Lender Comparison
West One Loans vs United Trust Bank (UTB)
West One and UTB are both established UK lenders with active second charge divisions and appetite for larger loan sizes. West One sits in the Enra Specialist Finance group; UTB is a full UK challenger bank. Borrowers comparing these two are typically weighing specialist group flexibility against banking counterparty.
At a glance
| West One Loans | United Trust Bank (UTB) | |
|---|---|---|
| Min loan | £10,000 | £15,000 |
| Max loan | £250,000 (higher by referral) | £500,000 (higher by referral) |
| Max term | 30 years | 30 years |
| Max LTV | 80% combined | 75% combined (prime products) |
| Credit tier | Clean to minor adverse | Clean credit |
| Rate structure | 2-year and 5-year fixed, then variable revert | 2-year and 5-year fixed, then variable revert |
| Arrangement fee | £995 arrangement fee (typical) | £995–£1,495 arrangement fee, tiered by loan size |
| Completion | Typically 3–4 weeks | Typically 3–4 weeks |
| Property eligibility | Standard UK residential property. Combined LTV capped at 80%. Non-standard construction considered case-by-case. | 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 West One for self-employed and complex income
West One's underwriting style is human-led with strong appetite for self-employed and complex income cases. Group infrastructure means access to bridging alongside second charge if the case suits a different structure. Best for cases where standard income documentation doesn't tell the full story.
Read full West One Loans profile →Pick UTB for prime clean credit and banking backing
United Trust Bank's full UK banking licence and bank funding base typically deliver more competitive rates for prime clean credit cases. Maximum loan sizes also extend higher by referral. Best when the borrower wants institutional counterparty and has a clean prime profile.
Read full United Trust Bank (UTB) profile →Pros and cons
West One Loans
Pros
- • Major lender backed by a multi-product specialist group (Enra)
- • Dedicated case managers — single point of contact
- • Group offers bridging alongside second charge for case flexibility
- • Strong appetite for self-employed and complex income
Cons
- • Standard max loan £250,000 — higher amounts require referral approval
- • Adverse credit appetite limited to minor tier
- • Rates not the lowest in the market for prime cases below 65% LTV
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 West One Loans and United Trust Bank?
West One Loans is part of the Enra Specialist Finance group with strong appetite for self-employed and complex income cases — human-led underwriting, rates from the high 6s to low 7s for clean credit. United Trust Bank is a full UK challenger bank (FRN 204463) with bank-funded competitive pricing — rates from around 6.5% APR for prime cases. West One wins on case discretion; UTB wins on rate for clean prime.
Is United Trust Bank cheaper than West One?
For clean prime cases, UTB's bank funding base typically delivers more competitive rates than West One. The gap closes or reverses when the case has self-employed complexity or minor adverse credit that UTB declines and West One underwrites.
Should I pick West One or UTB for a secured loan?
Pick UTB if you have clean credit, employed income, standard property, and want the most competitive rate from an institutional bank counterparty. Pick West One if your case has self-employed complexity, requires a human underwriter to interpret income, or might suit a bridging product instead — West One's group offers both.
Get quotes from both lenders
Our advisers quote West One Loans and United Trust Bank (UTB) side by side against your specific criteria — loan size, LTV, property type, credit profile.