Somo Joins Swoop Lender Panel to Streamline Bridging and Short-Term Finance for Brokers

Somo has joined the lender panel of business funding platform Swoop, integrating its specialist bridging and short-term finance products into the Swoop Broker Suite. For fintech intermediaries, this partnership reduces manual sourcing friction by providing digital access to complex second and third-charge loan structures alongside traditional high-street banking options.

What was announced

Specialist lender Somo has integrated its full suite of short-term finance products into the Swoop Broker Suite, a digital platform designed for brokers and advisors. This move allows intermediaries to access Somo’s range of first, second, and third-charge loans, as well as equitable charge options, alongside Swoop’s existing panel of high-street and alternative lenders. The integration is aimed at removing the need for manual sourcing, allowing brokers to compare products and submit cases through a single interface.

Somo provides lending amounts ranging from £27,500 up to £3 million, with flexible terms spanning from one month to three years. The lender maintains a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 75% and is particularly noted for its pricing on second-charge loans. By joining the Swoop panel, Somo gains direct exposure to a broad network of advisors at the point of search. The platform’s automated matching capabilities are intended to provide a faster route to funding for clients with complex requirements, as Somo assesses each case on its individual merits rather than relying solely on rigid algorithmic criteria. The products are currently live and available to all brokers using the Swoop Broker Suite.

"Brokers want to find the right lender quickly, and Swoop’s platform gives them a clear, efficient way to do that. With Swoop’s reach across brokers and advisors, joining the panel puts Somo’s products in front of more intermediaries at the point they’re sourcing, so they can see what we offer and move cases forward with confidence. It’s a natural fit with how we already work: close to the broker, and focused on getting deals done."

Victoria Barnard, Head of Networks at Somo

"We’re delighted to welcome Somo to the Swoop lender panel, further strengthening the range of specialist funding solutions available to our clients. Adding Somo’s expertise in bridging and short-term finance gives brokers greater choice and a streamlined way to source suitable funding for their clients."

Connor Kerry, Head of Appointed Representatives Channel

The companies involved

Somo is a specialist lender focused on the bridging and short-term finance market. The firm differentiates itself through its willingness to handle complex security structures, including second and third charges, which are often avoided by traditional commercial banks. Somo has established a significant presence in the UK intermediary market by focusing on speed and individual case underwriting. Swoop is a comprehensive business funding platform that connects SMEs and their advisors with a wide variety of financial products. Beyond traditional loans, the platform facilitates access to equity finance and government grants, positioning itself as a central hub for business capital. Swoop’s technology is designed to simplify the often fragmented landscape of business finance by aggregating diverse funding sources into a single searchable ecosystem. The company has become a key player for brokers seeking to navigate the alternative lending space, providing tools that match business profiles with specific lender criteria to improve the likelihood of successful applications.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has tracked Somo’s expanding distribution network, previously reporting when Somo joins finova’s lending panel to broaden its reach among mortgage intermediaries. The company’s leadership team was recently bolstered when Victoria Barnard Joins Somo as Head of Networks & Clubs, a move that signaled an aggressive push into new broker channels. Additionally, the lender has focused on technical integrations to improve transparency, such as when Somo Integrates with Knowledge Bank to Streamline Bridging Finance Criteria Search. Regarding the platform side of this partnership, FF News covered insights from the Swoop leadership team when an Outdated Credit Scores Blocking UK Startup Boom, Warns Swoop Funding CEO, highlighting the platform's focus on modernizing access to capital.

What this means

This partnership reflects a broader trend of "platformization" in the specialist lending sector. As the UK bridging market becomes more crowded, lenders can no longer rely on relationship-driven manual distribution alone; they must be visible at the digital point of sale. For Swoop, adding a specialist like Somo addresses a gap in the market for higher-risk or more complex security, such as second and third charges, which are increasingly in demand as businesses look to unlock equity without refinancing primary debt. The pressure is now on traditional lenders who lack the agility to integrate with these broker-facing suites, potentially losing market share to alternative providers who prioritize digital accessibility.