LHV Bank has surpassed £1bn in total lending to UK SMEs and property investors since launching its SME lending business in 2023.

Growth has been supported by continued demand from brokers and borrowers across commercial real estate, trading business mortgages and specialist buy-to-let, alongside its investment in its lending proposition and team.

The bank has supported a range of commercial property and SME transactions through the year. Recent completions include c.£22m of specialist buy-to-let facilities supporting the acquisition of 253 residential properties, as well as a £7.01m refinancing facility for an Oxfordshire hotel, golf and spa resort.

e4 Strategic has launched its digital workflow solution, VERSA Convey, to modernise the post-offer stage of the property transaction and support the next phase of the Government’s homebuying reforms.

Combined with VERSA Assure, the firm’s conveyancer panel management platform, the combined VERSA ecosystem enables lenders to oversee both panel governance and transaction delivery through a more joined-up operating model.

Key features include real-time case management and workflow visibility; structured digital query management with full audit trails; eCOT processing and validation; and real-time operational insights and transaction-level analytics.

Cambridge & Counties Bank has expanded its real estate finance team with the appointments of Ian Tudor and Mohinder Parmer as senior business development managers (BDMs).

Tudor will focus on growing the bank’s client base in the South East of England and London, joining from Redwood Bank, where he spent four years as a regional BDM in the south. Prior to this, he spent 18 years at NatWest as BDM.

Parmar brings more than 15 years’ experience in supporting brokers across London, joining from InterBay, where he spent four years as a specialist finance account manager. In his new role, he will support the bank’s continued growth ambitions, strengthening its presence across London while expanding opportunities throughout the Midlands.

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