Orla Costello (pictured above, left) has been promoted to deputy head of originations, overseeing intermediary relationships.

She joined UTB in 2014 and has nearly 20 years of experience in banking, including developing one of UTB’s largest portfolios.

The new role will see her co-manage the property development sales team with head of originations Paul De Croos.

In addition, Orla will be supporting the team’s property development relationship directors and managers, helping them to further increase lending to developers and housebuilders.

Ashley Collier (pictured above, right), who joined UTB’s property development sales team in 2021, has been made associate director.

In her new role, she will grow her own portfolio of housebuilder and developer clients operating across Greater London and the south of England.

Ashley has over 15 years of experience in real estate finance and banking.

Earlier this year UTB’s original development finance loan commitments surpassed £1.5bn for the first time and over £1bn of loans drawn.

In addition, the bank broadened its development finance offering to include Build to Rent funding, which UTB estimates is supporting the creation of around 4,500 homes at any one time.

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Announcing the promotions, Adam Bovingdon, head of property development at UTB, said: “Orla has been an outstanding originator for the property development team and I’m delighted that she’s going to be using her considerable skills and knowledge to help the bank build even stronger relationships with development finance broker partners.

“What’s more, this new role gives her the opportunity to share her wealth of experience and assist our property development managers and associate directors in building their own successful portfolios and careers in real estate finance.

“Ashley has proven to be a dedicated and high-performing member of the team, and she thoroughly deserves her promotion to associate director.

“I am sure she will continue to build a successful portfolio of housebuilder and developer clients as well as relationships with broker introducers, and help the bank to achieve its ambitious growth objectives this year and in the future.”

Orla commented: “UTB has one of the most knowledgeable development finance teams in the industry and I’m looking forward to working with Paul De Croos to develop our reach with real estate finance brokers and intermediaries and supporting the originations team in delivering their and the bank’s performance targets.”