Exit finance is the final act in a property finance journey. For some borrowers, it is straightforward: a development facility rolls into sales, or a bridging loan refinances neatly onto a mainstream buy-to-let mortgage. For high-net-worth (HNW) borrowers, however, the picture is far more complex.
Wealth rarely sits neatly within a payslip. Income may be derived from dividends, carried interest, or international assets. Portfolios are often diversified across multiple jurisdictions. Liquidity may exist in abundance but not in easily verifiable form. For these clients, mainstream lenders often cannot provide a credible exit route.
That is where private banks matter. In 2025, they are not just an option for HNW borrowers — they are often the only realistic pathway to structured, flexible, and successful exits. For introducers such as wealth managers, lawyers, and accountants, understanding this dynamic is essential to protecting clients’ positions and preventing costly defaults.
Every borrower needs a credible exit, but for HNW individuals, the stakes are higher. Property purchases are larger, leverage is greater, and reputational consequences of default extend beyond a single project. A failed exit on a £10 million London townhouse is not just a financial inconvenience; it is a risk to standing in financial markets and to relationships with investors, family offices, and even regulators.
As explored in Why Every Bridging Loan Needs a Clear Exit Strategy, lenders of all types view exit credibility as the defining risk factor. For HNW borrowers, the scrutiny is more intense. Credit committees expect to see not only a repayment pathway but one that accounts for the complexity of wealth structures and the volatility of international income.
Mainstream lenders excel at volume. Their underwriting processes are designed for salaried professionals, landlords with simple portfolios, or investors who can evidence rental income. But they often falter when confronted with HNW borrowers.
The result? Borrowers who are objectively wealthy can find themselves “unmortgageable” by retail banks. Their bridging or development exits collapse not because they lack repayment capacity, but because the system cannot interpret their wealth.
This problem is not hypothetical. In Can I Get a Mortgage with Complex Income?, we highlighted how mainstream criteria often exclude high-earners whose income does not fit neat categories. For HNW borrowers, that exclusion is magnified.
Private banks operate differently. Their underwriting is bespoke, relationship-driven, and designed to understand the totality of a client’s wealth rather than just their payslip.
Where a retail bank might discount 80% of bonus income, a private bank will consider track record, industry norms, and future earning potential. Where offshore income confuses mainstream lenders, private banks employ international teams who can evaluate it with confidence.
Private banks frequently underwrite against broader wealth, not just property. Securities-backed lending, portfolio leverage, or cross-collateralisation are tools they use to support exits. In practice, this means a client with a £20 million investment portfolio can use it to secure refinancing, even if rental yields alone do not meet stress tests.
See Securities Backed Lending in 2025: How It Works and Who It’s For for how these structures intersect with property finance.
For globally mobile HNW borrowers, private banks provide expertise mainstream lenders cannot match. They understand multi-jurisdiction tax, the implications of offshore trusts, and the realities of global wealth planning. This allows them to structure exits that mainstream lenders would reject out of hand.
A client purchased a £15 million prime London property with a bridging facility, planning to refinance onto a mainstream mortgage. Despite a net worth exceeding £100 million, the borrower was declined by retail banks: income was primarily offshore, structured through a family office, and irregular in pattern.
A private bank reviewed the case, considered the borrower’s global assets, and structured an interest-only facility secured partly against the property and partly against the client’s investment portfolio. The bridge was repaid in full, and the borrower secured long-term financing at competitive rates.
For introducers, the lesson was clear: without a private bank exit, this borrower would have defaulted — not due to lack of wealth, but due to lack of lender flexibility.
For wealth managers, lawyers, and accountants, the message is critical: if your HNW client is using short-term finance, private banks must be part of the exit conversation from day one.
Introducing clients only to retail banks risks failed exits, defaults, and reputational damage for everyone involved. By contrast, aligning with brokers who have strong private bank relationships protects the client and enhances your own role as a trusted adviser.
In Private Bank Mortgages Explained: Benefits and Drawbacks, we explored why private banks are not always the cheapest solution. But for HNW borrowers, the choice is often between private banks and no credible exit at all.
Several trends in 2025 make private banks indispensable for exit finance:
For clients and introducers alike, ignoring private banks in this environment is not just short-sighted — it is negligent.
At Willow, we act as the bridge between borrower complexity and lender capability. Our role is to:
Our relationships with leading private banks mean we know which institutions have appetite for specific profiles, and how to structure deals to secure approval. For introducers, this means trusted outcomes for clients and enhanced professional credibility.
Book a free strategy call with one of our mortgage specialists.
We’ll help you find the smartest way forward—whatever rates do next.
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About the Author — Wesley Ranger
Wesley Ranger is the Founder and Director of Willow Private Finance. For over 20 years, he has helped high-net-worth borrowers and their advisers structure credible exits through private banks. Wesley specialises in aligning complex income, offshore wealth, and bespoke lending to deliver successful outcomes for clients and confidence for introducers.
Important Notice
This article is for information purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Property finance carries risk, including the risk of default or repossession if loans are not repaid. Exit strategies should be assessed carefully and tailored to individual circumstances. Always seek professional advice before entering into any finance agreement. Willow Private Finance is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 588422).
