Oku Financial

Bridging loans for business transactions

A bridging loan is short-term secured finance that can bridge a gap between two transactions or give a business time to arrange longer-term debt. This page explains when bridging finance may fit, how it works and the steps involved in arranging a facility.

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What bridging loans are

A bridging loan is short-term secured finance that bridges a gap between two transactions or provides time to arrange longer-term debt. Timescales depend on the lender and the deal. Oku Financial approaches the right lenders simultaneously to compress timelines and create genuine competition.

We work exclusively with business customers, not personal customers. The facility is secured finance and remains subject to status. Guarantees and indemnities may be required, and the requirement is structured before the opportunity is put to lenders.

Who it suits

Business purpose: businesses bridging a gap between two transactions, or raising funds against property for a short-term requirement.

Repayment route: a business able to explain how it expects to repay the facility once the temporary funding gap ends. This is a business finance product, not personal borrowing.

These are factors to discuss, not a guarantee of eligibility. All finance is subject to status and provider criteria.

When bridging fits

The uses covered here are a gap between two transactions and time to arrange longer-term debt. Those are the starting points for the requirement, rather than a promise about a particular approval or drawdown date.

Tell us what your business needs and what you want to achieve. We identify the right structure and prepare the opportunity before approaching lenders. We then bring back options, presented clearly and without bias, and manage the process through to drawdown after you choose.

Why an independent broker, not your bank

Independent

We have no balance sheet to protect and no product to push. We work independently, matching the requirement to the right lender rather than starting with a product to sell. The conversation starts with what your business needs, not with an existing lending product.

An independent approach means the finance requirement comes first. Trade finance, business lending and capital & liquidity are different funding disciplines, and we tell you which fits before approaching a lender. We present the options clearly and without bias, so the choice remains with your business.

Fast

We take your opportunity to the right lenders simultaneously, creating genuine competition and compressing timelines. This describes how we approach the market, not a promise about an approval or drawdown date. The facility is structured before the opportunity is put to the right lenders.

The purpose of approaching lenders simultaneously is to bring back options that can be reviewed together. We negotiate on your behalf and present those options clearly. Rather than negotiating blind, you can review the offers in the context of the requirement we have already discussed and structured.

Precise

We design the deal before we approach a lender: size, tenor, security and covenants. The structure comes first, so the opportunity we take to market reflects what your business needs. We then match the requirement to the right lender without unnecessary structure or cost.

The starting point is a conversation about your business and what you want to achieve. The product name is only part of that conversation. We identify the right structure and prepare the opportunity properly before going to market, then explain the options clearly before you choose.

How it works

  1. Tell us what you need

    Tell us about your business and what you are looking to achieve. The starting point is the requirement rather than a finance product. We take the time to understand your business properly and tell you which funding discipline fits before approaching a lender.

    This conversation gives us the context for structuring the facility. We work across trade finance, business lending and capital & liquidity, so the discussion can start with the business need rather than assuming that a particular product is the answer.

  2. We structure your facility

    We identify the right structure and prepare your opportunity before approaching lenders. The deal is designed first: size, tenor, security and covenants. We match the requirement to the right lender without unnecessary structure or cost, keeping the business need at the centre of the process.

    Once the opportunity has been prepared, we approach the right lenders simultaneously. That creates genuine competition and compresses timelines. We negotiate on your behalf, with the structure of the facility established before the opportunity is taken to market.

  3. Review your offers

    We bring back competitive options from lenders, presented clearly and without bias. You choose. The offers are reviewed against the requirement and the structure of the facility, rather than treating every offer as the same product. We tell you which fits before approaching a lender.

    Our role is to present the options clearly so you do not negotiate blind. We are an independent broker, not a lender. The choice remains with your business, and the facility remains subject to status and the requirements of the finance provider.

  4. We close it

    We manage the process through to drawdown, coordinating lenders, lawyers and paperwork. This is the final step in the same process that began with understanding the business need. Our role continues through the placement of the facility, rather than ending when offers are presented.

    Tell us what you need, let us structure the facility, review the offers and choose the option that fits. We then manage the steps through to drawdown. All finance remains subject to status; guarantees and indemnities may be required.

Download product sheet (PDF)

Frequently asked questions

What is a bridging loan?

Short-term secured finance that bridges a gap between two transactions or provides time to arrange longer-term debt.

Is a bridging loan secured?

Yes, bridging loans are secured finance.

How fast is a bridging loan?

Timescales depend on the lender and the deal. We approach lenders simultaneously to compress timelines.

Are bridging loans for business customers?

Yes. We work exclusively with business customers, not personal customers.

Is Oku Financial a lender?

No. Oku Financial is a commercial finance broker. We work with a panel of lenders to find funding for UK businesses.

What loan-to-value may be available for a bridging loan?

Bridging loans may offer up to 80% loan-to-value, depending on property type. All figures are indicative and subject to status.

What does a bridging loan cost?

The interest rate is 8–18% per annum (risk and security dependent), with an arrangement fee of 1–3% of loan amount. All figures are indicative and subject to status.

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