Open Property Data Association welcomes first lender member

United Trust Bank (UTB) has become the first lender to sign up to the Open Property Data (OPDA) Association.

Additionally, the bank’s director of mortgages Buster Tolfree has joined the member executive committee

As an executive member, UTB will bring a lending technology and mortgage data perspective and shape the future development of the data standards for specialist lending. 

Maria Harris, chair of the OPDA, said: “Announcing our first lender is an exciting and important milestone for the association. As we move towards upfront information becoming mandatory on property listings, ensuring that data is collected digitally and can be shared in a trust way with intermediaries and mortgage lenders will be critical for improving the whole process.

"UTB’s approach to innovative thinking and the use of technology to create better experiences for their intermediaries and customers is well recognised across the industry so I’m delighted they’ve joined us at this pivotal time.”

Buster Tolfree, director of mortgages at UTB, said: “UTB has a reputation as one of the market’s leading specialist banks, and as such we welcome enhancements that simplify the application process for our brokers and customers and help mitigate credit and commercial risk.

“Joining the OPDA, and being involved in opening up some of the traditional data-borders that have existed in the past, is therefore an easy decision to make."