RBS IP rebrands to NatWest Intermediary Solutions

19 January 2010 | By Natalie Thomas

Royal Bank of Scotland is replacing its RBS Intermediary Partners brand and adopting the Natwest name to become NatWest Intermediary Solutions.

The move comes as RBS looks to refresh its entire intermediary proposition at the end of January, with the launch of a core range of broker mortgages as well as a number of exclusive deals with its strategic and corporate partners.

The lender also aims to improve its service by streamlining its application processes.

There are also plans to introduce a number of new savings, investment and protection products during the year to help advisers with their diversification plans and improvements will be introduced to its online services.

The key changes to the intermediary proposition are:

Adoption of NatWest brand. All residential purchase mortgages and remortgages, buy-to-let mortgages plus any non-mortgage products will be marketed to intermediaries under the NatWest Intermediary Solutions brand.
New mortgage range. A refreshed core range of mortgages will be launched and a number of exclusive deals will be introduced for its strategic and corporate partners.
More efficient processing. There will now be one centre for all correspondence along with just one phone number and one fax number.
New non-mortgage products. A number of new savings, investment and protection products are planned to be introduced in the coming months to support brokers’ diversification activities
Greater online functionality. During the year, a number of enhancements will be introduced to the NatWest Intermediary Solutions web site.

Graham Felstead, director of NatWest Intermediary Solutions, says: “Over the last couple of years, the industry has experienced a period of unprecedented change and we can expect the dynamic nature of the market to continue.

“We are committed to supporting the UK intermediary mortgage market and believe that the changes we are introducing will be beneficial to all of our business partners.

From now on, applications will be processed in a more streamlined way which will bring a greater degree of simplicity, consistency, speed and efficiency to our service.
Graham Felstead, director of NatWest Intermediary Solutions

“We believe that the adoption of the NatWest brand for our intermediary business is a positive move to capitalise on the brand equity it has built over many years.

“NatWest Intermediary Solutions will now be the dedicated intermediary arm of the RBS Group offering top quality products and excellent service.

“We will continue to invest in both our technology and our processing systems. From now on, applications will be processed in a more streamlined way which will bring a greater degree of simplicity, consistency, speed and efficiency to our service.

“We are also working hard on improving the online functionality of our web site.

“We expect to be able to introduce a number of enhancements later in the year.”

Readers' comments (23)

Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:19 am
New bottle same old dreary wine
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John Tidswell | 19 Jan 2010 10:21 am
Sounds like alot of waffle to me as there is no commitment to put an end to duel pricing.
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Mike Davies | 19 Jan 2010 10:24 am
The only name change they should do is drop the partner bit as they have absolutely been no friend of the mortgage broker during 2008/9. Unless their products are better than the rest of the market, they are the last place on this earth that I am placing business with.
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:25 am
Problem with the RBS Group is that have always had too many brands (RBS, NatWest, Coutts, Isle of Man Bank etc). They have needed to consolidate for some time but in the end, it will still be ptretty much what its always been.
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:26 am
After the death of the RBS brand with both IFA's and the general public, they didn't have any choice but to adopt another brand. Question is how many don't know Natwest is 100% owned by RBS?
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:30 am
Dual Pricing - The act of a lender offering different rates direct to customers than those offered to lenders.

DUEL Pricing - Two lenders fighting to offer competitive rates?! Not sure.
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:31 am
Dual pricing is here to stay... get used to it as all banks are doing it!
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:34 am
And how much of the tax payers money will be spend on the rebranding? As already mentioned, if the offer of "top quality products" means no dual pricing then all well and good. Somehow I don't think it will!!
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Anonymous | 19 Jan 2010 10:37 am
Let us get away from the polluted brand of RBS as if customers do not realise that they are the same institution.
Perhaps they shoud ressurect Westminster Bank, Westminster Parrs Bank or National Provincial Bank - istitutions who did care about their customers and who would actually speak to them.
Good luck with the one phone number and one fax number - bet they are constantly engaged!
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Andrew Hunt | 19 Jan 2010 10:40 am
Dual pricing / different branding for brrokers etc etc is nothing new and if you cant deal with the way banks work then maybe some of you whiny brokers should get another job??? It isnt going to change.
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