Barclays Premier: Best for Higher Earners and Large Loans
Barclays' standout strength is its Premier proposition for higher earners:
- Large loans — Barclays can lend up to £5m, making it a genuine option for high-value remortgages without needing a private bank.
- Income flexibility — Premier underwriting is more flexible on bonus, commission and equity income (RSUs/share schemes) than standard high-street criteria.
- Higher income multiples — qualifying Premier customers can access enhanced lending multiples (up to 5.5x for strong cases).
For professionals, senior employees and higher earners, Barclays Premier is often more competitive and flexible than standard lenders — and cheaper than a private bank for loans in the £500k-£2m range.
Product Transfer vs Switching From Barclays
Existing Barclays customers can:
- Product transfer — switch to a new Barclays deal quickly via the app or online, with no valuation or legal work.
- Switch to a new lender — worth it if another lender beats Barclays' retention rate by 0.3%+.
Barclays' retention rates are usually competitive, and for Premier customers the relationship benefits can tip the balance toward staying. Compare against the market first.
Best Alternatives to Barclays
Compare Barclays against:
- HSBC Premier — Barclays' main rival for higher earners and large loans.
- First Direct — often cheapest for clean-credit borrowers, with no-ERC overpayments.
- Halifax / Santander — broad criteria, competitive standard pricing.
- Private banks (Coutts, Investec) — for loans above £2m where relationship pricing wins.
Important: Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. There will be a fee for mortgage advice. The actual rate available will depend on your circumstances. Think carefully before securing other debts against your home.