Afin Bank has appointed three underwriters to support its growth across residential, buy-to-let and regulated bridging lending.
The lender said James Hollinshead, Jude Miranda and Sanjay Patel brought experience of specialist lending and manual underwriting.
Afin focuses on customers who can struggle to secure mortgages from mainstream lenders because of factors including their income or employment status.
Hollinshead (pictured, left) has more than 25 years of experience in financial services, including first and second-line risk roles. He has specialised in commercial underwriting at The Co-operative Bank, Yorkshire Building Society and Principality Building Society.
He said: “What appealed to me is that Afin is a small but growing organisation, so there’s an opportunity to build something new and exciting while supporting the provision of niche segments which are typically under-served.
“Lots of lenders are moving to automated approaches to underwriting, necessitating putting everyone and criteria into boxes, but that means a large chunk of the market is not being served properly. Joining Afin Bank provides an opportunity to shape a growing lender, work with intermediaries and provide lending products to a diversified customer base.”
Miranda (pictured, centre) joins Afin from GB Bank and has a 30-year career in residential and commercial lending. His previous employers include Shawbrook Bank, Hampshire Trust Bank, Masthaven Bank and Platform Home Loans, where he spent more than nine years.
Miranda said: “There are lots of lenders out there, but they all tend to do the same thing. What stood out for me with Afin is that it is doing something different by filling those criteria gaps – mortgages for foreign nationals, high-net-worth mortgages and 80% LTV regulated bridging.
“The technology is all new as well, so there are no legacy systems that we have to try and make work, so we can create a truly frictionless journey for brokers and their customers. I am looking forward to bringing my experience and know-how as the Bank grows.”
Patel (pictured, right) joins from Precise Mortgages, where he was an underwriter for more than nine years and worked on residential and buy-to-let mortgages. Afin said its human approach to lending had attracted him to the role.
He said: “I was very excited to see this role for a specialist underwriter in a bank that still does manual underwriting. A lot of customer applications are not simple, so that’s where we need to delve into deeper, to understand their situation and try to find a solution.
“I also liked that Afin is a start-up, so I get to work with brokers and be an important part of the customer journey.”
Jason Oakley, chief executive of Afin Bank, added: “I am delighted to welcome three such talented and experienced underwriters to the Afin family. Their expertise, knowledge of different lending situations and a real passion for brokers and borrowers will help us deliver on our promise of supporting the growing number of under-served borrowers in the UK.”
