Birmingham Bank has crossed the £500 million lending mark, underscoring the rapid expansion of one of the UK’s newer challenger institutions.
The bank, which lends exclusively through mortgage brokers and forward flow partners, said the figure reflects an 18-month period of sustained growth.
Lending has risen 460% in 2025, driven by heightened demand from buy-to-let brokers, landlords and SMEs across the country.
Chris Weller (main picture, inset), chief executive officer at Birmingham Bank, said: “Our journey to £500 million reflects the strength of our relationships with our exclusive broker network, partners, and the growing appetite for a bank that combines speed and technology, with personal service and reliable lending decisions.”
He added: “We’ve built real momentum over the past 18 months, developing our proprietary lending platform, Origin, alongside our mortgage intermediary partners, and this milestone is a testament to the collaboration, trust, and shared ambition we have with them.”
Weller said the bank would continue to focus on supporting brokers with quicker decisions and systems designed to reduce administrative friction.
“We remain committed to providing the fast, fair decisions and tools to unlock brokers and their UK landlord clients to grow.
“Our priority is to continue to meet the needs of the mortgage intermediary market, as we keep expanding our zero-admin approach, to demonstrate the art of the possible when new technology and great service are aligned.”
GROWTH THROUGH BROKER PARTNERS
The bank’s lending has been sourced entirely through intermediary channels, reflecting a distribution strategy centred on the specialist mortgage market rather than a direct-to-consumer approach. Its proprietary platform, Origin, has been developed in collaboration with brokers and is positioned as a key driver of the bank’s ability to scale quickly while maintaining service levels.
Birmingham Bank’s milestone places it among a small number of new banking entrants to reach the half-billion threshold within such a short timeframe. The bank said its focus would remain on specialist mortgage lending, where demand for speed and certainty has strengthened competition between established lenders and smaller institutions.
OUTLOOK
The bank expects continued growth into 2026, supported by further technology investment and an expanded product range for professional landlords. While conditions in the buy-to-let market remain challenging, market participants have noted that specialist lenders have benefited from landlords seeking quicker decisions and more flexible underwriting.
Birmingham Bank said the combination of automation, responsive service and close broker engagement would continue to underpin its strategy as it builds on the £500 million landmark.
