Four of Wales’ leading lenders joined forces for a three-hour panel event at Principality Stadium this week (July 6th) to discuss the changing landscape of specialist lending in Wales.

Specialist residential, commercial and Holiday Let lender Hodge joined Principality Building Society, Monmouthshire Building Society, Swansea Building Society, and around 150 delegates at the first ever Welsh Lending Event.

Hosted by Cost of Living Correspondent for ITV Wales, Carole Green, the Cardiff event brought brokers, intermediaries and key lenders together in person, at what is a crucial time for the finance industry in Wales and the UK.

Hodge CEO David Landen and Principality CEO Julie-Ann Haines, Swansea Building Society’s Finance Director, Nathan Griffiths, and William Carroll, CEO at Monmouthshire Building Society, were invited to share their thoughts and predictions on Welsh house prices, the Holiday Let market, the future for landlords in Wales, and more.

Hodge CEO, David Landen, said: “The financial services industry in Wales and across the UK is working harder than ever to support customers who continue to experience a multitude of challenges economically.

 

“The ability to flex and adapt to the changing needs of our broker partners and their customers is as important as it has ever been, and the best way we can do this as lenders, intermediaries and finance professionals generally is by the sharing of our expertise and knowledge collectively.”

“I am delighted to have been able to join such an esteemed panel of key lenders in Wales for this special event, therefore, and to be taking away from the discussions involved for the benefit of the highly valued customers we are all here to help in the process,” David added.

Ongoing support for brokers and customers dealing with continual rises in the cost of living was a key point of concern for all four panel members, as was the equalisation of wealth across the generations, for the greater benefit of all.

Finance professionals attending from across Wales also heard from net zero enabler, Sero Technologies, about the work it is doing to support the transition to net-zero across the residential housing sector at the event too.

Julie-Ann Haines, CEO at Principality Building Society, which also played a key role in hosting the event at Principality Stadium, said:

“It was a pleasure to collaborate with other lenders in Wales, as we all have the common purpose of putting our customers and members first. With increases in the Bank of England base rate likely for the rest of this year, it is crucial that lenders continue to find innovative ways to support customers to help  them through the cost of living crisis.”

About Hodge:

Hodge is an independently owned group of businesses based in Cardiff, offering a range of products and services through its Hodge Bank and Hodge Lifetime brands. Hodge Bank offers a range of personal deposit-taking services to private and commercial clients, as well as lending to commercial clients nationwide. More information can be found on the website www.hodgebank.co.uk.

Hodge Lifetime specialises in later life lending and annuities. More information can be found on the website www.hodgelifetime.co.uk. The Hodge Foundation, a charity supporting the welfare, medical, academic and educational areas own 79% of Hodge.

About Principality

  • Formed in 1860, Principality is Wales’s largest building society.
  • The Society is committed to supporting the communities of Wales, with 53 branches and 14 agencies in Wales and the borders.
  • Principality is the 6th largest building society in the UK.
  • The Society has assets of almost £11 billion.
  • Principality is committed to remaining a mutual organisation.
  • www.principality.co.uk