For larger and more complex borrowing, the private banking world offers something the high street cannot: lending built around a relationship and your wider wealth, rather than a fixed product. A private bank mortgage is arranged with a bank whose business is serving high net worth and ultra-high net worth clients, where the loan is one part of a broader picture that can include investments, business interests and assets held in the UK and abroad.
Propertyze introduces and arranges private bank mortgages for clients in London and across the UK, working with private banks whose lending is bespoke by design. Access to these lenders is rarely available directly — they typically work through trusted introducers — and the way a case is presented can have a real bearing on whether, and on what terms, a bank engages.
Key facts
- What it is: a mortgage arranged with a private bank, underwritten around your overall wealth and often a wider banking relationship, rather than a standardised product.
- Who it suits: high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, business owners and investors, frequently with larger loan requirements or internationally held assets.
- Typical entry point: private banks generally focus on larger loans; minimum loan sizes are commonly stated in the region of £1m–£3m and upwards, though this varies by bank.
- Relationship lending: many private banks prefer not to "dry lend" (lend with nothing else attached) and look for a broader relationship — for example assets under management, investments or deposits held with them.
- Pricing: often structured on a margin over a reference rate and shaped heavily by the loan size and the wider relationship; terms are individually negotiated, so there is no published rate.
- Regulation: where the borrowing is secured on a property you live in, it is FCA-regulated. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage secured on it. Lending arranged for investment or business purposes may be unregulated.
How private bank lending works
A high-street mortgage is usually a self-contained transaction: the bank lends against the property and that is the extent of the relationship. Private banks tend to approach lending differently. They are often more interested in the full client relationship — your investments, pensions, business turnover and assets, in the UK and overseas — and may factor these into how the loan is structured and priced.
This wider view can work in the client's favour. By considering assets and income beyond the single transaction, a private bank can take a more individual approach to risk, which in turn can shape the structure, term and pricing available. In some arrangements, where a client holds significant assets with the bank, the loan-to-value and structure can be tailored accordingly. The trade-off is that the relationship is broader and more involved than a simple mortgage — which is part of the appeal for some clients and a genuine consideration for others.
The regulatory reality
Regulation depends on the purpose and security of the loan, not on the type of lender. A private bank mortgage secured against a home you or an immediate family member occupy is a regulated mortgage contract, with the full FCA consumer protections. Borrowing arranged for investment, portfolio or business purposes may sit outside FCA regulation.
Many private banking arrangements span both — a regulated home loan alongside unregulated investment or portfolio lending within the same relationship. We will set out clearly which elements are regulated and which are not, and what that means for the protections available to you, before you proceed. Propertyze conducts both regulated and unregulated business, and not all products we can arrange are regulated by the FCA.
Which lenders, and why a specialist broker helps
Private banking is, by its nature, difficult to access directly. These banks typically lend through established introducers and relationships rather than to clients who approach unannounced, and they do not compete on published rate cards. Getting a productive conversation often depends on the right introduction and a case presented in terms the bank recognises.
This is the heart of what a broker contributes here. Propertyze works with private banks and specialist lenders alongside a wider panel of more than 135 lenders, and can introduce a case to the bank most likely to suit it. Just as important is the packaging: presenting your overall wealth, income and objectives so the bank can see the opportunity clearly. The framing of the case genuinely influences the outcome.
Common complications we handle
- Larger and bespoke loans that fall outside mainstream lenders' appetite or product caps.
- Relationship structuring — weighing the benefits of consolidating assets or a portfolio with one bank against your own preference for diversification.
- Internationally held wealth and income, where lender comfort varies considerably.
- Complex income — business profits, dividends, investment returns and irregular earnings.
- Portfolio refinancing or growth, where a private bank may be willing to support an ongoing strategy rather than a single purchase.
The process
- Initial conversation — we understand your objectives, the borrowing required and an overview of your wealth.
- Lender selection — we identify which private banks or specialist lenders fit the case.
- Introduction and packaging — we introduce you appropriately and present your overall position to the bank.
- Negotiation and structuring — we work with the bank on terms, structure and pricing.
- Offer and completion — we manage the case through to completion.
Frequently asked questions
What is a private bank mortgage? A mortgage arranged with a private bank that serves high net worth clients, where lending is bespoke and often built around a wider banking relationship rather than a standard off-the-shelf product.
How is it different from a standard mortgage? A standard mortgage is usually a stand-alone loan against a property. Private banks often look at your broader wealth — investments, business interests and assets — and may bring these into how the loan is structured and priced.
What are the criteria, and how much can I borrow? Private banks generally focus on larger loans, with minimums commonly cited from around £1m–£3m upwards, and lend based on your overall position rather than a single income figure. Exact criteria and loan size depend on the bank and your circumstances.
What rate will I pay? Private bank pricing is individually negotiated — frequently a margin over a reference rate — and depends heavily on the loan and the wider relationship. There is no standard published rate, and rates move with market conditions.
Is a private bank mortgage a good idea? It can suit clients who value bespoke terms and a dedicated relationship, but it usually involves a broader and more involved banking relationship than a simple mortgage. Whether it is right for you depends on your circumstances and preferences, which we will talk through honestly.
How can a broker help? Private banking is hard to access directly. A broker provides the introduction, packages your case and presents your overall wealth so the bank can properly assess the opportunity.
Speak to Propertyze about private bank mortgage options suited to your wealth and objectives. Call 020 7126 8574 or request a call back and we will aim to respond within one working day.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage secured on it. We conduct both regulated and unregulated business, so not all products we arrange are regulated by the FCA.
Related specialist lending
Million pound mortgages · High net worth mortgages · Large mortgage loans · International mortgages