"Our collaboration with Knowledge Bank will help our advisers to streamline the process of checking which lender allows which criteria, saving them potentially hours to spend with other clients"
Knowledge Bank launched officially just last week and provides advisers with the ability to search lenders’ criteria in seconds across residential mortgages, buy-to-let, second charge, equity release, self build and overseas mortgages.
Advisers across both Connect's network and packager will now be able to search more than 18,000 different criteria across more than 43 lenders.
Advisers using Connect will be the first in the country to also have access to a range of specialist lenders including bridging and commercial. They will be able to search multiple criteria in one search, with results clearly displaying which lenders will lend against one or more of the categories searched for.
Brokers can also search multiple criteria in one search, with results displaying which lenders will lend against one or more of the criteria categories searched for. The results are based on real data that lenders upload themselves to guarantee accuracy.
Results can then be saved as a PDF or printed out; they will be automatically time and date stamped with the broker’s name and verified by lenders. The results can therefore be saved in a broker’s file as ‘evidence of research’ alongside product sourcing results, supporting a broker’s recommendation to their client.
Liz Syms, CEO of Connect for Intermediaries, said: “Technology plays an increasingly vital part for mortgage advisers and Connect is working hard to ensure that we remain at the cutting edge. Our collaboration with Knowledge Bank will help our advisers to streamline the process of checking which lender allows which criteria, saving them potentially hours to spend with other clients and increasing their incomes accordingly.
"Connect advisers are in the unique position of also being the only brokers in the country to be able to search the criteria of a range of specialist mortgages. These are currently being uploaded and will be live within the week.”
Nicola Firth, CEO of Knowledge Bank and its parent company Compass Systems, added: “Connect stands out as a packager and a network that constantly works to put its advisers at the heart of what they do. Knowledge Bank has also been designed to put advisers first and make their lives easier.
"It will help to give the advisers who use it an edge over their competitors by freeing up their time to see more clients, potentially increasing their profits and improving their compliance.”
