Afin Bank has celebrated its first full year in operation by hitting a lending milestone of £135million in mortgage approvals in just 12 months. The Bank, which also offers FSCS protected savings accounts, has also topped £60million in savings deposits.

Afin launched last July, less than nine months after receiving its Approval with Restrictions (AwR) from the regulators. Initially the Bank focussed on providing mortgages to foreign nationals working in the UK on valid work visas, but it has now expanded its support to a wide range of underserved borrowers, such as the self-employed and contractors, qualified professionals, people with complex incomes and high-net-worth customers.

The Bank now has over 40 staff based at two centres, with its main headquarters in London and its Centre of Excellence in Birmingham which is home to its underwriting and customer services teams.