Lending & Credit
Underwritten by people, not a scorecard
Considered credit for established clients, structured around the balance sheet you already hold and the timing of the decisions in front of you.
Borrowing is rarely about the loan. It is about keeping a portfolio invested while a property completes, releasing liquidity between a sale and a purchase, or financing an asset without disturbing a long-held strategy. We treat credit as part of the wider picture, not a product sold in isolation.
Every facility is assessed by a banker who knows your circumstances, working with our credit team rather than an automated model. We look at the quality and liquidity of your assets, the purpose of the borrowing and your wider plans, then structure terms that fit. The result is credit that supports a strategy rather than compromising it.
Capabilities
What this includes
Lombard (Portfolio-backed) Lending
Borrow against a marketable portfolio of securities and funds, keeping your investments in place and your strategy intact while accessing liquidity.
Residential & Investment Mortgages
Financing for primary homes and investment property in Malta and selected EU jurisdictions, structured around your income, assets and currency.
Bridging Finance
Short-term liquidity that bridges the gap between a sale and a purchase, so timing does not force you to compromise on either side.
Yacht & Specialty Finance
Tailored finance for yachts, aircraft and other significant assets, drawing on Malta's established maritime and aviation framework.
Personal Credit Lines
Flexible, pre-arranged credit lines for established clients who value the ability to act quickly without renegotiating terms each time.
Lombard lending, in practice
A Lombard facility lets you raise liquidity against a diversified portfolio without realising positions, deferring potential tax events and keeping your long-term strategy on course. The amount available depends on the composition and liquidity of the holdings pledged, with more conservative advance rates against concentrated or less liquid assets.
Because the line is secured against marketable securities, it can often be arranged quickly and drawn flexibly. Markets move, so we monitor cover against the facility and discuss any action with you well before it becomes pressing. We do not invent rates here; current pricing is set out on our rates page.
How we underwrite
We start with the purpose. A bridge ahead of a completion, a mortgage on a family home and finance for a vessel are different propositions, and each is judged on its own merits rather than a single score. Your banker presents the case to our credit team, with the context that a form alone cannot capture.
Lending is considered alongside your investments, banking and longer-term planning so the parts reinforce one another. Where borrowing intersects with tax, we coordinate with your own advisers; we do not replace them. Suitability and affordability guide every decision, and we will say so plainly when borrowing is not the right course.
Property and specialty assets
We finance residential and investment property in Malta and selected EU markets, taking account of multi-currency income and assets where relevant. For clients moving between homes, bridging finance removes the pressure to sell and buy on the same day.
Malta's maritime and aviation heritage sits naturally alongside our specialty finance. Yacht and aircraft lending is structured to reflect the asset, its use and its registration, with the discretion and attention you would expect across the rest of the relationship.
Questions, answered
What can I pledge for a Lombard facility?
Typically a diversified portfolio of marketable securities, funds and similar liquid instruments held with us. Advance rates vary by asset: broad, liquid holdings support a higher proportion than concentrated or specialised positions. Your banker will confirm what is eligible for your portfolio.
Do I have to sell investments to borrow?
No. The purpose of Lombard lending is to raise liquidity while keeping your portfolio invested, which avoids interrupting your strategy and can defer potential tax events. We coordinate with your tax advisers on the wider implications.
Which countries can you finance property in?
Malta and selected EU jurisdictions where we are active. Mortgages are assessed on the property, your income and assets, and the currency involved. Speak to your relationship manager about a specific location before you commit to a purchase.
What happens if the value of my collateral falls?
We monitor the cover supporting each facility and will contact you in good time if the position needs attention, discussing the options well before any action is required. Our aim is to manage these moments calmly, not abruptly.
Related
You may also consider
Investment Management & Markets
Open-architecture access to global markets, supported by our own research and executed by a dedicated dealing desk.
Private Banking & Accounts
Multi-currency private accounts with a Maltese IBAN, a named banker and the discretion you would expect of a private bank.
Insurance & Protection
Considered protection for the people, property and possessions that matter — arranged with specialist insurers and held alongside the rest of your relationship.
Begin a conversation
Speak to a relationship manager
Tell us a little about your circumstances and we will arrange an introduction — discreetly, and without obligation.