Step 1
You have an idea on how to diversify your business
- Research + expert advice
- Business plan
When we lend to someone, we like to know that they are capable and motivated borrowers, which means we like to know as much as possible about you and your business as possible. However, we’re also realistic and understand the challenges of operating in the agricultural sector. This allows us to take a holistic and balanced view of the people and the business.
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
Step 6
Step 7
Step 8
Step 2
You contact us
- How much would you like
- What the funds are for
- What’s the security worth
- When do you need the money
- Any existing debts
- How will you repay us
- Anything else we should know
Step 3
We send you a decision in principle for you to accept
- How much we can lend, the interest rate and any fees
- Your only commitment at this stage is for the costs payable in advance (typically part of our legal fees, your legal fees and the valuation fees
Step 4
Your application goes to a dedicated loan officer:
- They help and guides you through the process from start to finish
- We instruct an independent valuation of your current property
- You appoint a solicitor to act for you
Step 5
Your loan officer asks for information, such as bank statements, business accounts, tenancy agreements, your business plan, your team’s expertise and the plan to repay our loan.
We do credit and land registry checks and our solicitor works with yours on normal conveyancing checks.
Step 6
We visit you at the farm to get to know you and your current business, as well as your new plans and then review your repayment plan.
Step 7
Your solicitor explains everything and you ask about anything you don’t understand. You sign to confirm having received independent advice, then the contracts, PGs and/or debentures.
We sign and the loan completes. You receive the funds.
Step 8
You build your business and repay our loan
Step 1
You have an idea on how to diversify your business
- Research + expert advice
- Business plan
Step 2
You contact us
- How much would you like
- What the funds are for
- What’s the security worth
- When do you need the money
- Any existing debts
- How will you repay us
- Anything else we should know
Step 3
We send you a decision in principle for you to accept
- How much we can lend, the interest rate and any fees
- Your only commitment at this stage is for the costs payable in advance (typically part of our legal fees, your legal fees and the valuation fees
Step 4
Your application goes to a dedicated loan officer:
- They help and guides you through the process from start to finish
- We instruct an independent valuation of your current property
- You appoint a solicitor to act for you
Step 5
Your loan officer asks for information, such as bank statements, business accounts, tenancy agreements, your business plan, your team’s expertise and the plan to repay our loan.
We do credit and land registry checks and our solicitor works with yours on normal conveyancing checks.
Step 6
We visit you at the farm to get to know you and your current business, as well as your new plans and then review your repayment plan.
Step 7
Your solicitor explains everything and you ask about anything you don’t understand. You sign to confirm having received independent advice, then the contracts, PGs and/or debentures.
We sign and the loan completes. You receive the funds.
Step 8
You build your business and repay our loan
Credit committee
We undertake normal credit enquiries for credit referencing, status, asset ownership, and a personal meeting prior to the loan being agreed. These enquiries are carried out by our loan officers, who have underwriting and real business expertise.
Once the loan and borrower have passed our required standards, the final decision goes to our Credit Committee, which uses its expertise and collective knowledge to form a rounded view. Quite often, one of the Credit Committee members will visit you to help gain an insight into the factors that make a good loan and allowing you to meet one of our senior team. This helps us know more about you as a person - your character, history and reliability – beyond just an anodyne credit report. We believe this enables us to better assess the deal and confirm that you are capable of taking on and servicing the loan.
- Security for the loan must primarily be a first charge on freehold land and property
- The valuation of the land and property is on a strict bricks and mortar valuation
- The maximum loan to value is 65%
- The valuation must be done by a reputable local chartered surveyor, who is able to identify any factors that may affect our security
- A borrower must be credible, with sensible business ideas and freehold land and property to back them up, with a good track record in their community and be able to create the capital value or income to afford the loan
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