StreamBank has strengthened its underwriting division with the appointment of two senior underwriters in response to rising demand from brokers and the continued expansion of its bridging and development finance business.
Josh Thompson took up the role of senior underwriter on 1 September, followed by Emma Stone, who joined as senior bridging underwriter on 15 September. Both will be based in the lender’s Cardiff office.
Thompson brings experience from CrowdProperty, where he was senior lending manager and senior surveyor, as well as earlier positions at Thomas Mae Land & Planning and Innova Property.
He will focus on assessing development and refurbishment deals, with particular emphasis on build cost analysis and project viability.
Stone joins from Glenhawk, where she specialised in both regulated and unregulated bridging. With 30 years in the mortgage industry, she has also held senior posts at Admiral Money, Foundation Home Loans and Optimum Credit.
She will concentrate on complex bridging cases, working closely with brokers to structure deals that balance commercial opportunity with compliance.
Founded in 2021, StreamBank has positioned itself as a flexible short-term and specialist property lender, offering bridging loans, refurbishment funding, development exit finance and commercial investment opportunities.
Its underwriting process is led by experienced professionals rather than automated credit scoring, something it says has helped establish its reputation in the sector.
Roz Cawood, managing director – property finance at StreamBank, said: “Josh and Emma bring a depth of expertise that reflects the calibre of underwriters we want representing us and their understanding of both the technical and commercial aspects of specialist lending means they can engage with brokers at a senior level.
“As we continue to grow our bridging and development offering, it’s vital that our underwriting team reflects the complexity of the cases we take on, and the high expectations of the brokers we work with.”
Thompson said he was drawn to StreamBank’s mix of fast decision-making and practical broker support: “Having spent years in surveying and development, I know just how many moving parts there are in a deal and I’m looking forward to working side by side with brokers to find solutions that make sense.”
Stone added that accessibility was a key attraction: “That kind of open communication makes a real difference, especially when you’re under pressure to get a deal through quickly.
“I’ve worked across a range of lending environments, and I know that a common-sense approach, backed by solid experience, is often what gets the job done.”
