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  4. How do regional banks compare to debt funds on a bridge bake-off?

How do regional banks compare to debt funds on a bridge lender comparison?

Short answer

Regional banks win on bridge deals where the borrower is relationship-eligible, leverage stays at 60% to 70%, and the take-out is reasonably visible. Debt funds win on 70% to 80% LTC, true value-add and lease-up stories, tighter closing timelines, and properties that need pro-forma underwriting rather than current operating performance.

Sources

  1. Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices (SLOOS) · Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System · 2026-Q1
  2. Quarterly Survey of Commercial/Multifamily Mortgage Bankers Originations · Mortgage Bankers Association · 2026-Q1

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