United Trust Bank (UTB) has announced the promotion of Helen Wakeford to the role of head of unregulated underwriting in the bridging finance division, effective immediately.
This senior appointment is part of the ongoing restructuring of UTB’s bridging underwriting function, dividing it into two dedicated teams: one overseeing regulated bridging applications and the other handling unregulated bridging applications.
Earlier this year, Becky Kidby was appointed to lead the underwriting team for regulated bridging applications, and now Helen Wakeford will take on the corresponding role for unregulated bridging.
Helen Wakeford brings nearly two decades of finance experience to her new role, having worked in various capacities in credit, portfolio management, and relationship management for institutions including Metro Bank, RBS, and HSBC. Joining UTB in August 2019 as a credit officer, she quickly applied her expertise to the specialist mortgage and bridging businesses.
As head of unregulated underwriting, she will oversee the unregulated bridging team’s underwriting operations, ensuring brokers receive a streamlined and efficient service. She will collaborate closely with key stakeholders, including Becky Kidby, Anita Kirkbright (bridging’s head of operations), Paula Purdy (bridging’s recently appointed head of sales), and Sundeep Patel (director of bridging), to shape and execute the Bank’s growth strategy across both regulated and unregulated sectors.
Patel said: “Since joining the Bank, Helen has proven to be a talented member of the Credit team, and her knowledge and experience made her the perfect choice for this new role.”
He explained that the restructuring aligns with UTB’s commitment to delivering consistent high levels of service across regulated and unregulated bridging loan applications. Patel stressed the importance of specialised skill sets and processes tailored to each sector’s unique requirements.
Wakeford added: “I am delighted to be joining UTB’s bridging finance team at this exciting time and I look forward to working with Sundeep, Becky, Anita, and Paula as we grow UTB’s share of the unregulated and regulated bridging market.”
