Compare Mortgage Rates from Habib Bank AG Zurich Against the Market starting at 3.94%

About Habib Bank Zurich

HBZ has operated in the UK since 1974. They operate a traditional relationship banking model, where you are typically assigned a dedicated Relationship Manager rather than having to deal with a call centre.

In late 2024, they partnered with the cloud banking platform nCino to digitize and speed up their Buy-to-Let lending process, moving away from their historically paper-heavy reputation.

Mortgage & Finance Products

Their lending is strictly for business, investment, and commercial purposes.

• Buy-to-Let (BTL) & Property Investment:

  • Complex Structures: They lend to Individuals, Limited Companies (SPVs), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), and Offshore Companies

  • Expats: They are highly active in lending to Expats domiciled within their global network countries who want to invest in UK real estate

  • Property Types: They fund standard residential BTLs, HMOs (Houses in Multiple Occupation), Mixed-Use properties (e.g., flats above shops), and specialized commercial assets like warehouses

• "Sirat" (Islamic Finance):

  • HBZ offers a dedicated suite of Shariah-compliant products under their Sirat brand

  • This includes Sirat Income Generating Property Finance for Muslim investors who want to build a property portfolio without dealing in interest (Riba).

• Commercial & Trade Finance:

  • Working capital loans, import/export finance, and letters of credit to support SMEs trading internationally.

Pros and Cons of Habib Bank Zurich

Here is a balanced overview of choosing HBZ for your property investment.

Pros:

• The Human Touch: They pride themselves on manual underwriting. You get a dedicated Relationship Manager who understands your portfolio, which is ideal if your income or company structure is too complex for mainstream algorithms

• Expat & Offshore Expertise: Their international footprint (Switzerland, UAE, etc.) makes them very comfortable with foreign income and offshore company structures

• Islamic Finance Options: The Sirat range provides a genuine alternative for investors requiring Shariah-compliant BTL finance

• Safety: Despite their international heritage, HBZ plc is a fully authorised UK bank. Your eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £85,000

Cons:

• No Residential Mortgages: You cannot use them to buy your own home. They only process unregulated/investment transactions.

• Historical Tech: While they are currently upgrading their lending tech via nCino, consumer reviews (especially for savings) frequently note that their digital banking feels archaic. For example, some fixed-term deposit customers receive physical paper certificates rather than app-based tracking

• Niche Audience: They are designed for experienced landlords, high-net-worth individuals, and active trading businesses. They are not built for a first-time landlord looking for the absolute cheapest automated rate

Customer Service and Reviews

• Borrower Experience: In the commercial broker market, HBZ is respected for finding solutions to tricky deals. Brokers value having direct access to underwriters

• Consumer Reviews: On consumer forums feedback often highlights that while their savings rates are excellent, the onboarding process is old fashioned. Customers should expect secure, but basic, digital interfaces compared to modern fintechs

How to Apply

Through a Broker: For Buy-to-Let and Commercial property finance, they operate heavily through an empanelled network of FCA-regulated mortgage brokers. As whole-of-market brokers, at Money Helpdesk we can act as your broker for Habib Bank, and negotiate the specific terms with an HBZ Relationship Manager, on your behalf.

Get started now to speak to one of our expert brokers. We can also offer Urdu and Punjabi speaking brokers if required.  

Direct: For business banking, trade finance, or opening a fixed-term savings account, you can apply directly via their website or by visiting one of their 8 UK branches (located in London, Manchester, Leicester, and Birmingham).