Metro Bank is to pilot intermediary distribution for its residential mortgages.

The pilot is with broker John Charcol for properties in London and the South East.

Metro Bank said it is also in “active discussions” with a small number of other brokers with plans to extend availability over the next few months.

The new high street player has launched a range of intermediary products with a variety of LTVs to a maximum of 80%. It will manually underwrite every application, taking into account individual personal circumstances and making allowances for factors such as irregular income, it said.

“Metro Bank is committed to building a long term and highly successful intermediary business that provides both our partners and our customers with amazing customer service,’ said Paul Marriott-Clarke, Metro Bank’s commercial director.

“With John Charcol’s reputation as a leading intermediary in the high value space, they were the obvious choice to launch with. By partnering with a small number of intermediary partners, we ensure that we are able to give a consistently high level of service to all. Metro Bank offers common sense banking with the personal touch and our individual underwriting service means that we will consider cases which would typically fail the automated credit scorecards used by many lenders.

“We’re really pleased to partner with John Charcol on our initial programme. Like Metro Bank, John Charcol shares Metro Bank’s commitment to long term customer relationships and outstanding customer service and convenience. We have a very exciting partnership ahead of us.”

Walter Avrili, managing director of John Charcol, added: “We are delighted that Metro Bank has chosen John Charcol to launch its intermediary proposition. The addition of such a lender who is focused on unparalleled service and transparent products can only be a good thing for our clients and indeed all UK mortgage borrowers. John Charcol is a business that prides itself on service so the relationship is a perfect fit.”