Connect for Intermediaries Joins Select Panel of Packagers for Newly Launched Lender Afin Bank

Connect Afin Bank Partnership is set to transform access to mortgages for underserved UK borrowers. As one of few packagers chosen by Afin Bank—a newly approved specialist lender—Connect for Intermediaries now offers tailored solutions for self-employed clients, diaspora communities, and others facing mainstream lending hurdles.

Afin Bank, which has now received full regulatory approval from the FCA and PRA, enters the market with a range of residential and buy-to-let mortgage products aimed at supporting borrowers who often face challenges accessing mainstream finance. This includes people from diaspora communities, foreign nationals, the self-employed, and other clients whose circumstances fall outside traditional lending criteria.

Connect ARs will now have access to Afin Bank’s lending solutions, which include options for first-time buyers, home movers, remortgages, and buy-to-let investors. The lender will consider applicants with as little as six months’ UK residency, accept overseas deposits (subject to anti-money laundering checks), and allow capital raising for purposes such as debt consolidation, property investment, and business use. Buy-to-let mortgages are also available to clients who do not currently own a UK property.

Jane Benjamin, Director of Mortgages at Connect for Intermediaries, commented:

“We’re delighted to be one of the few packagers selected to partner with Afin Bank. This partnership strengthens our proposition for advisers who serve clients with more complex profiles, from visa status and overseas income to self-employment and limited UK credit history. Afin Bank’s lending philosophy aligns with our commitment to providing accessible mortgage solutions that meet real-world needs.”

James Briggs, Intermediary Sales Director at Afin Bank, added:

“We’re excited to be working with Connect – an organisation that shares our belief in supporting borrowers who are too often overlooked by mainstream lenders. We’ve designed our criteria around the needs of real people, not just tick-box applications. By partnering with specialist distributors like Connect, we can ensure our mortgages reach the advisers and clients who will benefit from them most.”

Afin Bank’s appointment to the Connect panel, as part of an exclusive packager partnership, underscores the growing importance of specialist distribution in today’s mortgage market, where flexible and inclusive lending is increasingly in demand. Afin Bank will also be launching FSCS-protected savings products in the coming weeks.