Afin Bank is growing its sales team for 2026 with the appointment of two new senior BDMs.
Debbie Lavender (pictured above left) joins Afin from PWM (Partners Wealth Management), where she was a specialist mortgage broker.
Debbie was previously an advisor with banks including NatWest, Lloyds and Santander, as well as a wealth advisor. At Afin, she will oversee operations in the Midlands and the north.
“As a broker you always need to think about the customer and understand the needs of the borrower, so I will bring that experience to my new role,” Debbie commented.
“Afin is a small but growing organisation, so there is still the personal touch, which I really like,” she said.
“We can get around a table and discuss a case, and I love how motivated and keen people in the team are.”
The second new senior BDM, John Smith (pictured above right), joins Afin from Molo and will be responsible for the bank’s southern region.
John has previously worked with lenders including The Co-operative Banking Group and held roles with specialist lenders Bluestone and Masthaven Bank during their launch periods.
“I like being there at the beginning of a new lender, as opposed to being a small part of a very big bank,” John said.
“I get to help shape the proposition and work closely with new and existing brokers, which is vital in helping Afin grow.”
“My experience of supporting other underserved customers, such as foreign nationals, will be helpful in my new role,” he added.
According to Afin Bank CEO Jason Oakley: “Interest in Afin has been incredible, and we are only six months into our journey, but we are ambitious and want to help more customers.
“Having people of the calibre of Debbie and John means we can work with even more brokers and help more underserved borrowers get the mortgages they deserve.”
The new senior hires are expected to bring their experience to boost Afin Bank’s specialist areas of mortgages for foreign nationals and high-net-worth borrowers.
