OakNorth and Fintex Capital have announced a strategic partnership focused on specialty finance, with the collaboration already live and £20 million deployed across initial opportunities.
The partnership is primarily focused on the UK market and brings together OakNorth’s experience as a digital bank serving entrepreneur-led businesses with Fintex Capital’s specialist investment expertise in private debt and specialty finance.
The move highlights the growing role of non-bank lenders and specialist finance firms in improving access to credit for SMEs, property owners and consumers who may not always be fully served by traditional banking institutions.
Supporting Specialist Lenders and Alternative Credit Markets
Specialty finance generally refers to lending activity that sits outside the traditional banking system. This can include funding for specialist lenders, asset-backed finance, property finance, real estate credit, motor finance, consumer credit, SME lending and other structured lending opportunities.
Through the new partnership, OakNorth and Fintex Capital plan to originate, structure, execute and finance opportunities across the specialty finance market. Lending to lenders is expected to be a key part of the strategy, but the partnership will also explore opportunities in real estate credit, asset-backed finance, cashflow lending and complex credit situations.
The firms said their combined expertise will help support businesses and lenders backed by resilient assets, predictable cashflows and strong management teams.
Why the Partnership Matters for UK Fintech and Private Credit
The OakNorth and Fintex Capital specialty finance partnership comes at a time when private credit continues to gain importance across financial markets. As traditional banks remain selective in some areas of lending, specialist finance providers are playing a larger role in closing funding gaps for businesses and consumers.
For OakNorth, the partnership supports its wider ambition to expand in specialty finance. The digital bank has already built a track record in loan-on-loan and structured finance facilities, supporting specialist lenders and growing businesses in the UK and beyond.
For Fintex Capital, the agreement adds a major banking partner to its established specialty finance platform. Over the past decade, Fintex has deployed more than £400 million into specialty finance across senior and mezzanine facilities, supporting loan book growth for specialist lenders across markets including the UK, Germany and the United States.
Initial £20 Million Deployed
The partnership has already completed its first phase of activity, with £20 million deployed together. According to the companies, future opportunities are expected to target borrowers seeking approximately £10 million to £40 million each.
This focus suggests the partnership will be aimed at mid-sized and specialist credit opportunities where detailed underwriting, sector knowledge and flexible structuring are required.
OakNorth’s Growing Role in Business Lending
Founded in 2015, OakNorth was created to address the funding gap facing lower mid-market businesses. The bank has grown into one of the UK’s most prominent digital lenders, providing debt finance to entrepreneur-led companies across multiple sectors.
OakNorth has said it has provided more than $22 billion in lending to thousands of businesses across the UK and US, supporting job creation and economic growth.
The new Fintex Capital partnership adds to OakNorth’s activity in specialty and structured finance, further positioning the bank as a key lender to businesses and specialist finance providers.
Fintex Capital’s Specialty Finance Track Record
Fintex Capital is a private debt investment firm focused on specialty finance, property finance and asset-backed finance. The firm provides senior, stretch-senior and mezzanine capital to lending businesses and operating companies.
Its investment activity spans sectors such as SME lending, motor finance, buy-to-let mortgages, bridging finance, consumer credit, property lending and asset-backed operating businesses.
By partnering with OakNorth, Fintex Capital gains additional lending capacity and a strategic partner with experience in supporting growing companies and specialist lenders.
A Strategic Move for Specialty Finance
The partnership between OakNorth and Fintex Capital reflects the increasing demand for flexible credit solutions across the UK economy. As more businesses look beyond traditional bank lending, specialist finance partnerships are becoming an important part of the broader fintech and private credit landscape.
With £20 million already deployed and further borrower opportunities expected, the collaboration could strengthen access to finance for specialist lenders, SMEs, property businesses and other borrowers operating in complex credit markets.