Kroo Bank and 9Y Capital partner on forward flow arrangement
30 July 2026
The partnership provides long-term funding to support 9Y Capital's continued growth in the UK bridging finance market.
30 July 2026
Fully licenced digital bank Kroo has entered a forward flow funding arrangement with specialist lender 9Y Capital (“9Y”) to support bridging and refurbishment lending across the UK property market.
Property investors and developers often require financing that falls outside the standard criteria, or speed of execution of high street banks. Specialist lenders like 9Y exist to fill that gap. Partnerships like this help more investors access sustainable finance, while allowing Kroo Bank to further diversify its lending exposure.
Under the agreement, Kroo will fund a portion of 9Y’s future bridge and refurbishment loan originations through an ongoing forward flow structure, creating a long-term funding partnership between the two businesses. Founded in 2023 by Stephen Johnson and Karen Bennett, 9Y has built a strong reputation in the sector for flexible, responsive lending to experienced property investors and developers.
Veronika Lovett, Chief Executive Officer at Kroo Bank, said: “This partnership with 9Y reflects Kroo Bank’s strategy to expand our lending offering for customers through carefully selected partnerships. The 9Y team have an excellent track record in specialist property finance, and we’re proud to support their next phase of growth with stable, long-term funding. As Kroo continues to scale, partnerships like this strengthen our ability to deploy capital into established sectors, supporting experienced lenders in delivering strong outcomes for borrowers across the UK.”
Stephen Johnson, Managing Director and Co-Founder at 9Y Capital, said: ”We’re delighted to partner with Kroo Bank on this forward flow arrangement. Kroo’s flexibility and pace as a digital bank make them a natural fit for how we work with our own clients. Concluding our fifth institutional funding arrangement is a great milestone for the team, and we're excited about the opportunities the long-term relationship with Kroo provides as we continue to invest in scaling the business.”
The transaction marks another step in Kroo Bank’s broader strategy to diversify its lending activities alongside continued growth in its retail banking products.
ABOUT KROO BANK
Kroo is a UK digital bank built around a simple belief: a world where your money works in your favour. Founded in 2016 and granted its full banking licence by the Bank of England in June 2022, Kroo offers a mobile current account that pays interest directly on balances of up to £500,000, helping customers earn more from their everyday money without the hassle of moving funds into a separate instant access savings account. Eligible customer deposits are FSCS protected up to £120,000.
Headquartered in London, Kroo Bank also offers personal loans, and a Flexible Cash ISA. The bank has raised over £135 million in funding to date and is building a more transparent banking experience, designed around customers and the way they use money every day.
ABOUT 9Y
9Y Capital is a non-bank specialist lender supporting professional property investors and developers with bridging, refurbishment and development facilities. Run by a management team with a distinguished pedigree in the specialist lending sector, the business delivers relationship led lending with a private banking service experience.
9Y Capital was founded by Stephen Johnson & Karen Bennett, and has now completed 5 institutional funding transactions since 2024.
