The number of broker firms that now have access to HSBC’s mortgage range has reached 200.

The lender says it has added almost 50 new intermediary firms since the start of the year and taking the number of individual brokers that can recommend its mortgages to 13,500.

The latest firms to join its panel today are Independent Mortgage Centre (Ashford); Ethos Financial Services; V Protect; Wyse Services and Sense Network.

HSBC UK head of intermediary mortgages Chris Pearson says: “I am incredibly proud to hit this fantastic milestone. 

“It means more than nine in ten brokers now have access to our mortgages. 

“The advice that brokers provide is more important than ever at this time with more people conceivably needing a helping hand to navigate the home-buying process to make sure they get the right product for their individual circumstances, which may have changed recently.

“Since progressing from being a direct-only mortgage provider we have continually evolved in the way we work with brokers in virtually every way.

“From introducing a dedicated broker platform and website to helping them contact us quickly through live chat, increased telephone resources (with the team currently fully working from home) and introducing telephone BDMs.”