Back in the day, my parents did everything with the Trustee Savings Bank (TSB), their mortgage, car loans, insurance – I remember my first TSB young savers pass book which came with a (now a collector’s item) Globe TSB Money Box. There was no internet or broker for “shopping around,” they didn’t need to, they had trust!

In 1995, TSB merged with Lloyds and they became Lloyds TSB. In 2009 Lloyds acquired HBOS, (Halifax & Bank of Scotland) and together they became “The Lloyds Banking Group,” dropping the TSB name altogether. Somewhere down the line we had the credit crunch and we all developed a loathing of banks, whom we no longer trusted.

Fast forward a few years and (although retaining a large stake), at the end of 2014, Lloyds put TSB up for sale on the Stock Exchange, as a stand alone bank. Not a bad move, the brand emerges relatively unscathed from the financial crisis.

As an Independent Mortgage Broker, I am a massive fan of new lenders joining the UK mortgage market, it keeps the other banks awake and forces competition. More competition = better deals for you and me!

TSB haven’t disappointed. They smashed into the mortgage market with an incredible 1.49% 2 year fixed rate mortgage for borrowers with a 60% deposit. If you can’t quite stretch to that, a 20% deposit will get you 2.29% fixed for 2 years!
Pretty good rates to kick off with, but as we now live in the 21st century, I would advise anyone looking for a mortgage to find themselves a good independent mortgage adviser and do all the shopping around you need!

Recent posts

Mortgages In School   Web Larger

A welcome change in school is coming as financial literacy is due to become compulsory in schools in England.

The Government has announced that as part of the new national curriculum, children in primary and secondary education will be required to learn about budgeting, compound interest, managing money, and mortgages.

Cotswolds   Web Larger

Forbes has published a global ranking of stunning locations and one popular picturesque corner of the UK has nabbed top spot.

Budget Then And Now   Web Larger

Over three years after the Mini-Budget took place, we look at what the mortgage market looks like now, showing the difference in mortgage repayments.

Home buying shake up web larger

The government has announced plans to make buying or selling a home cheaper and quicker with what is being called the “biggest shake-up to the homebuying system in this country’s history.”

More borrowers ER web larger

Almost one in five equity release mortgages are now taken out to provide financial support to family.

Buyers purchasing sooner web larger

According to industry data, the expected wait for those looking to buy a property has dropped from just over 11 months to less than six months.

First payment higher web larger

It is common for your first mortgage payment to be higher than your subsequent monthly payments for two reasons.

Change locks web larger

Firstly, a big congratulations, you’ve now exchanged contracts! After weeks and months of waiting, you are about to move in. What should you do first?