Countrywide Surveying Services has been the valuation panel manager for the Co-op and its brands Britannia and Platform since July 20th.
Paul Chapman, managing director, Countrywide Surveying Services, said:
“Our business and service ethos is focused on maintaining our high quality standards and speed of service, which is underpinned by our innovative technology, unrivalled UK-wide coverage and industry expertise.
“This approach compliments the Co-operative’s customer-led ethos and desire to continue to offer customers outstanding levels of service.
“Our aim at Countrywide Surveying Services is to partner with and find the right solution for each client we serve and we work hard to demonstrate how we can improve the customer experience and backing this up with a solid implementation plan.”
And he added: “Our robust fraud and risk mitigation processes and quality control measures were fundamental in winning this contract and will be an important consideration for other banks and building societies during any future tenders and so we plan to continue to build on these in 2012.”
Following the Co-operative Bank’s merger with Britannia in 2009, the bank undertook a review of suppliers across the business and began consolidating its contracts accordingly.
Countrywide Surveying Services has held the valuation contract for the Co-operative Bank and Platform, the bank’s intermediary lending arm for a number of years.
As one of the most significant lender valuation contracts up for tender this year, Countrywide faced stiff competition from all the major valuation panel manager firms.
A spokeswoman for the Co-op said that throughout the competitive tender process, Countrywide demonstrated its expertise and understanding of the Co-operative culture and brand values, the valuation market, the challenges facing the business and how best suppliers can assist with addressing these challenges to successfully secure the valuation panel management contract.
James Hillon, head of mortgages at The Co-operative Bank, added: “We’re committed to offering our customers a trusted alternative and believe that this partnership is another way in which we can provide excellent value and good quality service. Having worked with Countrywide previously, we believe that they are the right partner to provide quality valuations whilst also maintaining the high level of service that we pride ourselves on.”
