The mutual profit lifted from £2.9m from 30 September last year, despite much of the period continuing to be dominated by the pandemic.

Over the last six months, the firm issued £479m of new mortgages, compared to £248m in the same period a year ago, which included a 20.6% rise of new loans to first-time buyers that came in at £123m.

It says new lending was supported by competitive purchase and remortgage products, including the reintroduction of high LTV products up to 95%.

In the first six months of the year it lent to 814 first-time buyers.

The business says its “capital position remains strong” with a common equity tier 1 capital ratio of 16.3% at the end of September, compared to 16.4% at the end of March this year.

West Brom Building Society chief executive Jonathan Westhoff says: “As we come to the end of another reporting cycle in the seemingly ‘post-pandemic’ environment, I continue to be extremely proud of all the efforts of my colleagues and the determination to ensure the Society delivers and remains focused on its Purpose.

“As we move into the second half of the year, we have a cautiously optimistic outlook while remaining aware of the potential challenges ahead, which are supported by our strong capital position to weather any future storms.

“We will continue on our journey of adopting hybrid working and modernising our services to best support our saving and borrowing members, as well as our colleagues, in this new environment.”