Afin Bank, the newly licensed digital bank focused on the UK’s underserved diaspora communities, has appointed Pure Panel Management as its surveying and valuation partner ahead of its market entry later in 2025.
The partnership will support Afin Bank’s residential and buy-to-let mortgage proposition by providing a streamlined, efficient valuation process for borrowers who often face barriers accessing mainstream finance. The Newcastle-based panel manager will be responsible for managing property valuations across the lender’s panel, drawing on its national network of more than 900 surveyors.
Afin Bank, which was granted authorisation by the Prudential Regulation Authority in October 2024, aims to address the financing gap experienced by African and other diaspora populations in the UK. Its mortgage products are also expected to appeal to self-employed workers, high net worth individuals and other creditworthy customers who may be overlooked by traditional lenders.
According to the bank, many of its target borrowers have strong financial profiles but struggle to access lending due to issues such as visa status, limited UK credit history or atypical employment structures. The partnership with Pure Panel Management is designed to ensure that brokers can place such cases with confidence, backed by valuation services aligned to the bank’s specialist approach.
Nicola Tunney, chief operating officer at Afin Bank, said the agreement was “a key step” in delivering mortgage solutions for borrowers excluded from the mainstream. “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,” she said.
“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.”
James Gillam, managing director at Pure Panel Management, said the firm was well placed to support Afin’s entry into the market. “Supporting new lenders like Afin Bank in bringing specialist mortgage solutions to the market is exactly what we do best,” he said.
“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.”
