Hodge

What Hodge does

Hodge Bank (legal entity Julian Hodge Bank Limited) is a Cardiff-headquartered UK specialist bank established in 1965, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration 204439. The bank operates three product pillars: retail savings (Easy Access accounts, Fixed Rate Bonds, and Cash ISAs with rates ranging from 4.01% to 4.71% AER and FSCS protection up to £120,000), specialist residential mortgages (Resi for complex-income borrowers up to 95% LTV, Resi Retire for retirement borrowers, Retirement Interest Only, and Holiday Let), and Real Estate Finance (development and investment finance for property professionals). All eligible deposits are FSCS-protected. The company transitioned to a fully online-only digital bank in 2024, discontinuing branch, phone, email and post account servicing while retaining telephone support and intermediary channels.

Technology is centred on an in-house online banking platform with two-factor authentication, account management, and maturity instruction submission. Payment processing is delivered through fintech partner Modulr, providing real-time Faster Payments, CHAPS and Confirmation of Payee services. Mortgage underwriting for complex cases is explicitly manual rather than automated, accepting self-employed, contractor, freelance, multi-source and non-contractual income streams that fail automated 'tick box' criteria at mainstream lenders. The bank is FCA- and PRA-regulated with documented Consumer Duty commitments.

Distribution is dual-channel: savings products are sold direct-to-consumer via the digital platform, while all mortgage products are sold exclusively through independent financial advisers and mortgage brokers via the 'Hodge for Intermediaries' portal, supported by a BDM team, criteria tools, calculators, case studies and documented SLAs. Real Estate Finance is distributed directly to property developers and through channel partnerships including FIBA (June 2023) and Brickflow's development finance marketplace (July 2025). Revenue is generated primarily through the net interest spread between deposit rates paid to savers and lending rates on specialist mortgages and real estate finance. For the year to September 2025, Hodge reported a £3.5m net operating loss and a £5.8m pre-tax loss, attributed to a multi-year modernisation programme and a challenging economic environment, alongside 8% loan book growth and over £380m in new lending across Specialist Mortgages, Real Estate Finance and Motor divisions. The bank serves tens of thousands of UK retail savers plus specialist borrower segments including complex-income earners, retirees aged 50+, holiday let operators, portfolio landlords, and mid-market property developers.

Name

Hodge

Legal name

Julian Hodge Bank Limited

Website

https://hodgebank.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Hodge Bank is a Cardiff-headquartered UK specialist bank (est. 1965) offering FSCS-protected retail savings, specialist residential mortgages for complex-income and retirement borrowers, and real estate finance for property developers and investors, distributed digitally and via intermediary brokers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialist Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162), Personal Credit Institutions (6141)

akta.pro primary industry

Mutual Savings Banks & Mutual Thrifts (FSABAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Balance-Sheet / Portfolio CRE Lending (FSALADAG), Tax-Advantaged Investing & Wrappers (ISA, 529, Insurance Bonds, etc.) (FSAAAAAL), Direct Lending — Specialty Finance (Consumer/SME Lending Platforms) (FSAHAJAF)

Keywords

• Specialist mortgages
• Savings accounts
• Retirement lending
• Development finance
• Complex income underwriting

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Lending Interest: Hodge generates revenue by originating specialist mortgages including residential, retirement interest only (RIO), holiday let, and real estate finance loans. Interest income is earned on the loan portfolio across Specialist Mortgages, Real Estate Finance, and Motor lending divisions. The company reported over £380m in new lending across these divisions.
2. Retail Savings Deposits: Hodge accepts retail customer deposits through savings accounts (Easy Access, Fixed Rate Bonds, Cash ISAs), using those deposits to fund its lending activities. The company pays competitive interest rates to savers (e.g., Easy Access at 4.01% AER variable, Fixed Rate Bonds from 4.60% to 4.71% AER, Cash ISAs from 4.55% to 4.66% AER) and earns the spread between lending rates and deposit rates.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hodge is a UK specialist bank offering personal savings products (Easy Access accounts, Fixed Rate Bonds, Cash ISAs), specialist residential mortgages (Resi, Resi Retire, Retirement Interest Only, Holiday Let), and Real Estate Finance (Development Finance and Investment Finance) for property developers and investors. Savings products are sold direct-to-consumer through an online-only platform, while mortgages are distributed exclusively via independent financial advisers and mortgage brokers.

Product overview

Hodge is a specialist UK bank offering a comprehensive suite of financial products through digital channels. The core offering comprises three main pillars: personal savings products (Easy Access accounts, Fixed Rate Bonds, and Cash ISAs), specialist mortgages (Resi for complex income borrowers, Resi Retire for retirement, RIO lifetime mortgages, and Holiday Let products), and Real Estate Finance (Development and Investment Finance). All products are managed through an online banking platform with digital account management capabilities. The bank operates exclusively as an online-only institution following its 2024 digital transition, with intermediary distribution for mortgage products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Savings Accounts Personal savings accounts including Easy Access, Fixed Rate Bonds, and Cash ISAs with competitive interest rates and online account management. FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per depositor.
• Easy Access Savings Account Flexible savings account with a variable interest rate of 4.01% AER, unlimited deposits and withdrawals, no fixed term, minimum deposit £1, maximum balance £250,000.
• Fixed Rate Bonds Fixed interest rate savings accounts for terms of 1, 2, 3, or 5 years with rates from 4.60% to 4.71% AER. Minimum deposit £1,000, maximum £1,000,000, no withdrawals during the term.
• Cash ISAs Tax-efficient individual savings accounts with fixed interest rates from 4.55% to 4.66% AER for 1 to 5 year terms. Annual allowance £20,000, new subscriptions only.
• Resi Mortgage Specialist residential mortgage for borrowers with complex income streams including self-employed, contractors, freelancers, and those with multiple or non-contractual income. Available up to 95% LTV, distributed through mortgage brokers.
• Resi Retire Mortgage Residential mortgage designed for retirement borrowers considering pension, rental, and investment income. Up to 95% LTV repayment or 80% LTV interest-only, distributed via mortgage brokers.
• Retirement Interest Only (RIO) Mortgage Interest-only mortgage with no end date for borrowers aged over 50. Borrowing up to 75% LTV with interest payments until the borrower moves into long-term care or passes away.
• Holiday Let Mortgage Specialist mortgage for purchasing or restructuring holiday let properties, available for portfolio landlords and property investors, with 2-year and 5-year fixed rate products.
• Development Finance Financing solutions for professional property developers to fund new construction, residential and commercial development projects across the UK.
• Investment Finance Financing solutions for property investors for commercial and residential investment properties, supporting portfolio expansion and acquisition.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8% loan book growth with over £380m in new lending across Specialist Mortgages, Real Estate Finance, and Motor divisions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• FIBA (Finance & Leasing Association)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 21 June 2023Hodge joined FIBA as a lender partner, providing its development finance and commercial lending products visibility through FIBA's network of commercial finance brokers. FIBA is the UK's leading trade body for commercial and asset finance brokers.
• Eco Approach (formerly Propflo)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Hodge partnered with Eco Approach to offer Hodge mortgage customers free access to GreenVal, a property retrofit platform providing energy efficiency reports with cost estimates and savings projections. Available to both new and remortgaging customers.
• ModulrcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 March 2022Hodge partnered with fintech Modulr to provide an enhanced payments experience for savings customers. Modulr provides payment infrastructure enabling Faster Payments, CHAPS, and Confirmation of Payee services. Hodge customers benefit from real-time balance visibility and payment tracking 24/7.
• SerominorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 January 2022Hodge made a major investment in Sero, a net zero technology company, alongside Legal & General. Sero provides technology to support home energy efficiency and retrofitting. Hodge made a further investment in Sero in May 2023.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Cumberland Building Society: UK mutual savings and mortgage provider with regional roots and intermediary mortgage distribution. Comparable product set (residential, complex income, savings) and similar deposit-funded lending model.
• Shawbrook Bank: UK challenger bank offering specialist buy-to-let, complex-income, and commercial real-estate lending funded by retail savings. Comparable specialist-niche strategy and intermediated mortgage distribution.
• Aldermore Bank: UK challenger bank specializing in specialist mortgages, business lending, and savings — the closest direct analogue to Hodge in product mix, intermediary distribution, and deposit-funded lending model.
• OneSavings Bank (Kent Reliance): UK specialist lender and savings bank focused on buy-to-let, bridging, and complex residential mortgages via intermediaries. Directly comparable business model combining specialist lending with retail deposit funding.
• Cambridge Building Society: UK mutual offering specialist residential mortgages, savings, and complex-income lending via intermediaries. Comparable focus on underserved borrower segments with flexible criteria.
• Bath Building Society: Smaller UK mutual specialist in complex income, self-employed, and later-life mortgages. Comparable niche strategy targeting underserved borrowers with flexible underwriting.
• Paragon Banking Group: UK specialist lender focused on buy-to-let, complex income, and later-life mortgages funded by retail savings. Highly comparable given its specialist mortgage origination and intermediary distribution strategy.
• Principality Building Society: Welsh-headquartered mutual savings and mortgage provider with intermediary mortgage distribution. Regional peer with very similar product set (savings, residential, complex income) and UK mutual-savings structure.

Emerging players

• Atom Bank: UK digital-only challenger bank offering savings and residential mortgages. Comparable digital-first operating model following Hodge's 2024 transition, but with broader mass-market positioning.
• Cynergy Bank: UK challenger bank focused on specialist residential, complex-income, and buy-to-let mortgages funded by retail savings. Comparable scale and specialist lending positioning, though with a more limited product range.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HodgeBank
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/julian-hodge-bank
• Xx.com/HodgeBank

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments2 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hodge