Bank becomes latest affiliate lender to join the Association of Bridging Professionals

Bank becomes latest affiliate lender to join the Association of Bridging Professionals




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Another bridging lender has joined the recently formed Association of Bridging Professionals (AOBP).

Known as ‘the bridging bank’, United Trust Bank is the seventh lender to be accepted as an affiliate member of

the Association, which promises to unite all those within the bridging industry

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Commenting on the bank’s decision to join, Alan Margolis, head of bridging at UTB said it was important for brokers to have their own association as many lenders are represented by the association of short term lenders (astl).

“We believe that brokers involved in the short term sector will likewise benefit from having their own association that can deal with their collective issues.

UTB is committed to the short term bridging loan sector and is supportive of any venture that brings together those who are active in it,” he said.

Asked what he thought UTB and the Association would achieve by its decision to join, Mr Margolis said the Haymarket-based bank was looking to ‘expand its presence in the sector’ and believed the AOBP would help it achieve this.

“We believe it will be of mutual benefit to forge close links with those brokers for whom bridging loans are important and whose commitment to the sector is evidenced by their membership of AOBP,” he said.

Mr Margolis also pointed to ‘improved communication’ across the industry, a factor he hoped the AOBP would instil by acting as a platform for bridging professionals.

“One of the benefits we foresee is that it will be able communicate the concerns of its broker members to its lender members and vice versa, and where required, facilitate a dialogue,” he explained.

The bridging expert did, however, say he believed the association would need a couple of years to ‘find its feet’, but that bridging was such a ‘distinct product’ it needed a dedicated trade body.

“The interests of those brokers involved in bridging loans are best served by an association that is focused on the challenges and issues particular to bridging loans, ones that would otherwise (understandably), not be focused on by an association whose members had other concerns,” he explained.

Ray Cohen of the AOBPwelcomed United Trust Bank’s membership, saying: “ United Trust Bank is one of the leading providers of finance for property bridging and development finance. They will bring their experience to the association and we look forward to their ongoing contribution.

Visit the United Trust Bank at

www.utbank.co.uk

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