Monmouthshire Building Society has appointed VAS Panel, which will allow the mutual to leverage the valuation panel management system to instruct surveyors, especially on complex or “slightly out of the ordinary” cases.
The Newport-based mutual is the first building society to appoint VAS Panel, and the system will be used to instruct surveyors based on location, deal type and valaue.
VAS Panel also operates control processes to ensure the mutual can have the “greatest confidence when making lending decisions”.
Detailed monthly reports will be provided around service level agreements and allow companies to monitor performance and find areas of improvement.
Alex Higgins, head of commercial lending for Monmouthshire Building Society, said: “We will look to use the VAS Panel service where there is an element to the application which is considered complex, or slightly out of the ordinary, which ultimately requires an extra level of valuation knowledge.
“We are looking forward to working with VAS to ensure our members and customers have a great experience with us.”
Graham Moore (pictured), managing director of VAS Panel, part of the VAS Valuation Group, added: “Monmouthshire Building Society are one of the most people-focused, creative, ambitious mutuals in the UK and it is a real statement of intent from both companies to commence the relationship.
“Our aim, as it is with every client, is to make the valuations process as quick, thorough and seamless as possible so not only does the customer complete their deal in the fastest possible time, but the lender also knows every element has been considered to protect their interests.”
Anna is currently the deputy editor for Mortgage Solutions and editor for Specialist Lending Solutions. She has worked as a journalist since 2019, having secured her Gold Standard NCTJ diploma from News Associates in a fast-track six-month course.
She started her career as a report at specialist publication The Insurance Insider covering a wide range of areas before joining Mortgage Solutions and Specialist Lending Solutions in 2021.
In her role, she helps put together and structure the news agenda for the day and writes up press releases, reports, interviews, analyses and exclusives across both titles. She also commissions blogs for Specialist Lending Solutions and hosts online masterclasses and in-person events across the business.
She has been shortlisted for three journalism awards, which include BIBA Journalist and Media Awards Scoop of Year Award in 2020, Headline Money Mortgage Journalist of the Year Award (B2B) in 2022 and 2023.
Prior to being a journalist, Anna worked in ecommerce across Snow + Rock, Cycle Surgery and Runners Need websites, and before that worked at specialist financial PR firm Rostrum.
In her spare time, Anna enjoys reading, seeing live music, and cooking for friends and family. When she gets a chance, she also enjoys hiking, skiing and indoor rock climbing.
