Hanley Economic Building Society has reduced the rate on its 95% LTV two-year fix by 0.31%, with rates starting from 5.44%. In order to reduce upfront fees, this includes a free valuation alongside no application or arrangement fees and £250 cashback, which will be paid on completion of the mortgage. The lender has also introduced a fee-free five-year fixed retirement interest-only (RIO) mortgage with no ERCs and no overpayment restrictions. The RIO mortgage product starts at 5.55% is available up to 65% LTV for purchase and remortgage products. The product can only be offered to applicants who are already retired and aged 55 and over. It also includes a free valuation alongside no application or arrangement fees as well as £250 cashback.

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has introduced a new business development executive (BDE) role within its bridging team. The move aims to streamline support and provide faster responses. The BDEs will work alongside HTB’s field-based business development managers (BDMs), ensuring that brokers always have a point of contact, whether managing new enquiries, assisting with case onboarding, or progressing complex deals. BDEs will also gather feedback form brokers to help HTB evolve in the market. Olivia Colmer-Lynch and Ross Sheppard have been appointed to the new BDE roles. Colmer-Lynch has spent five years at HTB, most recently as senior lending manager in the bridging division, while Sheppard brings nearly three years of experience as a BDM in development finance and bridging.

Jane Thirwell has been appointed as director of transformation and change at LSL’s financial services division. She joins from Sesame Bankhall Group where she served as director of programme management for the last two years. As part of this role, she delivered business solutions to support wealth, mortgage and insurance advisers across the appointed representative network, directly authorised offering and mortgage club. Thirwell has also previously worked in various senior change implementation roles at Aviva.

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