Kent Reliance has appointed Steve Wood to the newly created role of field based underwriter.

Wood will be on site with three of its packager partners, Complete FS, Solent Mortgage Services and All Types of Mortgages, to advise, assess and provide immediate decisions for cases whilst in the partner offices.

In conjunction with Kent Reliance’s national account managers and intermediary partners, Wood will manage all underwriting referrals and new applications in situ.

The lender believes that availability of an onsite, specialist underwriter means on the spot decisions, faster turnaround times and ultimately, increased client and customer satisfaction.

Wood’s previous roles have included senior underwriter and underwriter at Santander, Nationwide and Interbay.

Tony Salentino, director of Complete FS, said: “We are delighted with the positive impact having an onsite underwriter has had on our approvals, turnaround times and mortgage offers. Our service offering from Kent Reliance business is without doubt, second to none.”

John Eastgate, sales and marketing director at OneSavings Bank plc, added: “In the increasingly fast-paced mortgage market it makes perfect sense for Kent Reliance to offer this facility to our intermediaries. This newly created role once again confirms Kent Reliance’s commitment to delivering over and above what is expected to our intermediary clients.”