HSBC and Clydesdale are set to increase mortgage pricing, following rate rises from Barclays and Halifax, while Santander is cutting selected residential fixes but withdrawing some products. With the Bank Rate held at 3.75% and inflation reported at 3.1%, advisers face a fragmented pricing environment rather than a clear directional market.
For advice firms, the immediate AI opportunity is operational: use monitored lender feeds, case-prioritisation rules and alerts to identify clients whose applications or product transfers may be exposed to withdrawals. Automation can reduce rekeying and help teams act faster, but advisers must verify live lender criteria, rates and product availability before making recommendations.
Adviser focus:
- Review pipeline cases with expiring offers or unsubmitted applications.
- Document why a recommended rate and product remained suitable at the time of advice.
- Use AI for triage and communication drafts, not unverified rate or criteria advice.