Hanley Economic Building Society has appointed Matt Ellis as its new chief risk officer. He has more than 25 years’ experience in financial services and is a chartered accountant. He spent 19 years a MBNA, where he held a range of senior roles, and since then, has led three successful UK regulatory applications. These include a securing a full banking licence with JN Bank, now known as thisbank, and most recently a payment services licence with PEXA. During his four years at PEXA, Ellis served as UK chief risk officer, and his remit included second line of defence oversight across the business, including Optima Legal Services and Smoove following their acquisition by PEXA. At Hanley Economic, he will take responsibility for all second line risk and compliance activity, including acting as data protection officer and money laundering reporting officer.

Molo has reduced rates on its buy-to-let (BTL) range for UK residents by up to 36 bps. As a result, the specialist lender’s standard BTL rates start from 2.98% at 55% LTV on two-year fixed products, available for individuals and limited companies, while five-year product rates are available from 4.73%. Across its specialist range, which include HMO, MUFB, new builds and holiday lets, Molo’s two-year fixes now begin at 3.14%, with five-year fixes from 4.89%. There is no rate premium for larger properties, including HMOs with five or more rooms or units. Pricing for non-UK residents and expat borrowers has also been reduced to 4.78%.

Claire Graham has been appointed business development manager (BDM) for Wales and the South West at Fleet Mortgages. She has joined with immediate effect and is responsible for supporting brokers and firms across the region, helping them place specialist BTL business and ensure they have access to the lender’s range of products, criteria and support. Graham has over 12 years of financial services experience, most recently at Monmouthshire Building Society, where she worked as BDM for South Wales. Prior to The Monmouthshire, she worked as a mortgage and protection advisers with firms including Grosvenor May Financial Services, The Money Partnership, and NatWest, as well as customer-facing roles at both RBS and HSBC.

---