Crystal Specialist Finance (CSF) has reported that in 2016 issued terms were up 81%, completed business rose by 35% and enquiries increased by 54% against 2015.

From October to December, the business had its most successful quarter ever with issued terms reaching £532.2m, giving an annual total of £1,946m against £1,074m in the corresponding period.

In addition the average completed application value rose by 21% plus the business issued terms with 70 lenders and completed deals with 42, including both high street and challenger banks.

Case highlights include securing a £3.6m bridging loan with Together in 10 working days, a £590,000 regulated loan with Borro in three days and ‘the perfect bridge’ with LendInvest to ensure continued work on an investment property which was on the verge of stalling.

Jo Breeden (pictured), managing director of CSF, said: “In 2015 I challenged the team to hit £1bn in terms issued, which they duly did, so to end 2016 just short of £2bn is nothing short of exceptional. To compound this achievement with huge increases in completions and the average application value paints a very positive picture.

“When you consider the uncertainty surrounding the finance market in 2016 with the well publicised regulation changes and the EU Referendum result, we have not only defied the odds but done so with the correct levels of personal and IT infrastructure investment to ensure solid foundations moving forward.

“I have no doubt that 2017 will continue to be challenging, but we enter the year having established ourselves as one of the biggest specialist distributors in the UK and we will continue to expand our boundaries based on the excellent service for which we are becoming synonymous.”