United Trust Bank has announced that it will enter the buy-to-let market with a new suite of products this year.

Ahead of the launch, Barry Luhmann has been appointed head of buy-to-let, heading up a new BTL team as an extension of the lender’s residential and and second charge mortgage offering.

Luhman held senior positions with at Trussle Lab, Lloyds Banking Group and BlackRock European Mortgage Strategies. Most recently he was an independent consultant working with various clients in the mortgage space to develop and deliver new technology, processes and offerings.

United Trust Bank director of mortgages Buster Tolfree says: “We’ve really shaken up the specialist end of the mortgage market with our first and second charge residential products and launching into the BTL market is a natural next move. Barry brings a huge amount of knowledge and experience to the team, and I’m delighted to have him on board.

“The new BTL products will be typical of UTB; common sense underwriting and accessible criteria packaged up in a digital first process. We’ll utilise our existing application platform offering cutting edge digital processes supported by skilled and knowledgeable staff dedicated to ensuring applications are processed quickly and smoothly. We will continue to work closely with our valued Introducers about the things we can do to help them write more BTL and other mortgage business and you can expect more exciting news from UTB Mortgages throughout 2022.”

Luhmann says: “UTB has established a strong reputation for offering great products with outstanding service and technology providing first class speed and ease of interaction. I’m looking forward to leading UTB Mortgages for Intermediaries into the BTL market whilst upholding those same very high standards. I’ll be making team appointment announcements in due course and sharing product details as we approach launch. Watch this space!”