United Trust Bank’s mortgage division is marking its tenth anniversary, having grown from a niche second charge lender into one of the country’s leading specialists with annual completions now topping £500m.

Launched in 2015 with just two partner firms and a handful of underwriters and sales staff, UTB Mortgages completed £2.3m of loans in its first year. A decade on, it is working with more than 3,150 firms and 9,500 advisers, offering residential, buy-to-let and specialist solutions with loan sizes up to £2m and loan-to-values of up to 95%.

The mortgages team has expanded from four people sharing roles at launch to 72 staff, including 25 underwriters and 12 dedicated sales specialists. The product range has also broadened, with nearly 300 options now available, from Bank of England trackers to five-year fixes, including products designed for complex income, adverse credit and non-standard property cases.

The growth has been underpinned by significant investment in technology. A digital broker portal, biometric ID verification and the use of AI tools to assist customer care and underwriting insight have been introduced, alongside what the bank describes as its “personal touch”.

Buster Tolfree, director of mortgages at United Trust Bank, said: “From completing just £2.3m of loans in our first year to building a £500m+ annual completions business today, our journey has been remarkable.

“The last decade has thrown everything at the mortgage industry – Brexit, COVID-19, high inflation and rising interest rates – yet we’ve continued to grow, invest and deliver for brokers and their customers.

“What sets us apart is the way we combine innovative products and cutting-edge technology with the personal touch of our brilliant team.

“Flexibility, speed and common sense are in our DNA, and with the support of thousands of broker partners, we’re very excited about what the next 10 years will bring.”