Fintel plc, a leading provider of software, data and support services to the retail financial services sector, today announces the acquisition of Mortgage Brain Holdings.
The acquisition strengthens Fintel’s Software & Data division and expands its presence in one of the most significant financial decisions consumers make: securing a mortgage. It also represents a huge leap forward in Fintel’s long-term mission to build the infrastructure powering the future of retail financial services. Fintel continues to invest materially in software and data capabilities, reflecting its belief that the future of financial advice will be driven by connected, specialist applications built on modern architecture, powered by trusted data and designed to simplify adviser workflows.
As part of the acquisition, Chief Executive Zahid Bilgrami will continue to lead Mortgage Brain as well as taking an enhanced role within Fintel as Chief Executive Officer of the Software & Data division. This enhanced role will see Mr Bilgrami reunited with Defaqto, a business he ran for eleven years previously.
Fintel will continue to invest materially in the development of technology by Mortgage Brain, supporting the fast-paced development of AI solutions.
BUILDING A CONNECTED ADVISER ECOSYSTEM
As adviser businesses evolve and client needs become increasingly interconnected, technology must evolve too. Increasingly, advisers are operating across multiple disciplines, including wealth, mortgages and protection, yet many continue to rely on fragmented and outdated, legacy technology applications, leading to duplicate data entry and disconnected systems that create operational complexity and limit efficiency.
Fintel believes the future of financial advice will be built on connected specialist applications that work seamlessly together. By improving data connectivity and reducing the need to re-key information, advisers can spend less time on administration and more time supporting clients.
Mortgage Brain has been at the forefront of mortgage technology innovation for more than 40 years, providing sourcing, criteria, affordability and submission solutions that connect advisers and lenders throughout the mortgage journey. Combined with Fintel’s broader software, data, compliance and adviser support capabilities, the acquisition creates opportunities to accelerate innovation, improve adviser productivity and strengthen connectivity across the intermediary market.
Alongside Mortgage Brain, AE3 Media brings a portfolio of respected digital media and engagement platforms, providing additional opportunities to support industry collaboration and market insight.
CONTINUED INVESTMENT IN SPECIALIST SOFTWARE AND DATA BUSINESSES
The transaction works seamlessly alongside Fintel’s investment in specialist financial planning CRM platform Plannr, in which it holds a 49% stake, supporting the evolving needs of the wealth advice sector through a modern, cloud-native platform. Mortgage Brain extends that proposition into the mortgage market, enhancing Fintel’s ability to support the growing population of multi-disciplinary advisers who deliver wealth, mortgage and protection advice through a single client relationship.
As demonstrated by the recent partnership between Mortgage Brain and Plannr, connected adviser technology can significantly simplify workflows and reduce operational friction. By integrating Mortgage Brain’s market-leading sourcing, criteria, affordability and submission capabilities directly into the Plannr platform, advisers can now move seamlessly from client fact-find through to mortgage application within a single workflow.
Looking ahead, Fintel sees significant opportunities to further connect technology, data and workflows across the advice ecosystem. Central to this vision is a belief that advice firms should retain control of their own data while benefiting from specialist applications that integrate seamlessly together. By reducing friction and improving data connectivity, Fintel aims to help advisers work more efficiently and deliver better outcomes for advisers, lenders and consumers.
COMMENTARY
Commenting on the acquisition, Matt Timmins, CEO of Fintel, said: “We believe the future of financial advice will be built on connected technology, trusted data and specialist applications that work seamlessly together.
Our investment in Plannr reflected our conviction that wealth advisers deserve modern, flexible technology that supports the evolving needs of advice businesses. In a market dominated by legacy tech providers, Plannr has proven that advisers want modern connected systems and they want to own their own data. The acquisition of Mortgage Brain extends that strategy into the mortgage market and strengthens our ability to support the growing number of advisers delivering multiple advice disciplines through a single client relationship.
Mortgage Brain is a highly respected technology business with deep industry relationships and a long history of innovation. Combined with our existing Software & Data capabilities it represents another important step towards delivering our mission to build the platform and infrastructure powering the future of retail financial services.
I am particularly pleased to welcome Zahid Bilgrami to Fintel’s leadership team. Zahid’s return to Defaqto, alongside his continued leadership of Mortgage Brain and our wider Software & Data division, creates a unique opportunity to bring together some of the most respected technology and data businesses in UK retail financial services under a shared vision for growth, innovation and adviser success.”
Zahid Bilgrami, Mortgage Brain CEO, commented: “Mortgage Brain has built one of the most recognised and trusted technology platforms in the UK mortgage market, helping advisers, lenders and networks work more effectively through deep industry expertise, strong customer relationships and innovative solutions. Joining Fintel marks an exciting new chapter for our business, our people and our customers.
The mortgage market continues to evolve rapidly, creating new opportunities to simplify processes, improve connectivity and deliver better experiences for advisers and consumers. By combining Mortgage Brain’s capabilities with Fintel’s broader software, data and regulatory expertise, we are bringing together complementary strengths that create a powerful platform for growth, innovation and customer value.
Having previously led Defaqto, I am delighted to be returning to the business and taking on the wider leadership of Fintel’s Software & Data division.
We share a common belief in the importance of professional advice and the role that technology, data and insight play in supporting it. With Fintel’s continued investment and long-term commitment to innovation, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate product development, harness the potential of AI and deliver even greater value to advisers, lenders, providers and consumers across the financial services ecosystem.”