
Moody's rates Close Brothers Limited A3 (long-term) with a negative outlook, as read from the bank's own published disclosures and last confirmed on 17 April 2026. Together with the other agencies' ratings this gives the blended BBB+ shown on this page.
When did Close Brothers Limited's credit rating last change?
Close Brothers Limited's blended rating has stood at BBB+ since 10 July 2026, the most recent change in our records. Ratings are re-checked automatically and this page updates when an agency revises its assessment.