The UCB Homeloans website is an enjoyable and practical site to use, and use regularly, because it manages to do the seemingly impossible task of getting the little things right. The navigation is simple and practical and there is a real focus on providing a positive user experience, an example of which is the provision of all literature in audio, large print or Braille if required. UCB does not try to be ‘all things to all men’ and consequently does not have a huge product range, instead focusing on self-certification and buy to let. However, if it was to branch into other product areas there is a really good online infrastructure to support this.

The design of the site is unlikely to win any awards but the colours do still make it striking. The primary red from the logo is used well on the home page but the intermediary site switches to blue as the menu colour, which is attrac-tive but just not as forceful. I like the sparing use of graphics and images, which brightens up the site without detracting from the content.

The content of the site is very impressive and there is obviously a genuine understanding of the tools that a broker needs to advise and recommend mortgages. The house-keeping items such as the selection of forms and brochures are all available in the literature zone and there are also a host of ‘e-tools’ that genuinely add value. Contained within the tools are calculators for the main product areas and also some interesting information sections such as a house price index. The ‘what’s new’ section is certainly worthy of note as it gives an up-to-date summary of any and all recent activity. It is well worth emphasising that these simple things really add value to brokers.

I like the downwardly expanding menu that UCB provides. Many sites have menus that leap across the page or fire up other browser windows but this format is definitely one that works. There is good functionality throughout the site, especially the AIP reservation facility. It is possible to reserve a product for clients before receiving a full application form – which is valid for three months. Additionally, the buy-to-let calculators are really good – the rental yield and earned income calculators would be very useful when helping a client understand possible returns and borrowing limits. If there is a criticism, it is that once a browser enters the intermediary section there is no obvious link back to the main home page – but this is a minor point.

UCB Homeloans also excels when it comes to providing online tools. The online KFI form takes around 15 minutes to fill in and automatically produces a penny perfect KFI or mortgage illustration within just a few moments. Advisers can also generate a fully underwritten agreement in principle for their clients and if brokers have pre-registered with UCB the lender will aim to get back to them with a decision within two working hours. The jewel in the e-commerce crown is certainly the MATS – or Mortgage Application Tracking System. This is an online case-tracking facility that also allows advisers to receive email and/or SMS text updates to really keep on top of progress.