The Mortgage Alliance (TMA) has become the first intermediary organisation to become an associate member of the TCF Lender Forum.

The TCF Lender Forum was set up in 2005, has 16 lender members and is supported by the Council of Mortgage Lenders. The Forum recently agreed to offer associate membership to key intermediary organisations.

Members of TMA will receive regular updates regarding TCF regulatory principles which will be posted on the TMA website and in its monthly Connect magazine.

The TMA website will also contain a direct link to www.tcfinfo.co.uk which offers members a ‘snapshot summary’ of what TCF behaviours mean in practice or more about small firms’ assessments and how the FSA is working collaboratively with firms.

Phil Whitehouse, head of TMA, said: “TCF remains a very important topic for directly authorised brokers and this link with www.tcfinfo.co.uk will help provide members with a constant flow of up-to-date and relevant information to help with day-to-day business practices. I hope to attend some of the various business meetings that are run by the TCF Lender Forum and meet a range of people who play an important role in the mortgage industry. This will enable me to impart even more relevant and first hand information to TMA members through the various TMA publications.