Compare Mortgage Rates from United National Bank Against the Market starting at 2.7%

United National Bank Limited, which trades as UBL UK, formed in 2001 from the merger of the UK branches of two major Pakistani banks (United Bank Limited and National Bank of Pakistan). In 2024, the ownership structure changed significantly, with the Bestway Group (a major UK conglomerate) acquiring full ownership.

UBL UK is not a standard residential lender, their lending division is focused almost entirely on Buy-to-Let (BTL) for professional investors and Commercial Real Estate. To compare a deal you have see offered by UBL UK with other commercial lenders across the market, simply use our BTL mortgage tool below:

About UBL UK

Headquartered in the heart of London with branches in cities with strong South Asian communities like Birmingham and Manchester, UBL UK has traditionally served the Pakistani diaspora and UK-based property investors.

Following its recent acquisition by the Bestway Group, the bank has continued to focus on Wholesale and Business Banking. Their lending philosophy is relationship-led. They do not rely on automated scoring for their property finance; instead, they use manual underwriting to assess complex portfolios and international income.

Mortgage & Property Finance Products

UBL UK’s property finance is designed for investors and businesses, not owner-occupiers.

• Buy-to-Let (BTL) Finance:

  • Portfolio Landlords:This is their core market

  • Limited Companies:They lend to Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) and trading limited companies

  • Expats & Non-Residents: They are experts in lending to foreign nationals particularly from Pakistan and the UAE and UK expats who want to invest in the UK property market

  • Minimum Loan: Typically £200,000+ and often higher for international clients

  • Islamic Finance: Historically, UBL UK has offered Shariah-compliant Home Purchase Plans(Islamic Mortgages), primarily for Buy-to-Let. However, product availability can fluctuate, so you must check if this specific fund is currently open to new applications

• Commercial Real Estate:

  • Loans for investors purchasing office blocks, retail units, or mixed-use developments

  • They are comfortable with large loan sizes up to £15 million

Pros and Cons of UBL UK

Here is a balanced overview of choosing UBL UK for your finance.

Pros:

• International Expertise: If you are a Pakistani national or a UK expat in Dubai, UBL UK is far easier to deal with than a standard high-street bank. They understand international income and Know Your Customer (KYC) documents from South Asia and the Middle East

• Manual Underwriting: You deal with a Relationship Manager. If you have a complex portfolio of 20 properties and want to refinance them all, they can look at the "global" picture rather than stress-testing each property individually via a computer algorithm

Cons:

• No Owner-Occupier Mortgages: If you just want to buy a house to live in, UBL UK likely cannot help you. They state clearly that their loans are for business use only

• High Entry Barriers: Their lending is geared towards High Net Worth Individuals and professional landlords. Minimum loan sizes and income requirements are higher than average

• Legacy Tech: Some customer reviews mention that their online banking interface and app can feel dated compared to modern UK fintechs

Customer Service and Reviews

• Savings Customers: On Trustpilot, UBL UK generally receives positive feedback (often 4+ out of 5), driven by their competitive savings rates and the simplicity of opening accounts online

• Borrowers: Reviews from borrowing clients are rarer as they are mostly corporate/professional. However, they are respected in the commercial broker market for their reliability in funding complex expat deals

How to Apply

• Direct: You can contact their Real Estate team directly if you are a professional investor. However, keep in mind that this won’t give you the opportunity to compare deals with other lenders

• Broker: For complex BTL or expat cases, it is often better to use a Commercial Mortgage Broker as we can package your portfolio details correctly and negotiate terms with the bank's underwriters. Get started now to speak to one of our knowledgeable commercial brokers