‘AI is extraordinary, but overreliance risks creating homogenous lending’

By Tony Sanchez 4th November 2025

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks to Rebecca Neves, Finance Director at Inhale Capital.

Rebecca is a CIMA-qualified accountant with over 15 years experience spanning all aspects of finance and treasury management.

She has worked across a range of sectors, including energy, renewables, and steel manufacturing, before moving into financial services as Finance Director at an FCA-regulated lending and credit management business.

Outside of work, Rebecca prioritises spending time with her young family. She is a keen runner who has competed in several running events and triathlons over the years.

She also serves as a trustee for the Little Green Sock Project, a local children’s poverty alleviation charity, a role she has proudly held for the past three years.

What is the best thing about being in the bridging finance business?

The best thing about being in a bridging finance business is the pace at which things move and change.

No two deals or days are the same which keeps the work interesting and given the time sensitive nature of some of the deals there is a real team approach to ensuring deadlines are met.

What keeps you focused?

Training, I enjoy competing in running and Hyrox events and I find training helps me escape work which in turn keeps me focused when sat at my desk.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

Working within a younger business the culture is incredibly important to ensure everyone in the team is pulling in the same direction.

I am a firm believer that having a dynamic team where everyone is flexible and rolls their sleeves up will really drive the success of any business.

A sense of humour is a bonus to help lighten the more challenging days!

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Optimist. Not always well placed but it is in my nature to always see the glass half full!

What did you want to be as a child?

A dolphin trainer, sadly this dream didn’t materialise however there is still time! Maybe Sealife need a Finance Director?

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging and development finance industry in the coming months?

One of the greatest challenges facing the bridging and development finance industry in the coming months will be the integration of artificial intelligence into underwriting.

AI is an extraordinary technological advancement with the potential to improve efficiency and accuracy across the sector.

However, as lenders rush to adopt AI-driven processes to streamline decision-making, there is a real risk of creating homogenous lending through overly standardised lending practices.

The strength of the bridging finance market lies in its flexibility and the ability for lenders to take a commercial, case-by-case view.

Overreliance on AI could undermine that adaptability, making it harder for lenders to apply the nuanced judgment that has long defined the industry.

Who or what makes you laugh?

My young family. They are always able to put a smile on my face with their crazy dance moves!

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No, as cliché as it sounds, I genuinely love what I do!

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about myself, it would be to take more time to reflect on what I have achieved to date.

In finance the focus is generally on what comes next and how to prepare for the next step in the business, I don’t always take the time to pause and recognise what has been achieved to get to this point.