Lending

When a hotel owner told us, “My bank has decided they’re not lending to hotels right now. Can you help?” – we didn’t just listen. We acted.

In his latest piece for The Independent, Ben Barbanel, Head of Debt Finance at OakNorth, explores what that moment revealed about the disconnect between banks and growing businesses, and why blending advanced tech with human judgment is essential for delivering truly personalised banking.

The UK’s residential development landscape in 2025 is defined by complexity. While appetite remains strong, the journey from site acquisition to delivery is not always straightforward. Developers are operating in a high-cost, high-risk environment, navigating tighter margins, shifting regulations, and slower buyer demand.

Since launching in 2015, we’ve navigated our fair share of volatility – from Brexit, global pandemic, inflation and interest rate spikes, and shifting political landscapes. Each of these events brought fresh challenges for businesses across the UK.

But through every cycle, one thing has remained constant: OakNorth’s commitment to supporting lower mid-market businesses (with £1m-£100m in turnover) with the funding they need to seize opportunity, even in uncertain times.

For ambitious UK businesses, breaking into the US market can be game-changing. With a population of over 340 million and accounting for around a quarter of global GDP in 2024, the United States represents an incredibly attractive growth opportunity — one defined by scale, innovation, and potential reach.

By Mohith Sondhi, Senior Director at OakNorth Loan covenants are critical to successful commercial lending, including in the fund finance space. A lender typically uses them to set parameters by which they’re comfortable that a loan can operate – a specific framework so to speak that’s agreed between both borrower and lender. In recent times, […]

By Hugo Sousa, Senior Director at OakNorth OakNorth launched in September 2015 with a clear mission – to empower entrepreneurs. We’re now nine years into our journey, and it’s become clear from speaking with our customers that business leaders see OakNorth’s backing as a catalyst for their growth, innovation, and market leadership. Over the years, […]