De Volksbank takes over property valuation platform Fitrex
De Volksbank, the organisation behind SNS, ASN Bank, RegioBank and BLG Wonen, today announces the acquisition of property valuation platform Fitrex B.V. This acquisition is in line with the bank’s 2021 – 2025 strategy to strengthen customer relationships. Accordingly, de Volksbank expands its services with a complementary service in its core activity ‘housing’, thus contributing to income diversification.
Joining forces to contribute to improving service levels in mortgage advice
De Volksbank mortgage advisers indicate that customers have a strong preference for being able to complete the entire mortgage application process with the same adviser as much as possible (one-stop shopping). The acquisition makes it possible for, inter alia, SNS to expand its leading role in the loan application process. To ensure independence, a clear distinction is maintained between the role of mortgage provider and the role of customer service manager. At present, customers often have to arrange the property valuation as part of the mortgage application themselves. Fitrex takes care of this process: from valuation request to submission of the valuation report to the adviser. This makes the mortgage process easier and faster for customers, and allows for a fixed and competitive valuation rate.
By making Fitrex’s services an integral part of the mortgage advice process, the acquisition offers benefits to customers and advisers alike. It also provides opportunities for new additional services, such as 'desktop valuations' (an online estimate of a home’s value), which meet the conditions of the applicable regulations (EBA guidelines). Expansion to include valuations for commercial mortgages is another possibility.
The acquisition of Fitrex does not require approval by the supervisory authorities and has no material impact on de Volksbank’s financial position and earnings. The acquisition price will not be disclosed.
