United Trust Bank (UTB) has appointed Gene Clohessy to the newly created role of director of underwriting. She has worked in banking and finance for nearly 20 years, holding several senior credit positions including director of underwriting at LendInvest, and most recently, senior proposition manager at Shawbrook Bank. Clohessy’s initial priorities will to be continue to develop UTB’s credit strategy and to identify potential process improvements which can further enhance the bank’s service proposition.

Nationwide has reduced rates by up to 0.21% across selected mortgage products for new and existing customers. On its first-time buyer products, its three-year rate is available from 4.79% at 90% LTV with no fee, while its new and existing customer moving two-year fixes starts from 3.74% at 60% LTV with a £1,499 fee. Nationwide’s remortgage product has been reduced by 0.15% across its two and five-year fixes, with the two-year fix at 75% LTV starting from 3.99% at 75% LTV with a £999 fee.

Ryan Forde has been appointed as telephone business development manager for Wales and the South West at Suffolk Building Society. Having previously worked as a mortgage broker with over five years of client-side experience, he will be responsible for building and maintaining relationships with intermediaries in South Wales, the M4 corridor and the South West of England.

---