Our experience at the NACFB Commercial Finance Expo 2026

Written by Charlotte Rayson, Catalyst BDM for London.

The NACFB Expo is one of my favourite events of the year; there’s always a great buzz from start to finish. It’s a great chance to catch up with brokers we already know and meet some new faces too. Seeing all the lenders under one roof really drives home just how big and significant our industry is.

As much as the day is all about talking, it’s about listening too, and building all-important relationships.

As a BDM covering London, my biggest takeaway from the day was this: brokers still want lenders who are easy to reach, straight-talking, and up for a proper conversation before you discuss the numbers. Pricing matters, but most of our chats were really about certainty, how fast we can make decisions, and whether we actually get the ins and outs of a case.

There was a real buzz of optimism across the Expo too. Despite the usual market challenges, brokers are still backing experienced property investors who are out there buying, refurbishing, and converting properties. What they want is a lender who can be flexible to different situations, not one that forces everything down the same path.

At Catalyst, we work closely with brokers from the outset. Our experienced team can assess opportunities quickly but with certainty, discussing complex and high-leverage cases with the underwriting team before terms are issued.

If there’s one thing the Expo reminded me of, it’s that relationships are still what specialist lending is all about. Tech keeps making things more efficient, but nothing beats sitting down with someone face to face, getting to know their business, and figuring out how to solve problems together.

Speaking about his experience of the event, Tim Horne, Catalyst BDM for the Midlands, said: “It was a very successful event, giving me the chance to reconnect with existing contacts and meet brokers I hadn’t come across before. Those conversations led to follow-up meetings with four companies that are new to us.”

Adding to her experience, Gemma Roberts, Catalyst BDM for the North, said: “The NACFB Expo provided a fantastic opportunity to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new brokers and discuss the latest trends in specialist finance. It was a highly productive and busy day at the Catalyst stand, generating valuable conversations, new business opportunities and several follow-up meetings. Events like these reinforce the value of strong broker relationships, and I’m looking forward to building on those conversations in the months ahead.”

Massive thank you to everyone who stopped by the Catalyst stand. It was great catching up with familiar faces, meeting new introducers, and hearing about what’s coming next.

If we didn’t get the chance to chat at the Expo, I’d love to grab some time and talk through how Catalyst can help you and your clients.