United Trust Bank has secured accreditation from the Open Property Data Association as it looks to support faster and more efficient property transactions through greater use of shared data and digital infrastructure.
The lender said the accreditation reflects work carried out across its mortgages, buy-to-let and bridging division, including the launch of its enhanced Broker Application API in 2025.
According to UTB, the accreditation confirms it meets OPDA’s core principles around collaboration, support, ethics, privacy and security, transparency and active participation. It also signals that the bank’s data, APIs and digital systems are set up to connect with other organisations involved in the property process.
OPDA is seeking to modernise the homebuying and property transaction process by enabling more secure and standardised sharing of information between lenders, brokers, solicitors and valuers.
The aim is to reduce duplication, lower costs and cut delays by allowing trusted participants in the transaction chain to exchange information more efficiently.
UTB said its accreditation would allow it to play a fuller role in that network as more firms adopt the same standards.
The bank argued that a more connected system could help reduce repeated document requests and duplicated checks, which continue to slow property transactions.
DIGITAL FOCUS
The accreditation comes as lenders and other firms across the property sector face growing pressure to improve the speed and efficiency of transactions, particularly in areas where manual processes still create delays for borrowers, brokers and professional firms.
UTB said it does not expect any one change to transform the market on its own, but believes wider adoption of OPDA standards could make a material difference to the time, cost and complexity involved in buying property.
Buster Tolfree (pictured), managing director – mortgages, buy-to-let and bridging at UTB, said: “I am delighted that UTB has achieved OPDA accreditation following a lot of hard work by our Operations team and many other people across the Bank. It shows we’re building our systems in a way that one day will improve how the market may operate more quickly and efficiently for everyone, not just for UTB.
“There’s a real opportunity to improve how the property process works in the UK. By being part of the OPDA network and trust framework, we’re helping to create a more connected, efficient and secure environment that ultimately benefits customers.
“This is just the start — we’re looking forward to working with others in the network to help drive meaningful change across the industry.”
