2022 officially marks our 23rd year in the mortgage business! Looking back at where we started and where we are now, we really have come a long way. We started off as a one-man band, and now we’re the Regional Network Partner of one of the UK’s largest mortgage brokers.
Join us as we take a little trip down memory lane with a timeline of how we’ve grown since the very beginning…
In the beginning…
1999 Alex Knaggs launches his first mortgage business, Direct Mortgage Services.
2000 In collaboration with a business partner, Alex launches Direct Financial Services. They become an Appointed Representative of Legal and General to sell protection products.
2002 Direct Financial Services expand and move to new office premises in Friary Chambers, based in Hull’s Old Town.
2004 Direct Financial Services joins the Mortgage Advice Bureau network.
2005 Direct Financial Services alters their business model to become a specialist mortgage packager.
2007 Direct Financial Services opens its first office with Mortgage Advice Bureau branding in Chapel Street, Hull.
2008 The global financial crash hits. As a result, the business model is altered – moving away from specialist lending and across to working with estate agencies; a model which continues today.
Becoming Opal
2009 The business re-launches as Opal Mortgage Services and recruits its first major partnership with one of Hull’s largest estate agent chains.
2010 The business opens a new operations base in North Ferriby near Hull.
2015 The business expands its operations and recruits a dedicated customer support team and moves to a new premises in Willerby Square (the admin team are still based as these premises).
2017 Operations expand to recruit an in-house marketing function.
2018 Opal Mortgage Services opens a Mortgage Advice Bureau branded mortgage shop in Willerby Square next door to its main operations premises. This is designed as a hub for mortgage advisers and their clients. Operations are expanded again, and the business recruits an Operations Manager, Business Development Manager, and a Protection Adviser.
2020 Opal Mortgage Services joins MAB Later Life network and introduces its first Later Life Lending Specialist to the team.
2021 Operations expand and the business recruits an Introducer Relationship Manager and Sales and Development Manager.
Present day
2022 The company employs 20 staff and has a network of 50 self-employed Mortgage and Protection Advisers.
Since becoming part of Mortgage Advice Bureau we’ve successfully written over 26,000 mortgage cases for our clients.
In January, Opal Mortgage Services t/a Mortgage Advice Bureau – Regional Network Partners North, was shortlisted as a finalist for the NatWest Local Mortgage Hero Awards in the Yorkshire East Midlands region.
Expert, local mortgage advice in Hull
We’ve been sharing our wisdom of mortgages to the people of Hull for over 20 years - from helping customers buy their first home, move house, switch their mortgage deal, or become a landlord. We’ve done it all! Working as part of Mortgage Advice Bureau, we have access to thousands of deals with more than 90 lenders, and offer a free, initial no-obligation appointment service. Our advisers take the time to get to know you and your personal circumstances so that they can find the right mortgage to suit your needs.
If you’d like to have a chat with us about your mortgage needs, get in touch by calling 01482 470444 or send us an e-mail.