Compare Mortgage Rates from Bristol & West Against the Market starting at 3.96%

Important Clarification: Bristol & West no longer exists as an active mortgage lender.

The brand, which was once a household name on the UK high street, ceased offering new mortgages in 2009. Its parent company, Bank of Ireland, officially liquidated the remaining Bristol & West legal entity in 2023/2024.

If you have a mortgage that was originally taken out with Bristol & West, it is now owned and managed by Bank of Ireland UK. If you wish to review the alternatives to a Bristol & West, you can compare the latest rates from lenders across the market for free below:

About Bristol & West's Legacy

Founded in 1850 as the Bristol, West of England and South Wales Permanent Building Society, the institution grew to become one of the UK's major financial mutuals.

It was a pioneer in the "demutualisation" wave of the late 1990s. In 1997, it gave up its mutual status and was sold to the Bank of Ireland for £600 million. For over a decade, it operated as a division of the Bank of Ireland, becoming a significant player in the Buy-to-Let and self-employed mortgage markets.

However, the brand was gradually dismantled:

• 2005: The savings arm and branch network were sold to Britannia Building Society (which later merged with The Co-operative Bank).

• 2009: The mortgage lending division ceased new business entirely during the financial crisis.

What Happened to Bristol & West Mortgages?

You can no longer apply for a mortgage with Bristol & West.

• Existing Mortgages: If you took out a mortgage with Bristol & West before 2009, your loan is now managed directly by Bank of Ireland UK.

• Terms and Conditions: The transfer to Bank of Ireland did not change the original terms of your mortgage contract (e.g., the interest rate tracking mechanism), but the brand name on your statements will have changed.

• Servicing: All customer service, payments, and redemption requests are handled by Bank of Ireland UK's mortgage administration teams, primarily based in Bristol and Belfast.

Historical Pros and Cons of Bristol & West

Based on its reputation when it was an active lender (pre-2009), here is what the lender was known for.

Pros (Historical):

• Buy-to-Let Pioneer: Bristol & West was one of the first major lenders to aggressively target the Buy-to-Let market, helping to fuel the property boom of the early 2000s.

• Flexible Criteria: It was known for being more flexible than traditional high-street banks, often accepting self-employed income and interest-only repayment plans that others would decline.

• Intermediary Support: It had strong relationships with mortgage brokers, making it a "go-to" lender for complex cases.

Cons (Historical):

• Aggressive Lending: Like many lenders of that era, it was sometimes criticised for lending criteria that were considered too loose by post-2008 standards.

• Closure to New Business: The decision to stop lending in 2009 left some existing customers on Standard Variable Rates (SVRs) with fewer options to switch internally ("product transfers"), although Bank of Ireland has since improved retention options for these legacy customers.

How to Apply for a Mortgage (Not Possible)

You cannot apply for a new mortgage with Bristol & West.

• New Customers: You must apply to an active lender. If you are looking for a similar "mainstream" bank lender, you might consider Bank of Ireland UK (often trading through partnerships like the Post Office) or other major high-street banks.

• Existing Customers: If you still have a Bristol & West mortgage and want to borrow more or switch your rate, you must contact Bank of Ireland UK directly.

If you want to find out what alternatives to Bristol & West and Bank of Ireland are available, make an enquiry to discuss your options with a broker.