Virgin Money committed to intermediaries

Virgin has also promised not to dual-price any of its products, giving intermediaries access to all rates offered to direct customers.

It said it promised to listen and respond to feedback from intermediaries, to put the needs of intermediaries at the heart of the decisions it makes as a business.

Virgin said its aim was to build a bank that was better for everyone and a major new force in the mortgage and savings markets.

The newly expanded bank completed the acquisition of Northern Rock on 1 January 2012, and the process of integrating the two businesses has started.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive officer of Virgin Money, said she was convinced that the combined strengths of both companies would benefit the intermediary market.

She said: “The relationships we have with our intermediary partners remain at the heart of our business, and we felt it was right to demonstrate this by publishing our commitment to working with intermediaries.

“By combining Northern Rock’s expertise and experience in the intermediary market with the Virgin brand and our track-record of innovation and service, we will build even stronger partnerships with intermediaries going forward.”

Lea Karasavvas, managing director at Prolific Mortgage Finance, said: “After a sensational bang into the mortgage sector with an incredible launch, Virgin Money are already bringing a “coolness” to the sector.

“They have always been about the brand and they have smashed into that classification with a great launch. It’s new, its fresh and dare I say it is even exciting!”

Karasavvas added that it was clear to him that, looking at what Virgin had pledged, it would be working hard with brokers to give them the support that they were perhaps not seeing from others.

He said: “I have been, and always will be, a big advocate of Northern Rock, but with the “sexy” rebrand to Virgin Money, I can see the intermediary support for them going from strength to strength and us all enjoying the freshness they can bring to our industry.”