The Cumberland Building Society, Saffron Building Society, and Melton Building Society have become the latest members of the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA).

The Cumberland, founded in 1850, offers mortgages, savings, and current accounts, as well as residential and commercial mortgages across mainland UK. The majority of its lending is to people in North West England and South West Scotland but its also specialises in areas such as holiday lets and other hospitality lending.

Saffron Building Society, a mutual society which has been serving the local community in Essex, Hertfordshire and Sussex since 1849, provides a range of residential and buy-to-let products, including a special situation range which caters for a wide spectrum of different borrowers.

Founded in 1875, Melton Building Society serves over 40,000 members in the Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire area with mortgage, insurance and savings services.

David Robinson, head of intermediary lending, will be Cumberland’s appointed IMLA representative, along with Tony Hall, head of mortgage sales, Saffron, and Dan Atkinson, head of intermediaries, Melton Mowbray.

The addition of the three building societies means IMLA has a combined total of 50 full and 14 associate members, including banks, building societies and specialist lenders.

Kate Davies, executive director of IMLA, said: “We are delighted to welcome The Cumberland Building Society, Saffron Building Society and Melton Building Society into membership and look forward to hearing more from their teams at our upcoming engagements.

“All three building societies have an enduring reputation in the lending industry, and the association will no doubt benefit from their extensive knowledge.”