Access FS will distribute mortgages on behalf of Afin Bank, a lender established to target under-served African and other foreign national diaspora communities in the UK.
The brokerage said it was committed to addressing the needs of clients from under-served communities, adding that 90% of its advisers were from diverse backgrounds.
Nick Jones, the mortgage sales and marketing director at Access FS, said the partnership was “perfectly aligned with our expertise – lending to the African diaspora in the UK is a great fit for us”.
Jones added: “Many professional Africans in the UK, working in… sectors such as health or finance, for example, don’t get the support they need from mainstream lenders when they’re trying to buy a home; nearly nine in 10 Africans in the UK say they have been turned down for a mortgage.
“With Afin Bank, we’re working to change that. By partnering with them, combining their lending and our distribution – we even have protection advisers who work for the NHS – we’re going to help more Africans turn homeownership dreams into reality. And we can help Afin Bank shape and position the product – that was why Gable Mortgages chose to partner exclusively with us for their 100% loan to value pilot.”
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Afin Bank’s leadership includes chief executive Jason Oakley, the founder and former CEO of Recognise Bank, founder and former chair of mortgage brokerage Mantra Capital, and managing director of commercial banking at Metro Bank UK; James Briggs, intermediary sales director, who has prior experience at Precise; and Alan Davidson, chief commercial officer, whose career has included stints at Together and RBS.
Briggs said: “It’s fantastic to be working alongside Access FS to bring accessible, high-quality mortgage products to the African and other diaspora communities, as well as other specialist borrowers. This partnership reflects our shared commitment to addressing the financial barriers faced by these communities, offering them the opportunity to achieve homeownership or invest in the UK property market.
“Afin Bank’s launch will mark a significant step toward inclusive lending, with Access FS at the forefront of delivering these vital financial services to clients across the UK.”
