Coutts raises its minimum mortgage loan size from £1 million to £1.5 million
Quick Summary
Coutts, the private bank, has raised its minimum mortgage loan size for new customers. The change from £1 million to £1.5 million means wealthier clients will need to borrow more if they want to take out a mortgage. There is a significant amount of competition among lenders to attract borrowers seeking £1 million mortgages and purchasing Prime Postcode properties.
Coutts has made changes to the minimum mortgage loan size that eligible clients can access. This means that new clients looking to purchase or remortgage a home with Coutts now have to take a minimum loan size of £1.5 million.
Considerations for Coutts new mortgage lending rules
- Changes to minimum loan size for new businesses: The change from £1 million to £1.5 million is effective from today, November 11, 2025, for new clients.
- These changes relate to Coutts lending to new clients only.
- This change does not impact existing Coutts clients.
- This change does not impact the International criteria.
Coutts has increased the minimum qualifying loan size by £500,000 to try to attract more high-net-worth clients. There is a lot of competition in the large mortgage loan market now, and virtually all the big lenders and many of the smaller providers are keen to attract wealthier clients seeking £1 million+ mortgages.
Many of the mortgages Coutts issues are well over £1 million, and by raising the limit, they will receive fewer enquiries. This means they can concentrate on those often international buyers purchasing in prime areas of London and Surrey. Smaller enquiries can also be diverted to NatWest, ensuring they remain within their banking group. NatWest owns Coutts.
Which lenders have the most competitively priced £1.5 million+ mortgages?
Nationwide recently launched a 3.64% two-year fix with a £1,499 arrangement fee with a minimum loan size of £300,000 and a maximum loan size of £5 million. The overall cost for comparison is 6.4% APRC representative. This highlights the level of competition the high street lenders have brought to the private banks. Coutts' lowest two-year fix is priced at around 4.65% with a higher arrangement fee. Both Nationwide and Coutts rates require a 40% deposit.
Aaron Strutt, product director at Trinity Financial, says: "Coutts issues much more complex cases than many of the high street lenders, but if wealthier clients buying expensive homes do qualify through a more standard bank or building society, it is possible to make some pretty hefty savings. I suspect most of Coutts' enquiries are for well over £1 million, but they are making the change to ensure they really do target what they see as high net worth clients."
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