About OakNorth Bank

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.

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 Nick Lee, Head of Regulatory and Government Affairs at OakNorth As the UK strives to solidify its economic standing in a post-Brexit world, exploring innovative strategies to unlock growth is imperative. The new Government has three pivotal opportunities that could help catalyse significant economic expansion in the UK. 1. Creating a dedicated Government Scale-up […]

Recently, we hosted a unique green-dating event at our Soho office in London. This gathering brought together SME housebuilders, property developers, and investors for an engaging session with businesses that are setting new standards in sustainability and biodiversity in the real estate sector.  The event was designed to bridge the gap between property developers and […]