| Buster Tolfree wins a Business Leader Award at the British Specialist Lending Awards 2019 |
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| Buster Tolfree, United Trust Bank’s Commercial Director – Mortgages, has won the Business Leader Award in the Second Charge Lender category at the British Specialist Lending Awards 2019.The British Specialist Lending Awards celebrate the exceptional efforts of the best performing individuals in the specialist sector of the UK mortgage industry. The awards go to those individuals working in a range of non-mainstream areas who have truly gone beyond expectation and demonstrated excellence over the course of the preceding 12 months. So far this year we have also won the Financial Reporter award for Best Second Charge Mortgage Lender for the third year in a row and the Mortgage Strategy award for Best Secured Loan Lender. Buster Tolfree, Commercial Director – Mortgages, United Trust Bank, commented: “I’m delighted, surprised and very humbled to have won this award. However, I must give a huge amount of credit to the amazing team at UTB whose hard work and dedication have made the Bank’s mortgage business so successful. I’d also like to thank everyone who supported my nomination amongst such a strong group of finalists. “There are many exciting developments planned for this year and I’m sure this won’t be the last award the Bank picks up in 2019.” |
| United Trust Bank achieves Foundation Standard from the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board |
| The Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board has confirmed that UTB has achieved the Foundation Standard for professional bankers with 97% of its staff attaining the standard.The pursuit and achievement of this accolade helps to drive professionalism in banking and cultural change in banks and is becoming an industry recognised achievement. It also demonstrates organisations’ commitment to building and continually improving the banking industry’s reputation.100% of the Bank’s staff in scope met the expertise part of the Foundation Standard and in its Annual Monitoring Progress Review Report the team from the Chartered Banker Professional Standards Board remarked that ‘United Trust Bank’s achievement rate for Foundation Standard demonstrates its commitment to professionalism and this is a great result for their first year of reporting.
’Harley Kagan, Group Managing Director – United Trust Bank, commented: “This is an excellent achievement in our first year of reporting since rolling out the Foundation Standard program last year. UTB has adopted the Chartered Banker Code of Professional Conduct as its own and in addition is committed to professionalism through the support and achievement of individuals studying professional qualifications. “Well done to all of our staff who have completed the mandatory training and continue to adopt and demonstrate UTB’s values. They are a credit to the Bank and the industry.” |
| UTB team adds visits to seven south coast development sites as they complete the Seven Port Challenge |
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| A team of cyclists from United Trust Bank (UTB) visited seven Bank funded development sites whilst taking part in the Seven Port Challenge Charity Cycle Ride and raising thousands of pounds for good causes.
The ride started from Brighton on the 2nd of May and passed through Shoreham to Portsmouth before crossing to Caen in France and then visiting Hornfleur and Fecamp and finally returning via Dieppe and Newhaven. It is scheduled to take four days with the over 40 participants covering around 180 miles on two wheels. The team from UTB comprised Adam Bovingdon, Paul Turton, Mark Pannell and Gerard Morgan Jackson. During their time on the south coast the Bank’s team visited seven UTB funded development sites with a combined GDV in excess of £25m. The event, organised by the The Brighton & Hove Property Consortium in association with Colin Brace Properties, aimed to raise a total of £50,000 for charities based in the South of England including Martlets Hospice, Rockinghorse, Off The Fence and the Grace Eyre Foundation. |
| United Trust Bank triumphs at the Bridging & Commercial Awards 2019! |
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| United Trust Bank was crowned ‘Specialist Bank of the Year’ for the third time in four years at the Bridging & Commercial Awards 2019. The Bank won the coveted title when the category was first introduced to the awards in 2016 and won it again in 2018 making this year’s win a hat-trick! Other banks shortlisted in the category included OneSavings Bank, Masthaven, Shawbrook and Precise Mortgages.
UTB was shortlisted in seven awards categories overall including an individual shortlisting for Becky Kidby from the Bank’s bridging team for Underwriter of the Year, a great personal achievement. The Bank was also ‘Highly Commended’ in the two ‘Development Finance Lender of the Year’ categories UTB was also presented with the ‘Editor’s Choice’ Award, a new award chosen and presented by Medianett’s editorial team. Presenting the award Beth Fisher, Editor at Medianett, said: “UTB has been our editorial team’s biggest supporter over the past year when it comes to new editorial projects such as the filmed round tables and our new magazine, as well as providing us with exclusive news. It has always understood and valued the power of the press and shows a genuine interest in the critical industry articles we run and how they can contribute, and I can always count on UTB to provide insightful and interesting comment.” Harley Kagan, Group Managing Director of United Trust Bank, commented: “Being chosen as the Specialist Bank of the Year for the third time in four years is a remarkable achievement and it’s all down to the hard work of the talented and dedicated people who make up the UTB team and the unwavering support we receive from our broker and professional partners. “The Editor’s Choice award was also a very welcome surprise. We believe it’s important for the Bank to have a clear and confident voice and to participate in and provoke discussions about the issues affecting our industry. It’s a pleasure to work with and support Medianett as they continue to provide innovative platforms for sharing news, views and industry knowledge.” |
| United Trust Bank chooses to support Refuge as its ‘UTB Charity of the Year’ for 2019 |
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| United Trust Bank staff have chosen national charity Refuge to be the Bank’s charity of the year for 2019. Refuge aims to support and protect women and children who have experienced domestic abuse and violence by providing specialist services and practical and emotional support to those fleeing abuse.
UTB staff will be raising money for Refuge through various events and challenges organised throughout this year. The aim is also to increase awareness of the work carried out by Refuge and the importance of protecting women from all forms of abuse and intimidation. Announcing the partnership, Sandra Horley CBE, chief executive, for Refuge, commented: “We are very pleased that United Trust Bank has chosen Refuge as its official 2019 charity of the year and I’m looking forward to working with the UTB team. With one in four women experiencing abuse there is great demand on our services so we are enormously grateful for every penny raised.” Georgie Reisser-Weston, Chair of United Trust Bank’s Charity Committee, commented: “Each year we ask our staff to propose charities they would like the Bank to consider supporting as its official ‘Charity of the Year’ and after a company-wide vote amongst the UTB team, Refuge stood out above the rest. “Sadly, stories of violence, abuse and harassment towards women have become all too frequent. Fortunately, excellent charities like Refuge help women and their children to escape or deal with situations no one should have to face alone. Refuge tackles difficult issues including domestic abuse, modern slavery, human trafficking and forced marriage and we are proud to be able to help them in their work.” |