Gatehouse Bank accelerates Sharia-compliant lending with Finova’s Lending platform

Gatehouse Bank is a Sharia-compliant UK bank specialising in ethical savings and home finance solutions. As part of its commitment to expanding its lending portfolio, the bank sought to launch Sharia-compliant lending products, including first-charge residential Home Purchase Plans (HPPs) and Buy-to-Let purchase plans (BTL) for landlords. To achieve this, Gatehouse Bank required a digital platform that could support efficient data capture, enforce financing rules, streamline application submission and facilitate a robust underwriting process.

With an ambitious goal to launch in under five months—including integration with a third-party mortgage servicer—Gatehouse Bank conducted a thorough market review. It identified Finova’s Lending platform as the solution capable of delivering the required flexibility and configurability to meet their complex needs.

Gatehouse Bank faced several challenges in bringing its Sharia-compliant finance products to market:

• Tight deadlines: The bank aimed to launch both investment BTL and residential HPP products within a five-month timeframe

• Regulatory compliance: The platform needed to accommodate Sharia-compliant financing rules, affordability modelling and specific documentation structures

• End-to-end digital process: A seamless broker-facing portal and underwriting system were essential for an efficient application and approval process

• Complex integration requirements: The solution had to integrate with third-party mortgage servicers, credit reference agencies (CRA), and electronic ID verification providers

To meet these demands, Finova’s Lending platform was configured to provide a fully integrated finance origination process. The system enabled brokers to register, submit applications, and complete decision-in-principle checks with ease. A robust underwriting workflow ensured that case management, risk assessment and compliance checks were seamlessly executed.

The platform’s flexibility allowed Gatehouse Bank to configure and manage its Sharia-compliant product range, including investment and consumer buy-to-let financing and residential home purchase plans. Integrated affordability modelling, automated valuation reporting and electronic ID verification further streamlined operations.

Additionally, the solution supported the generation of regulatory documentation, task management for underwriting teams, and online fee payments, ensuring an efficient, compliant and user-friendly lending experience.

The implementation of Finova’s Lending platform has driven significant success for Gatehouse Bank:

• Faster time to market: Successfully launched Sharia-compliant home finance  products within the targeted five-month timeline

• Operational efficiency: Streamlined case management and underwriting processes led to improved broker and customer experiences

• Scalability and growth: Initially planning to complete £100 million in the first six months, the platform’s success helped Gatehouse significantly exceed expectations. Since its launch in 2018, over £1 billion of financing has been processed through Lending

• Positive market reception: The platform received strong feedback from brokers and intermediaries, reinforcing Gatehouse Bank’s position in the Sharia-compliant home finance market

As Gatehouse Bank continues to grow, Finova Lending remains a key enabler in delivering efficient, compliant and innovative lending solutions tailored to the needs of the Sharia-compliant finance market.