Challenger bank opens Leeds office to support Yorkshire SMEs

The asset-based lending arm of Secure Trust Bank has followed through on plans revealed earlier this year and expanded into Yorkshire.

The Manchester-based lender has launched a new office in Leeds, in a bid to increase its funding support for SMEs in the region.

Located at Minerva House on East Parade, the 1,070 sq ft office will be led by John Gribbon, regional director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance.

Joining him is portfolio and structuring director Victoria Conway, and Paul Goodchild, the firm’s newly appointed regional sales director for Yorkshire.

Paul previously worked at RBSIF, where he handled large corporate asset-based lending transactions for six years.

In the last year, Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has advanced £70m in loans to businesses across Yorkshire and the North East, including a £2.3m deal with Thirsk-based motor vehicle dealer Twisted Automotive.

John Gribbon, Regional Director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, said: “We have completed some excellent deals in Yorkshire recently, and we’ve seen a surge in enquiries on the back of this.

“Naturally, the next step for us was to establish an office that will allow us to maintain close contact with businesses in the region and provide a base so we can bolster our sales team. Paul has recently joined us, and we expect to increase headcount further later in the year.”

The firm’s Yorkshire office has already completed its first deal – a £5m asset-based lending facility for a work surfaces supplier.