Hampshire Trust Bank has strengthened its bridging finance underwriting team, with four business development executives (BDEs) and two internal lending managers moving into underwriter roles. The bank said the appointments reflect how brokers are increasingly structuring short-term funding as part of a wider, multi-stage investment strategy. Alex Klimcke, Olivia Colmer-Lynch, George Leaver and Ross Sheppard have moved from BDE roles, alongside Ella Hosier and Raj Aggarwal from internal lending manager roles into underwriting positions within the bridging finance team.

Atom bank has reduced rates across its range of prime mortgage products by up to 0.25%. Rates on products available up to 85% LTV have been reduced by 0.20%, while those at 90% LTV have dropped by 0.25%. Products at 95% LTV have been cut by 0.10%. The reductions apply with immediate effect, meaning that prime rates begin at 5.29% for borrowers with a deposit of at least 15%. Atom’s prime product range includes two-, three- and five-year options across both fee-free and fee-assisted options.

Paragon Bank has expanded its buy-to-let mortgage range with the launch of new limited edition 60% LTV products with fixed rates available over two- and five-year terms. The new range comprises six products for single self-contained (SSC) properties and three products for HMO/MUBs. For SSCs, rates start from 4.35% for Paragon’s green mortgage product, available on properties with an EPC rating of A-C. This increases by five bps for homes with lower energy efficiency ratings. For landlords financing HMOs and MUBs, rates start from 4.60%. The products are available with either a 3% product fee or a nil-fee option to provide landlords with flexibility depending on how they structure borrowing costs.

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