About Me
Experienced Chartered Banker
Hi, I’m John Watts, and thank you for visiting my website. I’m a Chartered Banker with over 10 years of Commercial Lending experience helping UK Businesses, Property Developers and Landlords access the right finance to grow and succeed.
I spent the majority of my career with HSBC, working with businesses generating turnover up to £25 million. During that time, I developed a deep understanding of commercial lending, from helping business owners understand cash flow, effectively manage working capital, support international trade and providing advice on long-term growth strategies.
I have also worked with a start-up Bridging and Development Finance bank, where I supported to gain a banking licence and helped Property Developers achieve their goals.
Passion for Tech
I have a real passion for technology. I’ve built my own website, developed automated lending processes, produced video content, and created digital tools that developed a seamless lending journey.
I’ve use local AI models to enhance automation and improve efficiency across my operations. I enjoy talking about technology and am always happy to chat about your tech suite and future tech goals.
Close Long Term Relationships
Today, I work independently, supporting small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. My role is more than just introducing finance. I act as a banking partner, helping you understand your numbers, explore funding options, and plan for future sustainable growth.
My goal is to build long-term relationships where we meet regularly to discuss your strategy. I’ll help you understand and navigate the debt solutions available to support your business growth while offering clear, practical guidance on your financial performance.
Work Experience
Commercial Relationship Manager
In my role as a Commercial Relationship Manager, I worked closely with business owners to help them understand their cash flow, operating cycles, and working capital needs. I supported with funding new assets, managing guarantees for projects, and arranging finance for complex share purchases. I also advised on long-term growth strategies and helped businesses expand into new overseas markets, offering practical support for international trade and cross-border operations.
Head of Lending Operations
As Head of Lending Operations, I designed and implemented a lending journey and introduced automated processes to improve efficiency across the business. I created bank policies and training programmes to support consistent, high-quality lending standards. The role also involved working closely with solicitors, accountants, and valuers to ensure each deal was delivered smoothly and compliantly from start to finish.
Lending Specialist
I supported property developers with a range of development finance projects and clients with their bridging needs. I worked closely with quantity surveyors to review monitoring reports and authorise fund releases, ensuring projects stayed on track. I also structured and assessed exit strategies for both development and bridging finance, negotiating outcomes at the end of term to achieve the best results for my clients.
Corporate Relationship Support Analyst
I supported Relationship Director's managing portfolio's of corporate clients with turnovers ranging from £25 million to £350 million. My role involved analysing financial statements, testing financial covenants, and performing detailed KYC on complex international group structures with multiple subsidiaries. I also worked on complex lending products worth tens of millions, supporting clients with tailored financing solutions to meet their strategic goals.
Regulated Mortgage and Protection Manager
I worked alongside Financial Advisors to support the general public and high-net-worth individuals with bespoke mortgage solutions as part of their wider wealth planning, often discussing tax, inheritance, and protection needs. I also helped buy-to-let landlords expand their portfolios, structuring complex deals across multiple properties to find the most efficient and cost-effective lending options.
