James Briggs has joined Afin Bank as intermediary sales director. He has joined the newly launched specialist lender from Together Personal Finance, where he served as head of intermediary sales. Briggs has over 25 years of experience in the specialist mortgage market, including a stint at Precise Mortgages. As part of his new role, Briggs will lead the firm in developing broker relationships ahead of Afin’s planned full launch in 2025.

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has announced a leadership transition, with managing director of specialist mortgages, Alex Upton, assuming full responsibility for the bridging division. This follows Jamie Jolly’s decision to step down from leading and shaping HTB’s bridging proposition since joining the firm in May 2022. Upton has driven growth in the firm’s specialist mortgage division and previously led the development finance team, and she will now extend her leadership to the bridging division. HTB said that her appointment "reinforces" its strategy of providing more support and value for brokers.

Darlington Building Society has made a number of changes to its product offerings to support first-time buyers. The lender is now offering its 95% LTV mortgages nationwide, excluding London, and has reduced rates by up to 0.35%. The Darlington has also increased the maximum loan size and has abolished fees for first-time buyers. As part of the changes, first-time buyers on a skilled worker visa can now access mortgages up to 95% LTV with no minimum time in the UK required.

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