Afin Bank Joins Connect as Strategic Packager for Specialist Lending. Connect for Intermediaries has joined the exclusive distribution panel of Afin Bank, a new UK-based specialist mortgage lender focused on underserved borrowers.
Afin Bank is fully authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), allowing it to offer regulated mortgage products across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Their product range is designed to support clients whom high street banks often decline. This includes self-employed applicants, foreign nationals, diaspora borrowers, and those with complex income or credit profiles.
Afin Bank takes a modern approach to affordability by considering non-traditional income sources, such as contractor earnings, retained business profits, overseas income, and family support.
This partnership gives mortgage advisers within the Connect network access to Afin Bank’s flexible lending solutions via an approved distribution route. It enables advisers to serve clients who may be excluded from mainstream lending. Connect continues to enhance its lender panel to reflect the realities of modern borrowing. This collaboration creates new opportunities for advisers seeking to support non-standard client needs in line with FCA-compliant practices.
Afin Bank Joins Connect Mortgage Network with Inclusive Lending Solutions
Connect Mortgage Network now offers its appointed representatives exclusive access to Afin Bank’s flexible residential and buy-to-let mortgage products. These solutions are designed to support a wide range of client needs, including:
First-time buyers and home movers
Remortgages and capital raising
Portfolio landlords and first-time landlords, even without existing UK property
Clients with a minimum of six months’ UK residency
Applicants using overseas deposits (fully AML-compliant)
This addition strengthens our commitment to supporting mortgage advisers through inclusive, adaptable lending. Advisers also benefit from case-by-case underwriting, support for non-standard income, and options for capital raising for business or investment. For more on how our network empowers advisers, see Why Join a Mortgage Network.
Jane Benjamin, Director of Mortgages, at Connect for Intermediaries
Shared Mission: Real People, Real Lending
Jane Benjamin, Director of Mortgages at Connect for Intermediaries, commented:
James Briggs, Intermediary Sales Director at Afin Bank
“We’re thrilled to welcome Afin Bank to our lending panel. Their commitment to real-life lending mirrors Connect’s long-standing belief that finance should reflect the diversity of modern borrowers. Our advisers now have access to a lender that embraces complexity from overseas income to limited UK credit histories without compromising on responsible underwriting.”
James Briggs, Intermediary Sales Director at Afin Bank, echoed this alignment:
“Connect stood out to us as a distributor with deep experience in non-standard cases and a genuine commitment to client-first solutions. We believe mortgages should be built around people not just policies. Through our partnership with Connect, we can reach advisers supporting clients often left behind by high-street lenders.”
Afin Bank Partners with Connect to Expand Specialist Lending Access
Connect’s new partnership with Afin Bank marks more than a product launch. It reflects a strategic shift designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s borrowers.
As advisers encounter more clients with complex circumstances, having access to specialist lenders who assess beyond standard criteria is essential. Specialist mortgage distribution is no longer optional—it is vital for providing compliant and competitive lending advice.
This collaboration supports Connect’s mission to offer advisers more options, streamline lender communication, and accelerate funding for clients with non-standard borrowing needs.
In the coming weeks, Afin Bank will also launch FSCS-protected savings products, strengthening its role in the UK financial services landscape.
If you’re not yet part of our network and want access to Afin Bank’s specialist products, we invite you to join our mortgage network today.
