Funding the training!!!!
I had exactly the same trouble with HSBC.
Last year I was told they had stopped the professional studies loan for pilot training, but would grant it to students studying through Oxford Aviation. I heard a rumour this was due to people borrowing large amounts of unsecured cash to do an ATPL and then not finishing the course or not finding a job at the end of the course and not being able to repay the loan.
I was studying at BCFT in Bournemouth and was denied such a loan form HSBC.
I continued with my training, got my blue book, an MCC certificate, a letter from an airline saying I had passed the selection assessment / sim ride and would have a job on completion of the type rating that I needed to fund.
Even offering to put my house up as collateral for the loan and with a job offer, I was still declined. Unfortunately HSBC provided no help whatsoever for me.
Obviously, there are other lenders out there; it was just that HSBC had a lower rate of lending at the time.