Mercantile Trust is a lender of bridging loans and buy-to-let mortgages that is known for manual underwriting and for lending in all four UK nations, including Northern Ireland. At the time of writing (October 2026), its February 2026 bridging guide shows loans from £25,000 to £500,000 for any legal purpose, on first or second charge, at up to 75% loan-to-value, over 1 to 18 months. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Mercantile Trust, so we can compare its terms with other bridging lenders. You can read more on Mercantile Trust's own website.
About Mercantile Trust
Mercantile Trust says it was founded in 2016 to support people with complex financial situations. It is part of Norfolk Capital Group, a UK financial services group that has traded since 1988. Its registered office is in Norwich and it operates from Watford in Hertfordshire.
It describes itself as a specialist lender for bridging loans and buy-to-let mortgages and promotes common sense lending, with each application assessed by a member of its team rather than by a computer. It is a member of the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) and the NACFB. Its bridging loans are not regulated by the FCA.
Mercantile Trust is one of the lenders we compare for smaller bridging loans and second charge bridging.
What Mercantile Trust funds
Mercantile Trust's bridging is built around three credit status bands, with leverage and loan size set by the borrower's credit history and the type of charge.
| Credit profile | First charge | Second charge | Maximum LTV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean credit | £25,000 to £500,000 | £25,000 to £500,000 | Up to 75% |
| Slight adverse | £25,000 to £500,000 | £25,000 to £300,000 | Up to 75% |
| Heavier adverse | £25,000 to £250,000 | £25,000 to £100,000 | Up to 70% |
| Equitable charge | Up to £100,000 | Up to £100,000 | Up to 70% |
Loans run for 1 to 18 months, with interest serviced or rolled up, and are available for any legal purpose. Mercantile Trust lends on all types of rental property, including HMOs, multi-unit freehold blocks, student lets and holiday lets, and accepts some non-standard construction. Its website also lists auction bridging and light refurbishment on a first charge, where the borrower funds the works.
It also offers business loans secured on the borrower's main residence, on a second charge only, where most of the money is for business purposes. A borrower can hold up to five loans at once, up to £1m in total.
Who Mercantile Trust suits (and who it may not)
Mercantile Trust tends to suit:
- Landlords and investors needing a smaller bridge, from £25,000.
- Borrowers in Northern Ireland or Scotland, where fewer bridging lenders operate.
- Property owners who want to raise funds on a second charge without disturbing their existing mortgage.
- Borrowers with adverse credit, which it accepts within its status bands.
- Limited companies, which it says it accepts with no rate loading and no SIC code requirement.
- Owners of HMOs, multi-unit blocks, student lets and holiday lets.
It is not the right lender for heavy refurbishment or development, which it excludes, for loans above £500,000, or for properties worth less than £75,000. First-time buyers and landlords face a lower 65% LTV limit and a minimum income. As its bridging loans are unregulated, a homeowner who needs a regulated bridge on the home they live in should look elsewhere.
What Mercantile Trust looks at
Mercantile Trust underwrites each case manually. Its guide sets out the main points it checks:
- Proof of exit, which is required on every loan.
- Credit history, scored into status bands by recent arrears, defaults, CCJs and missed payments.
- At least six months' mortgage history and three years' proof of UK residence.
- For serviced loans, rental or other income that covers the interest with a margin.
- For let property, valid tenancy agreements and bank statements showing the rent.
- Applicants aged 18 to 85 at the end of the term, and limited companies with up to four directors.
Property must be worth at least £75,000, and lending is based on the lower of value or purchase price, with lower LTVs on high-value homes and some flat types. Automated valuations may be used on smaller loans. Mercantile Trust says it charges no early repayment charges, but a default fee applies if the loan is not repaid within the term.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lends across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Smaller loans from £25,000.
- First and second charges up to 75% LTV.
- Adverse credit and limited companies accepted.
- No early repayment charges, it says.
Cons
- Maximum loan of £500,000.
- No heavy refurbishment or development.
- Lower leverage for heavier adverse credit and first-time landlords.
- Default fee if the loan runs past its term.
- No regulated bridging.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Mercantile Trust lends both directly and through intermediaries. Comparing first matters because small bridging loans can carry proportionately higher costs, and the credit band you fall into changes both the maximum loan and the leverage. Another lender may offer more for a clean-credit borrower, or a regulated option may be better if the property is your home.
We search the market, set Mercantile Trust alongside other suitable lenders and manage the application. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed.
Alternatives to Mercantile Trust
- Together: first and second charge bridging, regulated and unregulated.
- HFBS: very small first, second and third charge bridging loans for individuals.
- Lowry Capital: privately funded bridging from £25,001 across Great Britain.
- Black and White Bridging: short-term lending on residential and commercial property.
- MT Finance: bridging across many property types.
Common questions
Does Mercantile Trust lend in Northern Ireland?
Yes. Mercantile Trust lends across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, on first and second charges.
How much can I borrow from Mercantile Trust?
At the time of writing (October 2026), its bridging loans run from £25,000 to £500,000 per loan, with up to five loans and £1m in total per applicant. Lower limits apply for heavier adverse credit and second charges.
Does Mercantile Trust accept bad credit?
Yes. Mercantile Trust accepts adverse credit and places borrowers into status bands, with lower leverage and smaller loan limits for heavier adverse.
Does Mercantile Trust fund refurbishment?
It offers light refurbishment on a first charge where the borrower funds the works, but it does not fund heavy refurbishment or development.
Is Mercantile Trust part of a larger group?
Yes. Mercantile Trust was set up in 2016 and is part of Norfolk Capital Group, which has traded since 1988.
This review is our independent summary of the lender's publicly stated lending, checked in October 2026. Criteria change, so confirm the current position before relying on it. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of any lender reviewed. Finance is subject to status, valuation and lender approval.
