Good businesses deserve a fair go
fundU is a New Zealand direct lender. We fund businesses from $20,000 to $1m against property — first or second mortgages, fast decisions made by us, and far less paperwork than the bank.
How it works
No endless forms and no being passed around. You deal with the lender from the first call.
A two-minute enquiry: what the money's for, roughly how much, the property available and how you'll repay. A lending specialist calls you back to talk it through.
Our credit team looks at the whole picture — property, purpose, exit — and gives you a straight answer. Bad credit, IRD debt or a bank decline aren't automatic nos.
Once approved, the valuation and lawyers do their bit and funds are released — in as little as 24 hours in some cases. Then you get on with running the business.
When the pressure's on
Most owners who call us aren't short of work — they're short of time. An IRD letter, a supplier who wants paying, a bank that won't budge. Before you consider liquidation or selling assets cheaply, find out whether the equity you already have can fund your way through.
Find out in two minutes
Property-secured business lending
Use a first mortgage when the property is unencumbered or you'd rather refinance the existing lender out. Choose a second mortgage to keep your bank loan exactly as it is and borrow against the equity above it. Either way, you're dealing with the lender.
Real business situations
Illustrative examples of the kinds of situations we fund every week. Names and details are generic; figures are rounded.
A Christchurch residential builder had two jobs finished but $180,000 tied up in retentions and a late progress payment, with GST and subcontractors due. A second mortgage behind the bank loan on the family home cleared the pressure within days, and the loan was repaid when the retentions were released.
Builder and developer fundingWhere we lend
Helpful answers
fundU is a direct private lender for New Zealand businesses. We lend $20,000 to $1m for business purposes, secured against New Zealand property by first or second mortgage. We assess and approve loans ourselves — we're not a broker and we don't send your details to a panel of lenders.
Because fundU makes its own lending decisions, things move quickly. Many enquiries get an answer in principle on the first call, and funding can happen in as little as 24 hours once approved in some cases. Valuation and legal documents affect the final timing.
Yes. fundU loans are secured against New Zealand real estate — your home, an investment property, commercial property or some land. The property can be owned by you, your company, your family trust or a supporting party such as a family member.
Yes. A fundU second mortgage sits behind your existing bank loan, so your bank loan, rate and repayments stay exactly as they are. It's often the fastest way to release equity for a business without starting a full bank application.
Often, yes. We regularly fund businesses to pay out IRD arrears, clear a statutory demand or move forward after a bank decline. Bad credit, defaults and arrears are considered case by case, because the property and a clear exit plan carry more weight with us.
Not for the initial assessment. We focus on the property, the purpose of the loan and how it will be repaid. Depending on the situation we may ask for bank statements, contracts, invoices or a letter from your accountant — far less paperwork than a typical bank application.
Not necessarily. Depending on the approved terms, fundU loans can be interest-only, have capitalised interest with no scheduled monthly repayments during the term, or be principal and interest. We'll structure it around your cash flow and your exit plan.
fundU lends from $20,000 to $1m. The amount depends on the value of the property, any existing lending against it, what the funds are for and how the loan will be repaid. Every loan is priced on your individual circumstances.
Useful business guidance
A second mortgage lets you borrow against the equity in your property without touching your existing bank loan. Here's how it works for New Zealand business owners, from priority and equity to the process and repayment.
Read the guide
A step-by-step New Zealand guide to clearing Inland Revenue debt in one payment using a property-secured business loan, so penalties stop building and you can get back to running your business.
Read the guide
Liquidation ends the company and hands control to someone else. Before you take that step, look at the alternatives, from creditor deals and IRD arrangements to being funded out of trouble with property equity.
Read the guide
From the first enquiry to money in your account, every business loan passes through the same stages. Here's the timeline anatomy, where the days usually go and how to save them.
Read the guide
A bank decline isn't the end of the road. Learn why New Zealand banks turn down business loans, how to find out what went wrong, and the fastest realistic routes to the funding your business needs.
Read the guide
Winning a big contract is great news until you realise you have to pay for staff, materials and equipment months before the customer pays you. Here's how to map the cash gap and fund it safely.
Read the guideA practical next step
Let's find a better way forward.
