Lending balance exceeds £0.5bn mark at Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance
Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance has enjoyed a strong period of growth over the past 12 months, with lending balances increasing by 29% to £580.8m in the year to 31 December 2017.
This is the third year of growth since Real Estate Finance was formed as a division within the wider Secure Trust Bank Group, with lending balances increasing by £440m since 1st January 2015.
Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance was launched to support SMEs in providing finance, principally for residential development and residential investment. The division operates nationwide, enabling the development of new build property, commercial to residential conversions and refurbishment projects.
During 2017 the Real Estate Finance Team has assisted its customers with funding for a wide range of properties and schemes located throughout the UK. Transactions include loans against large student accommodation schemes, funding to housebuilders on multi-phased housing developments and to SME developers on one-off, new-build residential properties.
Listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange since 2011 and subject to a full Stock Exchange listing in 2016, the wider Secure Trust Bank Group has also seen strong growth. Pre-tax profits rose to £25m in the last 12 months – an increase of 28.9% on 2016 figures.
Geoff Ray, managing director real estate finance at Secure Trust Bank Real Estate Finance, said:
“It has been a strong year for the real estate finance business where we continued to actively support our customers to achieve their aspirations and in turn have generated a significant increase in lending balances and our largest ever pipeline going into this year.
“Both the investment and development markets remain robust and we look forward to helping our existing and new customers with their funding needs. As such, we plan to grow the book further in 2018 as we focus on expanding our geographic reach and product range with the support of our team of experienced bankers.”
