Is Richard Branson looking at a return to the UK mortgage market?
There is intense speculation today that Sir Richard Branson is looking for a return to the UK mortgage market after selling his original home loans venture, The One Account, to Royal Bank of Scotland a few years ago. He believes that the potential for change in the UK mortgage market has grown over the last few weeks and months and a breath of fresh air could attract the attention of the mass market.
While no names have been mentioned it is known that Sir Richard is in talks with at least one UK lender who is backed by the UK government amid suggestions that a return to the market could happen sooner rather than later. Perhaps it could be the introduction of a new challenge which could see traditional UK mortgage companies move on to the front foot and attempt to protect their market with attractive offers and reduced rates. While Sir Richard Branson has a chequered history with regards to a number of his ventures there is no doubt that he is willing to look tradition in the face and take it on.
Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group was a possible bidder for the Northern Rock prior to the business being nationalised.
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