NatWest and RBS has reported strong customer demand for help to buy a home, with mortgage applications rising 38% in the first six months of 2014 versus the same period last year.

Gross new mortgage lending totalled £9.8 billion in the first six months of the year, up from £8.9 billion in the last six months of 2013.

20% growth in new business in April to June versus the previous three months sends positive signals of mortgage demand.

Over 73,000 customers have taken a new mortgage or additional borrowing with NatWest and RBS in 2014 so far, including more than 18,000 first time buyers getting help to take that first step on to the property ladder.

The UK Government’s Help to Buy schemes have had a part to play with lending totalling £873m in 2014 and 8,600 young people and families getting help to buy their first home since the scheme launch.

NatWest and RBS have continued to claim share of gross new mortgage lending, up 0.4% in three months to 9.9%. With the banks’ outstanding mortgage loans in the UK now reaching £102 billion, year-on-year growth in April to June is 4% compared to a market average of 1%.

Lloyd Cochrane, head of mortgages at NatWest and RBS, said: “One million customers have a mortgage with us today. We are very much open for business and keen to lend to more customers looking to buy their first or next home, or save money on their mortgage and get on with their lives.

“We actively support government schemes like Help to Buy as a way for young people to get on to the property ladder when they just need a little help with a larger deposit.”