Pure Panel Management has been appointed by Afin Bank to provide surveying and valuation services for its upcoming mortgage range. The agreement will cover residential and buy-to-let products and is aimed at supporting brokers placing cases for clients who may not meet standard criteria.
Afin Bank is a new digital lender authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority in October 2024. It plans to begin lending in 2025 and will focus on serving African and other diaspora communities in the UK, as well as high net worth and self-employed borrowers. The bank says its products are designed to help applicants with stable finances but limited access to traditional mortgage options.
James Gillam, managing director at Pure Panel Management, said: “Supporting new lenders like Afin Bank in bringing specialist mortgage solutions to the market is exactly what we do best. Its focus on underserved borrowers dovetails with our responsibility to deliver high-quality valuation services that enable brokers to help more clients access home ownership and investment opportunities.
“Our panel of professional surveyors, combined with our market expertise, ensures valuations are conducted efficiently and accurately, providing brokers with the guidance and tools to handle each case as effectively as possible.”
Pure Panel Management is based in Newcastle upon Tyne and has a panel of more than 900 surveyors. The firm works with lenders, packagers and brokers across the UK mortgage market.
Nicola Tunney, chief operating officer at Afin Bank, said: “Our partnership with Pure Panel Management is a key step in building a mortgage offering that truly serves underserved borrowers such as the foreign diaspora, high net worth individuals, and the self-employed. Many of these borrowers have stable incomes and strong financial track records but face challenges accessing mortgage finance because they don’t meet the lending criteria set by many mainstream providers.
“By working with a panel management provider like Pure Panel Management that understands our ethos, we can offer brokers and their clients a valuation process that complements our streamlined approach to helping underserved borrowers in the UK.”
