Legal & General (L&G) Retail Protection has signed a five-year protection distribution agreement with Nationwide, extending the partnership which has been built over 17 years.

As part of the agreement, L&G and Nationwide have worked together to develop and implement a new protection referral model for Nationwide’s mortgage applicants.

The approach ensures that the business offers seamless protection solutions tailored to the needs of the lender’s customers.

The renewed partnership continues to offer Nationwide customers access to income protection, family and personal income plans, business protection and independent critical illness cover (CIC).

L&G director of partnerships, retail Natalie Hyett says: “We have worked closely together to deliver protection solutions that dovetail with the Nationwide mortgage and digital distribution models.”

“We are confident that together we will ensure Nationwide customers can take out protection policies to suit their needs through their channel of choice.”

“The new model allows for closer collaboration between Nationwide and L&G, to ensure we offer a seamless service. This allows us to focus on what we do best: Nationwide on the mortgage element, and ourselves on the protection conversation.”

Nationwide head of protection and insurances Darren Black adds: “[L&G] are a trusted partner with huge expertise in the protection market and a shared focus on doing the right thing for customers.”

“Their products play an important role in helping our customers feel secure and supported. Together, we continue to evolve both our products and how we offer them, so that every customer can find the right protection in a way that works for them.”