Connect for Intermediaries has been appointed to the panel of packagers for newly launched specialist lender Afin Bank, marking a strategic alignment between two firms focused on supporting borrowers traditionally excluded from the mainstream mortgage market.

Afin Bank, which has secured full regulatory approval from both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, enters the UK lending market with a proposition tailored to those with complex financial circumstances.

Its product range spans residential and buy-to-let mortgages, with a particular emphasis on diaspora communities, foreign nationals, the self-employed and others whose profiles often fall outside conventional underwriting models.

The addition of Afin Bank to Connect’s lending panel gives appointed representatives access to mortgage solutions designed to accommodate non-standard criteria.

The bank will consider applicants with a minimum of six months’ UK residency, accept overseas deposits (subject to anti-money laundering checks), and offer capital raising options for purposes such as debt consolidation, property investment or business funding. Notably, its buy-to-let offering is open to clients who do not currently own property in the UK.

Jane Benjamin (pictured), director of mortgages at Connect for Intermediaries, said the partnership would expand options for brokers serving a growing pool of clients with less conventional borrowing profiles.

“We’re delighted to be one of the few packagers selected to partner with Afin Bank,” she said.

“This partnership strengthens our proposition for advisers who serve clients with more complex profiles, from visa status and overseas income to self-employment and limited UK credit history. Afin Bank’s lending philosophy aligns with our commitment to providing accessible mortgage solutions that meet real-world needs.”

Afin Bank’s intermediary sales director James Briggs said the lender’s strategy was designed to counter the “tick-box” mentality often seen in mainstream underwriting.

“We’re excited to be working with Connect – an organisation that shares our belief in supporting borrowers who are too often overlooked by mainstream lenders,” he said.

“We’ve designed our criteria around the needs of real people, not just tick-box applications. By partnering with specialist distributors like Connect, we can ensure our mortgages reach the advisers and clients who will benefit from them most.”