Clydesdale Bank will offer brokers direct access to its underwriting team for large loans over £500,000. 

The high street lender says intermediaries now have the chance to speak to an underwriter before they submit a case “to confirm that we can help you and your client”.

It says, in a broker’s note, that these calls may be able to resolve cases such as:

• Where non-standard income is required, such as investment income

• Self-employed applicants where there may have been one-off extraordinary costs

• When a higher than standard percentage of variable income is needed

The bank’s underwriting team is available for calls between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday, with brokers able to contact their business development managers for more information.

Last week, Clydesdale Bank and Virgin Money became the latest lenders to ease their home loan stress rates, allowing customers to borrow around an extra £40,000.  

The banks say the new rules apply to variable or fixed-rate residential mortgages for terms under five years.

They explain that a typical example of joint borrowers with a combined income of £85,000, can expect to see their maximum borrowing rise to up to £40,000.