Lombard Lending Disruptor Secures Another UK Partner

Tom Burroughes

4 August 2026

Investcentre to give advisors on the platform access to Lombard lending for eligible clients.

The facility allows borrowing against the value of a General Investment Account or offshore bond without the client needing to sell assets or hold them with a private bank, Firenze said in a statement yesterday.

Minimum portfolio values are £150,000 ($201,361) for a GIA and £500,000 for an offshore bond, subject to Firenze's underwriting. Loans start from £65,000 and can reach up to 50 per cent of portfolio value, with facilities typically live within 48 hours of approval. Interest is charged only on drawn balances, with variable rates ranging from Bank of England base rate plus 1.95 per cent to plus 3.25 per cent.

Lombard lending has traditionally been restricted to clients holding assets with a private bank, limiting its use among the wider UK investor base. AJ Bell has become the latest platform to extend the model beyond private banking.

Firenze works with firms representing a combined £200 billion in assets under management, according to the company. It was founded in Manchester in 2024 by David Newman (main picture). Paul Pester, former chief executive of TSB Bank and Virgin Money is chairman; he also chairs Tandem Bank and the National Bank of Bahrain.

AJ Bell, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Manchester with offices in London and Bristol, is one of the UK's largest investment platforms. Under the agreement, AJ Bell will not act as credit broker and will have no role in Firenze's lending decisions.

Mark Rendle, managing director of AJ Bell Investcentre, said Lombard lending allows advisors and clients to manage liquidity without disrupting investment strategy or triggering capital gains tax through an asset sale.

Firenze struck a similar platform partnership in 2025, reported at the time by WealthBriefing.