First 4 Bridging gains full FCA regulated status

By Bridging Loan Directory 30th July 2019

Specialist distributor First 4 Bridging (F4B) has achieved fully regulated status with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

The successful navigation of this robust authorisation process provides an important milestone for the business as it looks to expand into other market sectors whilst operating under strict regulatory guidelines and constant FCA monitoring.

F4B was previously authorised for certain non-mainstream regulated activities, such as bridging loans, development loans and commercial term mortgages. These will remain prominent focal points within the F4B offering but this new regulatory status will allow the specialist distributor to also undertake fully regulated activities such as secured loans, residential mortgages, buy-to-let and raising funds for debt consolidation.

With its extensive market knowledge and close relationships with a range of specialist lenders, F4B is looking to utilise this new regulatory status to build on its reputation as one of the UK’s leading specialist master brokers.

Steve Swyny, pictured, Head of Sales at F4B, commented:

“Being fully regulated has always been a goal for F4B. However, in order to achieve this, we had to ensure that we were in the right place as a business to not only tread this complex authorisation path but that we also had the infrastructure in place to build on this and venture into other key areas of specialist finance.

“Our core business will continue to revolve around bridging and development finance but, with more borrowers looking for alternative ways to raise funds for their property-related transactions, we are now in a position to provide a wider range of options for our introducers to help them grow their business and bolster retention levels.”