Nina Kainth on speed, solutions and 20 years of broker insight

By Tony Sanchez 9th April 2026

In our latest Five Minute Interview, Tony Sanchez speaks with Nina Kainth, Head of Sales at Mercantile Trust Limited, about working closely with brokers, solving complex cases and why there’s always a way to get a deal done.

Nina Kainth is Head of Sales at Mercantile Trust Limited, bringing over 20 years of experience in the specialist lending market.

She joined the business in 2025 from The Loans Engine, where she worked across sales, underwriting and team management, and played a key role in developing its B2B offering across first and second charge buy-to-let mortgages and bridging loans.

With a strong understanding of broker requirements, Nina focuses on structuring deals, supporting intermediaries through the process and delivering practical lending solutions for a wide range of cases.

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

What I love about Bridging is the problem-solving, the quick wins, and knowing right from the start if a deal works.

Brokers and clients often tell us we move fast, fix problems others can’t, and this builds trust that keeps them coming back.

That mix of speed, creativity, and reliability is what makes every deal rewarding

What keeps you focused?

What keeps me focused is diving into complex cases and helping brokers close deals.

There’s something really satisfying about untangling challenges, finding solutions others can’t, and seeing the deal come together

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

I look for people who are hungry, focused, and know how to get things done, but who also know how to enjoy themselves.

Strong communication, being a good team player, and stepping up when it counts are key.

I love colleagues who embrace challenges, dig into complex cases, and bring energy to the team.

It’s not just about working hard, we play hard too, and that balance keeps us motivated, connected, and performing at our best

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

Definitely an optimist. Everyone will tell you I focus on solutions rather than problems, and I truly believe there’s always a way to make a deal work if you stay creative and persistent.

That’s 20 years of broker experience talking, it’s in my DNA.

What did you want to be as a child?

I wanted to be a doctor, I loved the idea of helping people and fixing problems.

Even now, in bridging, it’s the same drive: I still get a buzz from solving tricky situations and making things better for clients and brokers

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

I think navigating uncertainty while keeping deals moving quickly and despite rising costs, we haven’t seen a drop in first or second charge bridging. Second charge in particular is performing really well.

We succeed because we are offering fast, straightforward solutions with clear terms, internal legals, AVMs, and no exit fees, basically, making it easy for brokers to get deals done.

Who or what makes you laugh?

Events and expos have been a highlight this year.

There’s always banter, funny stories, and good jokes flying around, it cracks me up every time.

Meeting brokers for the first time, I can often tell straight away when we’re going to connect, and that’s the part I love the most

Do you dread Monday mornings?

Honestly, I don’t dread Mondays.

If anything, I’m buzzing to get stuck in, whether it’s attending an event, presenting to brokers, showing off our best selling products, a Zoom meeting, or helping my team and colleagues.

It’s just another day to make things happen.