Afin Bank partners with Nivo to power broker communication

Afin Bank, a new UK-based lender focused on serving African and other foreign national communities, has announced a strategic partnership with fintech firm Nivo to deliver a fast, streamlined, and broker-friendly communication platform.

Set to fully launch later this year, Afin Bank will utilise Nivo’s broker-facing technology to simplify and speed up interactions with mortgage intermediaries. The move comes as the bank prepares to offer residential and buy-to-let mortgage products tailored for underserved borrowers who often struggle to access mainstream lending due to complex visa statuses or limited UK credit histories.

Through Nivo’s messaging-first platform, brokers will be able to manage their entire relationship with Afin Bank – from initial enquiry to a fully packaged mortgage case – using a single, secure communication channel. This eliminates the inefficiencies of traditional email-based workflows, which have long plagued the specialist mortgage sector.

“This partnership with Nivo highlights Afin Bank’s commitment to brokers and underserved borrowers,” said Alan Davison, Chief Commercial Officer at Afin Bank. “We’re building a lender from the ground up, and that means selecting the best technology to support them.”

“Nivo’s messaging-first platform means brokers don’t have to learn a new system and it fits neatly with how they already work. It’s fast, intuitive and removes the pain points of traditional portals that make brokers bristle.”

The Nivo solution offers a unified platform where all parties can see outstanding actions and documents via a central “shopping list,” ensuring clarity, transparency and ease of use. Built on Nivo’s established identity-verified messaging system, the solution also enhances security, compliance, and customer confidence.

Matthew Elliott, founder of Nivo, commented: “Brokers don’t want to juggle multiple logins, learn new interfaces, or be forced into using rigid workflows.

“Email persists because it’s the path of least resistance, but with Nivo, brokers get the best of both worlds; a seamless, structured messaging experience that feels as simple as email but without the inefficiencies. Using Nivo’s Verified Identity Messaging service, further speed, clarity, certainty and security are afforded to Afin Bank’s customer-base.”

The partnership gives Afin Bank access to a network of hundreds of brokers already using Nivo daily, providing an immediate distribution advantage. While the bank is specifically geared toward supporting foreign nationals, its products will also serve a broader customer base, including UK residents, high-net-worth individuals and self-employed workers.

Backed by African reinsurer WAICA Re, which has committed £62 million to the venture, Afin Bank received its banking licence with “Authorisation with Restrictions” (AwR) in October 2024. Alongside its mortgage offerings, it plans to launch FSCS-protected savings accounts.

Davison added: “Our goal is to remove barriers, make processes simpler and deliver an experience that brokers prefer, helping them to help their customers.”