‘I would like lenders to stop constantly trying to reinvent the wheel’

By Tony Sanchez 16th August 2021

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks to Lee Carling, consultant at Black & White Bridging.

Black & White Bridging is a national lender launched in 2021 as the privately owned successor to respected West Country regional lender, Bath & West Finance.

Covering bridging, development, refurbishment and auction finance needs, Black & White is building a strong reputation for no nonsense service, even for the more complex requirements, whilst offering a level of flexibility and transparency which few lenders can match.

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

No two deals are ever the same and it is very satisfying when you can overcome the most testing of last minute hurdles in order to ensure that the applicant and broker receive a successful outcome without standards dropping.

What keeps you focused?

If I can look back at the end of the week and be satisfied that I have done my best for the business, then my focus is to ensure that happens the following week.

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

The ability to provide and maintain high service levels. To be able to communicate effectively and of course a sense of humour.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Neither I’m a Virgo

What did you want to be as a child?

A professional footballer, a boxer, a tennis superstar, a cricketeer and Sharon Dawson’s boyfriend.

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

I think the greatest challenge is lender band wagon jumping. I would like lenders to stop constantly trying to reinvent the wheel.

For example, just because a lender has lowered their headline rate doesn’t mean that all lenders should do the same.

Rate is important but so is service and more importantly the help a lender will provide to the client and broker alike when assistance is required should the loan hit bumps in the road during the term of the loan.

Who or what makes you laugh?

My humour can be twisted but in a nice way. People falling over on a slippery path or a pedestrian getting soaked by a driver who has driven through a huge puddle.

I like far too many comedians but at this moment Lee Mack and Jim Jeffries are favourites.

Do you dread Monday mornings?

No. To old for that now. I dread Sunday evenings more because after the football has finished my girlfriend gets to choose what we watch on TV and that causes mega stress and anxiety.

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

I don’t like my big toe.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Seth McFarlane. He is a very talented and I have seen him perform live so that would be a good conversation. For me that is. Would probably be a living hell for him.