Castle Trust joins AOBP

Castle Trust joins as an associate lender, which brings the number of AOBP top-level executive committee and associate lenders to 33. 

The associate lender position allows Castle Trust to have direct access to the executive committee, an invitation and a right to raise questions at quarterly meetings as well as many other membership benefits.

Alex Upton, director of sales at Castle Trust, said it was looking forward to working with the AOBP to support and develop the short-term lending market.

“At Castle Trust, we are perhaps less well known as a bridging lender. 

“But with first and second charge products, which only charge a minimum of three months’ interest, the option to roll up part or all of the interest and an express service, we can design and deliver highly competitive bridging solutions to meet individual client needs.”

Last month, Castle Trust revamped its website for brokers as it looked to simplify its application process, while last year it announced it would be acquiring Omni Capital Retail Finance.

Simon Juniper, vice-chairman of the AOBP and senior business adviser at Finance 4 Business, added: “We are only as strong as our members, and it is imperative that we have firms with the industry knowledge of Castle Trust to help shape this hugely important finance sector.”

The AOBP has continued to see an increase in membership numbers, while Julian Ingall, executive committee member of the AOBP and director of Coreco, added: “Our influence on legislation is growing through lobbying and our constant promotion of better education in this sector, all of which we use to improve the short-term finance market.”

Towards the end of last year, the AOBP revealed it was considering a name change while addressing a record number of attendees at its AGM.