Lender Comparison
Selina Finance vs United Trust Bank (UTB)
Selina and United Trust Bank (UTB) both target prime clean credit borrowers with competitive 5-year fixed rates. The difference is structural: Selina is a tech-led specialist, UTB is a full UK challenger bank. Borrowers weighing these two are typically choosing between speed-of-process and institutional counterparty.
At a glance
| Selina Finance | United Trust Bank (UTB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Min loan | £10,000 (homeowner loan) / £5,000 (HELOC) | £15,000 |
| Max loan | £500,000 | £500,000 (higher by referral) |
| Max term | 30 years | 30 years |
| Max LTV | 85% combined (across first charge plus any other secured borrowing) | 75% combined (prime products) |
| Credit tier | Clean credit primarily; minor adverse considered | Clean credit |
| Rate structure | Homeowner loan: 2yr/5yr fixed then variable revert. HELOC: variable. | 2-year and 5-year fixed, then variable revert |
| Arrangement fee | £895–£1,495 arrangement fee, tiered by loan size | £995–£1,495 arrangement fee, tiered by loan size |
| Completion | Typically 2–3 weeks; AVMs accepted on standard residential cases | Typically 3–4 weeks |
| Property eligibility | Minimum property value £100,000; owned for at least 6 months | Standard UK residential property in the applicant's name. Combined LTV capped at 75% on prime products. Higher LTV reviewed case-by-case. |
Which should you pick?
Pick Selina for fastest completion and tech-driven flow
Selina's digital-first application typically completes in 2-3 weeks with strong communication, and their headline rate of 6.34% APRC at sub-50% LTV beats UTB on the very cleanest cases. Best when speed and rate are the primary drivers.
Read full Selina Finance profile →Pick UTB for banking counterparty and larger loans
United Trust Bank has a full UK banking licence (FRN 204463) — institutional backing that some borrowers explicitly want. UTB also has appetite for larger loan sizes by referral and slightly stronger fit for cases where the borrower values a relationship-led lender. Rates start from ~6.5% APR for prime cases.
Read full United Trust Bank (UTB) profile →Pros and cons
Selina Finance
Pros
- • Lowest 5-year fixed rate on our panel at low LTV (6.34% at 50% LTV)
- • High maximum loan size — £500,000 across all clean-credit products
- • The UK's only mainstream HELOC product — interest only on what you draw
- • Digital application and document portal — faster than legacy competitors
- • AVM available on standard cases at sub-75% LTV
Cons
- • Best rates require sub-65% combined LTV — limited above 75%
- • Smaller loans (under £15,000) attract proportionally higher arrangement fees
- • Adverse credit appetite is narrower than specialists like Pepper or Together
- • Property must be worth at least £100,000 and owned at least 6 months
United Trust Bank (UTB)
Pros
- • Full UK banking licence — institutional counterparty backing
- • Competitive 5-year fixed rates for prime cases
- • High maximum loan size — £500,000 with higher by referral
- • Strong on capital raising and large consolidation cases
Cons
- • Clean credit only — no adverse credit appetite
- • 75% combined LTV cap on prime products — limited above that
- • Minimum loan £15,000 — not suitable for smaller borrowing needs
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Selina Finance and United Trust Bank?
Selina Finance is a tech-led specialist lender focused on second charge mortgages, with a digital application flow and 5-year fixed rates from 6.34% APRC at sub-50% LTV. United Trust Bank is a full UK challenger bank (FRN 204463) with a broader product range across asset finance, bridging, and second charge — offering rates from around 6.5% APR with banking counterparty backing. Selina is faster; UTB is institutional.
Is Selina Finance a bank?
No — Selina Finance is an FCA-authorised specialist lender, not a bank. United Trust Bank (UTB) is the actual bank, with a UK banking licence dating from 1955 and full prudential regulation. For some borrowers the banking counterparty matters; for others the rate and speed of completion matter more.
Should I pick Selina or UTB for a clean credit secured loan?
For the cleanest cases at sub-50% LTV chasing the absolute lowest rate, Selina's 6.34% APRC currently leads. For borrowers who want institutional banking backing, prefer a relationship-led lender, or need larger loan sizes by referral, UTB is often the better fit despite the modestly higher rate. Both will be quoted by your adviser so you can compare actuals.
Get quotes from both lenders
Our advisers quote Selina Finance and United Trust Bank (UTB) side by side against your specific criteria — loan size, LTV, property type, credit profile.