Dudley Building Society has appointed Helen Smith as its new chief growth officer. She joined The Dudley in April and has extensive board-level experience across financial services, insurance, healthcare and funeral care. Smith has held senior roles at Benenden Health and Co-Op Funeral Care and Life Services, where she led large, cross-functional teams and delivered business transformation programmes. In her new role, she will be responsible for shaping and delivering the society’s growth strategy across technology, customer and intermediary channels. This will include overseeing brand and proposition development, improving how The Dudley attracts and supports customers, develops its technology strategy and ensures its lending and savings offering continues to reflect changing customer needs.

Fleet Mortgages has reintroduced its zero-fee and fixed-fee five-year fixed mortgages. Available across its standard and limited company ranges, and available for purchase and remortgage, the 75% LTV products start at either 5.89% on the zero-fee option, or 5.59% for the fixed £3,999 fee option. Both products have a £25,001 minimum loan option, while the fixed-fee mortgage has a maximum loan size of £750,000. There is a free valuation available for loans up to £500,000 and an application fee of £199.

Nationwide has reduced rates by up to 0.36% across its first-time buyer, home mover and remortgage ranges. As a result, the building society’s lowest rate starts from 4.35%. On its first-time buyer range, two and five-year fixes at 85% LTV start from 4.69% and 4.79% respectively, with a £999 fee. FTB customers also receive £500 cashback when they complete their mortgage with Nationwide. For new and existing customers moving home, two-year rates start from 4.35% at 60% LTV with a £1,499 fee, while five-year fixes start from 4.49% at 60% LTV with a £999 fee. On its remortgage range, Nationwide has made rate reductions of 0.24%, with two-year fixes starting from 4.76% at 75% LTV, while its five-year 85% LTV options starts from 4.94%, both with a £999 fee.

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