Vernon Building Society has joined the lending panel of Connect Mortgages, expanding product choice and specialist lending access for the network’s brokers.
The partnership gives advisers across Connect Mortgages’ national network access to Vernon’s full suite of mortgage solutions, including products for residential borrowers, self-build and later life lending, as well as buy-to-let and holiday lets.
Vernon, a mutual lender based in Stockport, serves borrowers often excluded by mainstream providers, particularly those with complex circumstances. Its approach is defined by manual underwriting and an emphasis on individual case assessment.
Brendan Crowshaw, head of mortgage and savings distribution at Vernon Building Society, said the new relationship developed from several successful off-panel cases introduced by Connect brokers. “The Vernon has a commitment to personal service and delivering solutions for complex cases,” he said.
“We have real people individually assessing and underwriting each mortgage so we can say ‘yes’ to borrowers who would otherwise find themselves excluded from mainstream lending. It means we receive a number of ‘off-panel’ applications, which happened recently with Connect, so we contacted the firm about working together. It’s mortgage specialisms complement what we’re able to provide and it makes sense.
“Connect Mortgages has a well-established network of brokers with a proven record of success in the industry, and we’re looking forward to providing its clients with mortgage solutions that work for them.”
The addition of Vernon to the Connect panel is expected to support brokers working with clients whose needs fall outside standard criteria, including those with non-traditional income, older borrowers, and landlords with unusual properties or ownership structures.
Jane Benjamin, director of mortgages at Connect Mortgages, welcomed the partnership. “Having the Vernon onboard will mean more clients finding the right property finance to achieve their ambitions,” she said. “It is a trusted, values driven provider with humans making decisions, and for us at Connect, it means the potential to get more mortgages approved, as it’s able to take into account the more unusual circumstances of some our clients.”
