"The Open Bank Application Program Interface is a great example of technology making it easier for banks and other financial services providers to safely share customer data."
FR: Freedom Finance has recently acquired Sensible Home Finance and made a number of new appointments. What does the future now hold for Freedom Finance?
Acquiring Sensible Home Finance - along with our new launch into Bridging and Commercial - has enabled Freedom to expand into new areas of the UK lending market. Sensible Home Loans is being rebranded to Freedom Finance, increasing our market position and making Freedom one of the UK’s top second charge mortgage brokers.
Freedom is fast becoming the leading multi-asset loan platform in the secured and unsecured loans space and our proposition will help a range of businesses come to or enhance their position in the market.
FR: How well do you think the loan market will continue to fuse technology, responsible lending and customer service to benefit customer journeys?
Today’s tech-savvy customers shop for loans online before speaking to an adviser over the phone. There is a huge opportunity to use technology to improve the customer experience. A number of the processes are ripe for digitising and Freedom is already planning to use a range of new formats to make it easier for the customer to get what they want. These technologies and interventions will also help to ensure the right outcome for customers in a much more personalised way
FR: How is technology improving the way the financial services industry works and how can intermediaries utilise this?
Technology is revolutionising how we can offer financial services to the customer. The Open Bank Application Program Interface is a great example of technology making it easier for banks and other financial services providers to safely share customer data. This flow of information will enable new and exciting propositions to come to market. The broker sector needs to be at the front of this innovation.
FR: If you could see one headline about financial services in 2016, what would it be?
“The broker model is the future of financial services”.
Freedom Finance is going through a dynamic and exciting time as we expand. We are growing and making a significant impact on the loan market. Freedom is a clear example of a successful broker model business in the financial services sector and we hope that more and more providers will see the value and expertise that brokes can bring, and expand their distribution accordingly.
