{"id":185,"date":"2025-11-05T09:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-05T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wordpress-1197097-5857112.cloudwaysapps.com\/?p=185"},"modified":"2026-06-16T18:43:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:43:13","slug":"rmbs-maybe-a-market-term-but-to-us-it-means-progress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/news\/press\/rmbs-maybe-a-market-term-but-to-us-it-means-progress\/","title":{"rendered":"RMBS may be a market term, but to us it means progress"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In October 2025, StrideUp marked a milestone; one that represents progress not only for us, but for every household, investor and community member who believes finance should never come at the cost of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"table_of_contents\">\n    <h5>Table of contents<\/h5>\n    <ul>\n        <li><a href=\"#section1\">What we heard at MTF 2025<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section2\">The data confirms it: Our community is underserved<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section3\">StrideUp&#8217;s model resonated deeply<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section4\">More than a moment &#8211; a movement<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section5\">The data confirms it: Our community is underserved<\/a><\/li>\n        <li><a href=\"#section6\">So, what\u2019s next?<\/a><\/li>\n    <\/ul>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So what did we do?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We successfully closed Meridian Funding 2025-1 &#8211; our first RMBS deal (standing for Residential Mortgage Backed Security). This was completed using a market-first, fully shariah-compliant structure backed entirely by Islamic property financing transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most, the term RMBS might sound technical, perhaps even distant. But for us, this moment carries something far more meaningful. This wasn\u2019t just a transaction, it\u2019s a statement of purpose, a step towards proving that modern finance can grow on faith-aligned principles without compromise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"8\">about StrideUp<\/a> and our mission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How RMBS helps more people buy homes, the halal way<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In traditional finance, RMBS is a way for lenders to raise long-term funds secured against their &nbsp;mortgage portfolios. We\u2019ve taken this financial structure and pushed it further by turning it into a sukuk, a shariah-compliant alternative that replaces interest with profit-sharing and real asset ownership. For us, it means the homes we\u2019ve helped people buy without interest now stand behind an investment that global institutions believe in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is proof that faith and finance can move forward together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In practice, StrideUp shares the income generated from its Home Purchase Plans with institutional investors in exchange for funds that enable more people to buy homes, the halal way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center stretched\"><strong>\u201cWhen we started this journey, there hadn\u2019t been a public shariah-compliant RMBS in the UK since 2018. With Meridian, we\u2019ve reignited the market, and in doing so, we\u2019ve opened a new chapter for inclusive finance that\u2019s rooted in faith.\u201d &#8211; Sakeeb Zaman, StrideUp CEO.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why Meridian matters<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meridian Funding 2025-1 marks the first public shariah-compliant RMBS issued by a non-bank lender in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This \u00a3308m transaction mirrors the structure of a conventional RMBS, yet every element has been thoughtfully adapted to comply with shariah principles. Instead of interest-bearing transactions, the investors will hold profit-bearing certificates. The underlying bank accounts will operate through murabaha-based profit mechanisms, ensuring the entire structure remains free from interest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a result, Meridian becomes a financial instrument that economically behaves like other high-quality UK mortgage-backed deals, but it\u2019s rooted in faith through its shariah-compliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It sets a foundation and opens the door for others to follow. The path to inclusive finance grows stronger when more institutions take part and Meridian is a step towards that future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"blog_stat_vertical\">\n            <div class=\"item\">\n            <h3 style=\"color: #20272D\">2025<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"desc\">Year<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"item\">\n            <h3 style=\"color: #3EA975\">\u00a3308 million<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"desc\">Transaction size<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"item\">\n            <h3 style=\"color: #70B8B8\">Sukuk \/ RMBS<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"desc\">Structure<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n            <div class=\"item\">\n            <h3 style=\"color: \">Purpose<\/h3>\n            <div class=\"desc\">To expand access to halal home finance across the UK<\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Faith and the future<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At StrideUp, our mission has always been simple: to make halal home ownership accessible without compromise. Each completed purchase is a small victory for financial inclusion and a reminder of why this work matters.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"special_separator flex justify-center my-8 middletab:my-14\">\n    <svg width=\"62\" height=\"12\" viewBox=\"0 0 62 12\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n        <path d=\"M15.5 7.45938C15.5 3.30547 12.0854 -0.0560486 7.89524 0.000708303C3.98534 0.0537023 0.730931 3.14742 0.512121 7.03041C0.41249 8.7974 0.932401 10.4402 1.8748 11.7644C2.06429 12.0304 2.442 12.0793 2.69297 11.8695L7.19939 8.10879L7.20286 8.10691C7.41915 7.92692 7.69787 7.81874 8.0018 7.81874C8.30574 7.81874 8.59171 7.92974 8.80926 8.11381L8.81273 8.11569L13.3084 11.8673C13.5597 12.0771 13.9377 12.0275 14.1272 11.7613C14.9918 10.5456 15.5 9.06143 15.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M38.5 7.45938C38.5 3.30547 35.0854 -0.0560486 30.8952 0.000708303C26.9853 0.0537023 23.7309 3.14742 23.5121 7.03041C23.4125 8.7974 23.9324 10.4402 24.8748 11.7644C25.0643 12.0304 25.442 12.0793 25.693 11.8695L30.1994 8.10879L30.2029 8.10691C30.4191 7.92692 30.6979 7.81874 31.0018 7.81874C31.3057 7.81874 31.5917 7.92974 31.8093 8.11381L31.8127 8.11569L36.3084 11.8673C36.5597 12.0771 36.9377 12.0275 37.1272 11.7613C37.9918 10.5456 38.5 9.06143 38.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n        <path d=\"M61.5 7.45938C61.5 3.30547 58.0854 -0.0560486 53.8952 0.000708303C49.9853 0.0537023 46.7309 3.14742 46.5121 7.03041C46.4125 8.7974 46.9324 10.4402 47.8748 11.7644C48.0643 12.0304 48.442 12.0793 48.693 11.8695L53.1994 8.10879L53.2029 8.10691C53.4191 7.92692 53.6979 7.81874 54.0018 7.81874C54.3057 7.81874 54.5917 7.92974 54.8093 8.11381L54.8127 8.11569L59.3084 11.8673C59.5597 12.0771 59.9377 12.0275 60.1272 11.7613C60.9918 10.5456 61.5 9.06143 61.5 7.45907V7.45938Z\" fill=\"#627C84\"\/>\n    <\/svg>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>So, what&#8217;s next?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meridian is only the beginning. It shows what happens when faith and finance move forward together, creating homes, opportunities and lasting trust. The future of halal home finance will be shaped by innovation, collaboration and a shared belief that progress can carry purpose, that money can have meaning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"buttons flex flex-wrap items-center gap-6 mt-10 mb-14\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/portal.strideup.co\/reg\" class=\"btn\">Get started now<\/a>\n    \n            <a href=\"https:\/\/strideup.co\/home-finance\/\" class=\"btn regular_btn\">Home Finance<\/a>\n    \n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"disclaimer my-8 tabland:my-14\">\n    <div class=\"desc font-lexend text-xs text-[#6A6A6C] leading-tight font-feature-on slightly-tight-letters-paragraph\"><p>YOUR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP THE PAYMENTS ON YOUR PURCHASE PLAN.<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"blog_cta rounded-[24px] tabland:rounded-[32px] my-8 tabland:my-14 py-8 tabland:py-12 px-6 tabland:px-5 text-center\" style=\"background-color: #F4F4F4;\">\n    <h2 class=\"font-ttnormspro slightly-tight-letters-title text-3xl font-extrabold mb-4\" style=\"color: #20272D;\">Stay in the loop.<\/h2>\n    <div class=\"desc font-lexend text-sm text-[#6A6A6C] mb-8 leading-normal font-feature-on tight-letters-paragraph\">Join our newsletter for exclusive updates and insights you won\u2019t want to miss.<\/div>\n            <a href=\"#subscription_form\" class=\"btn w-fit mx-auto\">\n            <div class=\"text\">\n                Subscribe            <\/div>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A new chapter for halal home finance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[178],"tags":[19,11,15,20,14,10,17,13,18,16,12,21],"post_author":[50],"class_list":["post-185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-press","tag-halal-meridian","tag-halal-rmbs","tag-meridian-1-2","tag-meridian-sukuk","tag-meridian-1","tag-rmbs","tag-sharia-rmbs","tag-shariah-rmbs","tag-stride-up-rmbs","tag-strideup-meridian","tag-strideup-rmbs","tag-strideup-sukuk","post_author-team-strideup"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=185"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3942,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/185\/revisions\/3942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=185"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=185"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=185"},{"taxonomy":"post_author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/strideup.co\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_author?post=185"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}