Shawbrook Bank is a specialist bank rather than a non-bank lender, and it shows in how it is used on the panel: larger, cleaner commercial and semi-commercial bridging where balance-sheet certainty matters, generous refurbishment day-one advances, and a genuine LTV strength on commercial security since its July 2026 uplift.
Shawbrook at a glance
| Shawbrook Bank | |
|---|---|
| Loan size | £100,000 (lowered from £150,000 in June 2026) to £25 million or more by referral |
| Security | First charge as standard; second charge by referral |
| Coverage | England, Wales and Scotland |
| Maximum LTV | 75% across residential, semi-commercial and commercial |
| Refurbishment | Day-one advances of up to 90% |
| Term | Up to 24 months by referral |
| Credit | Prefers clean profiles; adverse only by exception |
| Speed | Not built for sub-two-week completions |
What this means in practice
Commercial bridging LTV is capped lower at several other lenders in this market, often 65-70%. Shawbrook's move to 75% on commercial security in July 2026 is a real, useful differentiator for larger commercial and semi-commercial cases where leverage matters. On a large commercial purchase, a few extra percentage points of LTV can be the difference between a deal that works and one that needs more equity than the borrower has available.
How it works
Loans start from £100,000 and run up to £25 million or more by referral, secured by first charge as standard, with second charge by referral, across England, Wales and Scotland. Maximum LTV is 75% across residential, semi-commercial and commercial. On refurbishment, day-one advances reach up to 90%, among the more generous day-one figures in the specialist bridging market, which reduces how much of the purchase the borrower must fund before the works begin. Terms run up to 24 months by referral.
How a case with Shawbrook typically runs
As a bank, Shawbrook underwrites thoroughly, and cases are prepared accordingly: a clear exit, clean credit, a well-documented asset and, on refurbishment, a costed programme of works. The pay-off is certainty. Once a bank has approved a facility, the funding is backed by its own balance sheet, which matters on larger deals where a failed completion is costly.
That thoroughness is why Shawbrook is not the lender for a rushed completion. Where a deal has a realistic timeline, the extra leverage and certainty are usually worth the wait.
How Shawbrook compares with other lenders on the panel
Its most direct comparison is United Trust Bank, the other specialist bank on the panel, which has widened into near-prime credit and re-bridging; the Shawbrook vs United Trust Bank comparison sets out which suits what. For large deals with complex ownership, Lendco is built for SPVs, Trusts and offshore entities, and the Lendco vs Shawbrook comparison covers that choice.
A messier-credit or urgent case is better placed with a lender like MT Finance or Together. For more on commercial security in general, see our guide to commercial bridging loans.
Who it suits
Shawbrook suits experienced investors and limited companies with larger, cleaner commercial or semi-commercial bridging requirements, where the generous LTV and day-one refurbishment advance genuinely change what is achievable compared with a lower-LTV lender. The lower £100,000 minimum also brings smaller clean cases within reach than before.
Where it is not the strongest fit
Shawbrook is not a home for adverse credit. It prefers cleaner profiles and considers adverse only by exception alongside a strong asset and exit. It is also not built for rushed, sub-two-week completions.
Preparing a larger commercial case
Larger commercial and semi-commercial cases are underwritten in more depth than a standard residential bridge, and a well-prepared file moves faster through a bank. That usually means details of any existing tenancies and leases, the borrower's experience with similar property, a clear account of where the deposit is coming from, and an exit that has been tested rather than assumed. If the exit is a commercial term loan, it helps to show that the rental income will support it; if it is a sale, comparable evidence carries more weight than an optimistic estimate.
On refurbishment, the schedule of works, the costings and the programme should all be settled before submission, since the day-one advance and the works funding are sized from them. Changes after approval tend to slow a bank down more than a non-bank lender.
Questions worth asking before you apply
- Is the credit profile clean? If not, the case may be better placed elsewhere from the start.
- Does the timeline allow for a bank's underwriting, or is completion needed within two weeks?
- On a commercial case, how much difference does 75% LTV make against the 65-70% available elsewhere?
- On a refurbishment, how much of the purchase would a day-one advance of up to 90% cover?
- Is second charge needed? That is by referral only.
Summary
Shawbrook is a strong choice specifically for larger, cleaner commercial and semi-commercial bridging where leverage and balance-sheet certainty matter more than speed or credit flexibility. Figures above are correct as of July 2026 and should be confirmed with your broker before an application.
