Afin Bank has added to its salesforce with the appointment of Stuart Benge as senior business development manager, bringing more than 30 years’ experience in residential and commercial finance to the role.

Benge (pictured) spent 20 years at Norwich and Peterborough and has also held positions at Recognise Bank and Hodge Bank.

He becomes the fourth addition to Afin’s development team this year, as the lender looks to support growth across its core mortgage propositions for foreign nationals, the self-employed and high-net-worth borrowers.

His appointment comes as specialist lenders seek to position themselves as an alternative for borrowers who do not meet mainstream criteria, particularly those with complex income structures or visa status.

Benge said: “There’s a huge gap in the market. Lots of borrowers want to get on the property ladder, but they can’t get a mortgage on the high street, so where do they go?

“Brokers face the same challenge – where do they go for a deal if their client is a bit different from the norm.

“That’s what I like about Afin and its commitment to helping people who are underserved and are being forced to rent when all they want is a home of their own.

“I have significant established relationships with key intermediaries and I want to leverage those to help more people realise their dreams.”

Rob Lankey, national sales director at Afin Bank, added: “It’s great to have somebody of Stuart’s experience on the team. He brings knowledge of the sector, lots of connections with brokers and advisers across the country and a real passion to help customers.”