United Trust Bank expands mortgage team with key appointments

By Bridging Loan Directory 7th October 2024

United Trust Bank Mortgages has announced that Barry Luhmann has moved into the newly created role of Customer Support and Strategy Director, Mortgages with Dave Burke taking over Barry’s previous role with a promotion to Head of BTL Underwriting.

Barry Luhmann joined UTB in 2022 ahead of the Bank’s launch into the BTL market.

The specialist lender’s BTL proposition has been highly regarded by brokers whose landlord customers fall outside of mainstream criteria due to their circumstances or the rental property type and location.

Year to date BTL mortgage sales are 35% higher than for the whole of 2023, and applications 53% up in the same period.

In his new role, Barry will work closely with Director of Mortgages, Buster Tolfree, formulating and delivering UTB’s growth plans for the mortgage business.

Dave Burke has been promoted to Head of BTL Underwriting succeeding Barry Luhmann in leading the BTL Underwriting team and tasked with providing a streamlined and high-quality service to introducers on all BTL applications.

Formerly a New Lending Manager in the mortgages team, the Bank will announce Dave’s successor in due course.

Buster Tolfree, Director of Mortgages – United Trust Bank, said:

“Our move into the BTL mortgage market has been a real success story and Barry has played a key part in that.

I’m delighted that he is moving into this newly created role, helping to shape the future of this fast-growing mortgage business as we look to develop our offering and distribution.

Dave has had a similarly great year and will do an excellent job heading up BTL underwriting.

The product continues to go from strength to strength as brokers turn on to our flexible criteria and strong appetite to support landlords seeking value and higher yields by diversifying with more unusual rental properties.

We love giving our people the opportunity to grow and take on new challenges and we always look to promote from within where possible.

As one of the fastest growing divisions of the Bank, I’m sure it won’t be long before we share more exciting team news.”