A new specialist agricultural bank is set to launch later this year, backed by key agri-business firms andoffering financial services designed for British farmers.
Established through a collaboration of experienced bankers, farmers and technology experts, Oxbury – based in Chester – will provide farmers and growers with a bespoke range of competitive lending and savings products, according to the company. It says these will help producers to manage their input costs and grow their businesses at a crucial time for UK agriculture.
Services will be offered through the bank’s founding distributor partners: Hutchinsons, Frontier Agriculture, Mole Valley Farmers and KW, part of AB Agri.
“There is no other UK-based bank focusing its thinking, expertise and empathy solely on the agricultural market and the needs of British farmers,” explained managing director and co-founder, Nick Evans.
“Oxbury’s founding team and investors are farmers and market-leading agri-business companies that know the importance of farmers to the UK economy and rural communities. It is founded by the industry for the industry and is designed to work in partnership with long-established agri-businesses that farmers know and trust.”
The bank’s core product isOxbury Farm Credit, which will provide a flexible and financially competitive alternative for farmers to a bank overdraft or trade finance. Initially, this will be available to medium-to-large arable or dairy farmers who are current customers of the distributor partners, however the firm added that further expansionacross agricultural sectors and with more distribution partnerswill take place over the coming months and years.
Longer-term loans will also be available to drive investment in the productivity and sustainability of UK farming.
“We know from our close and longstanding partnerships with our customers that Oxbury’s relationship-based approach to its customers matches our own approach and values,” said David Hutchinson, chief executive of HL Hutchinson.
“The current and longer-term trends in British agriculture are creating a requirement for new and innovative approaches to managing farm business cashflow and Oxbury is expertly and uniquely placed to provide flexible finance through its Farm Credit product.”
Savings accounts will also be available to any UK individual or business at competitive rates, with the guarantee that every pound saved is lent to British farmers and no-one else.
Accounts will be accessed through secure online and mobile applications. Oxbury said it will offer a personalised service for farmers through experienced agricultural relationship managers to ensure all customer needs are met.
Oxbury expects to launch to market midway through 2020.
