We’ve Been Named the UK’s Best Specialist Mortgage Provider

At the British Bank Awards 2025, we were honoured to receive the award for the UK’s Best Specialist Mortgage Provider for the second consecutive year.

Hosted by Smart Money People, the UK’s most comprehensive customer review site for financial products and services, the eleventh annual British Bank Awards were one of the most competitive in history – with over 178,000 reviews left by consumers throughout the voting period.  

"The British bank awards are a testament to the journey that all customer-focused firms are on, and a celebration of the innovation and successes achieved. At GFT, we stand alongside those firms that strive for driving innovation, progress and modernisation in financial services, with a keen focus on the customer. Congratulations on your success in winning your award category."

• Chris Ortiz, Group Chief Executive of GFT and headline sponsor of the British Bank Awards 2025

Colleagues from our Society were among the 385 guests in attendance for the ceremony held in London. When the nominees for Best Specialist Mortgage Provider were announced, we knew we were up against some excellent competition.  

Nominees for the Best Specialist Mortgage Provider:

• Bath Building Society
• Chorley Building Society
• Darlington Building Society
• Hanley Economic Building Society
• Loughborough Building Society
• Mansfield Building Society
• Marsden Building Society
• Monmouthshire Building Society
• Newbury Building Society
• Saffron Building Society

Winning the award for Best Specialist Mortgage Provider

When the host of the ceremony, comedian Simon Evans, announced us as the winner of the Best Specialist Mortgage Provider award, we were filled with immense pride. 

"In today’s ever-changing housing market, specialist mortgage providers play a vital role in helping customers find the right solutions. Leek Building Society has once again been named Best Specialist Mortgage Provider, a testament to its commitment to offering tailored, customer-focused mortgage products. 

Smart Money People reviews show that customers appreciate Leek’s expertise, personalised advice, and flexibility, especially when it comes to more complex borrowing needs. Leek Building Society continues to set the standard for excellence in the specialist mortgage sector, through prioritising individual circumstances and delivering real value. Congratulations to the team on this outstanding achievement."

• Jacqueline Dewey, CEO of Smart Money People

Being nominated for the award was a fantastic achievement in itself but being recognised as the UK's Best Specialist Mortgage Provider for the second year running highlights the consistency of our team’s seamless service, expertise, and the human touch we bring to every interaction.

Winning Best Specialist Mortgage Provider also caps off our Society’s historic growth over the last year. As stated in our Annual Report & Accounts 2024, we achieved record mortgage lending as our mortgage balances grew by 11% - exceeding £1bn - which was higher than the market overall

A huge thanks to our mortgage members and Smart Money People

Of course, we must thank our amazing mortgage members. Thanks to their support, feedback and votes, we were able to retain the prestigious award. So, to all the members reading this post, this is our thank you. We couldn’t have achieved this award without you.

We’d like to thank Smart Money People for inviting us to the British Bank Awards 2025. The team had a wonderful evening and we’re beyond proud to be once again named as the UK’s Best Specialist Mortgage Provider.
 

Looking for support from a specialist mortgage provider?

Whether you’re a first-time buyer looking to purchase your first home, an individual wanting to remortgage your property, or someone seeking advice on buy-to-lets and additional borrowing, we can help.

As the UK’s Best Specialist Mortgage Provider, you can guarantee you’ll receive an exceptional service that will help you overcome your mortgage-related challenges.

Find the right mortgage for you or get in touch today to see how we can help.

If you’re a broker interested in our services, please visit our Intermediaries page.