Ponte Finance has launched a dedicated online environment for bridging finance enquiries. It gives borrowers and brokers a short, structured way to put a deal in front of the Ponte team and receive an initial answer the same working day, without documents, identity checks or a full application at the first stage.
In short: Ponte Finance PLC offers business-purpose bridging finance from £250,000 (£230,000 outside London), up to 75% loan to value, secured by a first legal charge over the property. Enquiries go through a three-step deal review that takes around 60 seconds, and the Ponte team replies the same working day with yes, no, or exactly what it needs to decide.
What the new deal review is
The deal review is an initial assessment of funding appetite, not an application and not an offer of finance. It asks for the core facts of the transaction so the lending team can decide whether the deal fits its criteria before anyone spends time on paperwork.
The enquiry is split into three short steps:
- The deal: loan required, property value, postcode and whether a first charge is available. Loan to value is calculated automatically as the figures are entered.
- The transaction: purpose (purchase, auction purchase, refinance, capital raise, development or refurbishment), property type, exit strategy and required completion date, together with a confirmation that the loan is for business purposes.
- Contact: whether the enquiry comes from the borrower or a broker, and where the outcome should be sent.
Once submitted, each enquiry receives a reference and the outcome is emailed to the contact provided.
Lending criteria at a glance
- Minimum loan of £250,000 in London and £230,000 elsewhere.
- Maximum loan to value of 75%, assessed against the security property. Higher LTVs are reviewed case by case.
- First legal charge only. Second charges are not considered.
- Business-purpose lending only.
- Rate, term and structure are set individually, based on the deal, the exit and the transaction.
Deals that fall outside the headline criteria can still be submitted. Ponte states clearly whether it can proceed.
How it works, from enquiry to full application
The process has three stages.
First, the borrower or broker describes the deal through the online form. This takes around 60 seconds and requires no documents.
Second, the Ponte team reviews the deal and confirms funding appetite the same working day. If the deal can proceed, the applicant receives an invitation to the full application. If it cannot, Ponte says so.
Third, the full application begins. A non-refundable application fee is payable at this point. The applicant creates a secure login, reviews the information already carried across from the enquiry, uploads documents and completes identity and compliance checks.
What Ponte commits to, and what it does not
Delays in bridging finance often come from silence rather than pricing. The new environment is built around commitments on the parts of the process Ponte controls:
- An initial answer on every enquiry the same working day.
- Messages answered, and documents read and checked, on the day they arrive. An AI assistant, Lia, reads and checks documents. Lending decisions are made by the Ponte team.
- A named Ponte contact with a direct line from enquiry to completion.
- Live status: every stage change is emailed, with a full timeline in the applicant’s secure area.
- Terms issued are the terms at completion unless the facts change, and every fee is stated before it is paid.
Ponte is equally explicit about what it cannot promise: a completion date. Completion depends on the valuation, the legal work and the borrower. When a valuer, solicitor or exit lender is holding a file, Ponte tells the applicant who it is waiting on, chases daily and records it on the live status.
Who this lending is for
Ponte lends for business purposes only. Typical uses include property purchases, auction purchases, refinancing, capital raising and development or refurbishment. Property types include residential investment, build-to-rent, semi-commercial, commercial, land and development.
The loans are not available to consumers. They cannot be secured against a property that the borrower, or a member of the borrower’s family, occupies or will occupy as a home. Applicants confirm this as part of the enquiry.
Information for brokers
Brokers can submit a first-charge, business-purpose bridge through the same enquiry form, including deals where another lender has gone quiet, changed terms or not responded. Brokers receive an answer from the Ponte team the same working day and a named contact throughout, and they are copied on every status change their client sees. Procuration fees are agreed up front and paid on completion, and Ponte does not approach the broker’s client directly.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need documents to enquire?
No. The enquiry is an initial deal review only. It takes around 60 seconds and requires no documents, no identity checks and no full application.
How quickly will I hear back?
The Ponte team gives an initial answer the same working day: yes, no, or exactly what it needs to decide.
What happens after I submit an enquiry?
Ponte reviews the deal and confirms funding appetite. If it can proceed, it emails an invitation to the full application. If it cannot, it says so.
What does the full application involve?
A non-refundable application fee is payable to begin. The applicant then creates a secure login, reviews the details carried across from the enquiry, uploads documents and completes identity and compliance checks.
Is this a regulated loan?
No. Ponte lends for business purposes only and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It does not lend to consumers or against a property occupied by the borrower or a family member as a home.
What if my loan to value is above 75% or my loan is below the minimum?
You can still enquire. The standard minimum is £250,000 in London and £230,000 elsewhere, and the standard maximum is 75% LTV. Deals outside those limits are reviewed case by case.
Submitting a deal
Borrowers and brokers can start an initial deal review at Ponte Finance bridging enquiries, or contact the lending team at lending@ponte.finance or 020 3885 3877.
Important information
Ponte Finance PLC is a private lender, not a bank, and is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Lending is for business purposes only and is not available to consumers or for property occupied, or to be occupied, by the borrower or a family member as a home. All loans are secured against property, and the property may be repossessed if repayments are not maintained. This article is for general information only. It does not constitute an offer of finance or financial advice. All terms are subject to underwriting and are assessed on the individual transaction. Ponte Finance PLC is registered in England and Wales, company number 15859004, registered office 225 Clapham Road, London SW9 9BE.