Atom bank has reported a new record quarter for commercial mortgage offers, with the lender surpassing its previous best performance for July to September 2025 despite the current quarter still having a month remaining.
The bank said the October to December period has already exceeded the previous record by more than 7% as of 5th December.
October was also the strongest individual month the bank has recorded, with the value of offers up 9% on the previous high.
Atom said the growth was achieved during a period of reduced operational capacity due to school half-term holidays and staff orientation days linked to the opening of its new headquarters in Newcastle.
The lender highlighted the performance as evidence of the scalability of its technology platform and service teams.
The period also saw the bank introduce enhancements to its Growth Guarantee Scheme criteria, including extending eligibility to first-time buyers across all GGS-supported businesses and lowering the minimum rating for care home applicants to Requires Improvement.
Atom said the changes have opened GGS funding to a wider range of SMEs.
The bank noted that its findings from the latest SME Pulse research showed greater borrower caution leading up to the Budget, driven by concerns among businesses about potential tax rises and wider economic uncertainty.
Atom said this had contributed to a slowdown in demand ahead of the fiscal announcement.
The record quarter coincided with several wins at the NACFB Commercial Lender Awards. Guy Olden, propositions analyst, received the Rising Star award, and Natalie Cockburn, intermediary administrator, won Unsung Hero.
Chris Storey, chief commercial officer, was highly commended in the Industry Leader category. The bank also received commendations in the Underwriting Team of the Year and Commercial Mortgage Lender of the Year categories.
Tom Renwick, head of business lending at Atom bank, said: “Breaking our all-time monthly and quarterly records is an exceptional achievement, but it is just the beginning.
“These results prove that our appetite for commercial mortgage lending is stronger than ever and that our enhanced, streamlined loan processes are delivering real results for brokers.
“While our recent SME Pulse research identified caution amongst borrowers leading up to the Budget, now that clarity has returned, we are ready to unleash that potential.
“For UK SMEs looking to purchase premises or fund expansion, our message is clear: we have the appetite, the speed, and the desire to support your growth.”
