West One has announced improved rates across its residential mortgage product range. Two-year fixes now start from 5.54%, while its five-year fixed rates are available from 5.64%. Among the improvements on products is a 20 bps reduction on 75% LTV products, which replaces the specialist lender’s 70% LTV products. Furthermore, rates on West One’s right to buy and shared ownership products have also improved, including no deposit through its 100% LSV product. On its extra range, which offers LTIs of up to 6.5 times, rates have been reduced up to 90% LTV with no changes on the 95% LTV products and a minor rate increase on the 97.5% LTV product.

Afin Bank has appointed two new senior business development managers (BDMs) as the specialist lender focuses on growing its sales team in 2026. Debbie Lavender joins Afin from Partner Wealth Management, where she was a specialist mortgage broker, and will look after its Midlands and North divisions. She previously served as an adviser with major banks including NatWest, Lloyds and Santander, as well as a wealth adviser. John Smith has also joined the firm as senior BDM and will be responsible for the firm’s South division. He previously worked at Molo and has also worked at major lenders including The Co-Operative Banking Group and specialist lenders Bluestone and Masthaven Bank.

Foundation, formerly known as Foundation Home Loans, has launched its new brand identity to reflect its "scale, maturity and capability". It stated that the change marks a clear step forward for the business as it continues to support brokers with complex buy-to-let and residential cases. The shift includes a new name; a new, modern visual identity; and a new tagline: ‘Making mortgages happen’. Foundation said the rebrand is focused on aligning its external identity with the business it is today. Furthermore, it stated that its new identity puts clarity and structure at the centre of its offering, giving brokers a more accurate view of a lender built to handle real-world complexity.

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