Kent Reliance

Kent Reliance is a savings and mortgage brand based in Chatham, Kent. Its savings range covers instant access accounts, notice accounts, children's accounts, fixed rate bonds and cash ISAs, sold online, by phone and through a branch network in the south of England¹. Its mortgage side is different: Kent Reliance is not currently open to new mortgage applications or additional lending, and it now provides ongoing support and switching options exclusively for its existing mortgage customers². New residential or bridging cases are directed to sister brand Precise Mortgages, and new buy to let cases to Rely.

Kent Reliance is a UK savings and mortgage brand, and money you hold with it is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000 per eligible person³. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority⁴, and it appears on the Bank of England's list of UK banks authorised to accept deposits⁵.

Savings accounts, ISAs and bonds

Kent Reliance describes its savings range as providing options to suit a variety of savers, from online to branch-only and from short-term to long-term¹. The range includes instant access accounts, notice accounts, children's accounts, fixed rate bonds and cash ISAs, with monthly or annual interest options on some products⁸. Business savings accounts are also available, though Kent Reliance states a company is not eligible if it has more than three directors or major shareholders⁹. If you are comparing savings accounts generally, our savings accounts guide explains how the different types work.

Fixed rate bonds are a distinct part of the range: money is tied up for a set term in exchange for a rate that does not change during it. Kent Reliance's bonds page sets out the terms of each issue¹⁰. Its ISAs are cash ISAs only: Kent Reliance states it does not currently offer a stocks and shares ISA, an innovative finance ISA or a lifetime ISA¹¹. Both its variable and fixed-rate ISAs allow additional deposits throughout the year¹⁰.

Two ISA features are worth knowing. Kent Reliance offers portfolio cash ISAs, which let you split your ISA allowance between multiple products, because multiple Kent Reliance ISA products are treated as a single ISA for HMRC purposes¹¹. And if you open a new Kent Reliance ISA intending to fund it by transferring an existing ISA in, Kent Reliance must receive all transfer requests within 30 days of the account being opened¹².

Most savings accounts require a nominated bank account: a personal UK bank or building society current account in your name, or a joint account, into which all electronic payments out are made. You can only make payments out of your account by electronic transfer into that nominated account or, where available, to another account you hold with Kent Reliance¹³.

Who can open a Kent Reliance savings account

Kent Reliance accounts may only be opened by UK residents with a UK residential address, and by people with a British Forces Post Office (BFPO) address¹¹. Accounts can be held in a sole name or jointly with up to a maximum of four account holders, unless the product literature for a particular account does not allow a joint account; accounts with more than two holders cannot be opened online¹¹.

Some accounts have their own restrictions. The Easy Access Savings Account, for example, is a personal savings account that cannot be used by clubs or charities or held in trust for anyone else, and can be held by a maximum of two people¹⁴. Children's accounts have their own rules: children below the age of 7 need an adult aged 18 or over to open and operate the account on their behalf, and a maximum of two operators may be appointed for any one account¹¹.

Kent Reliance also runs a monthly prize draw. Entry is automatic for individual customers over 18 who have a savings account balance of £100 or more, or a mortgage account of £1,000 or more; for joint accounts the first named account holder is entered, and there is usually one entry per person¹⁵. A prize draw is not interest, and it does not change how the account itself works: our savings accounts guide explains how to compare accounts on the things that matter.

Mortgages: residential, buy to let, shared ownership and ex-pat

Kent Reliance's mortgage range covers four types: residential, buy to let standard, buy to let ex-pat, and shared ownership¹⁶. The maximum number of people allowed on a Kent Reliance mortgage is four¹⁷. Shared ownership customers can staircase, that is, buy further shares in their property, and Kent Reliance states it is still accepting shared ownership staircasing for existing customers¹⁸.

Residential mortgage products are portable. If you move home during the initial deal period, the remaining benefits of the special deal can be transferred to a new mortgage with Kent Reliance, subject to lending criteria. Kent Reliance states early repayment charges will not be charged on such a move, but the existing rate will not apply to any additional funds you borrow¹⁷.

Kent Reliance does not give mortgage advice. It states it does not advise on which mortgage product is most suitable, and it accepts mortgage applications from mortgage advisers only, with no in-house advisers⁹. Branch and telephony staff cannot offer advice, only information¹⁵. If you are weighing up mortgage options generally, our mortgages guide and home buying guide explain how the market works.

Can I still get a Kent Reliance mortgage?

No, not as a new customer. Kent Reliance states it is not currently open to new mortgage applications or additional lending, and that although it is not accepting applications for new lending or new customers, it remains dedicated to supporting existing borrowers². New residential or bridging cases are directed to Precise Mortgages, and new buy to let cases to Rely¹⁶.

For existing customers the position is different. Kent Reliance provides ongoing support and switching options exclusively for its existing mortgage customers¹⁸, and it is still accepting product transfers and shared ownership staircasing for them¹⁸. Additional borrowing, where it is considered at all, is only accepted through appropriately qualified mortgage advisers¹⁷.

If you already have a Kent Reliance mortgage and your deal is coming to an end, Kent Reliance will contact you by post, including a Mortgage Choices application form. The choices range is available exclusively to existing customers, subject to the particular terms of the mortgage, and all products are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time¹⁷. If you expect to miss a payment, Kent Reliance publishes an income and expenditure form for residential borrowers and for buy to let borrowers with up to and including three rental properties, and it stresses that your mortgage is a priority debt¹⁸.

Switching deals: product transfers for existing borrowers

A product transfer means moving from your expiring Kent Reliance deal onto a new one, without changing the amount borrowed. Kent Reliance is still accepting product transfers for existing customers¹⁸. The process is postal: when your deal is nearing its end, Kent Reliance sends a Mortgage Choices application form, and you return the completed declaration and acceptance of offer forms¹⁷.

Timing matters in two ways. If you want the transfer to coincide with the expiry of your existing product, the Acceptance of Offer Form must be returned at least 5 working days before the end of the month in which the existing product expires¹⁹. And if you apply for a product transfer more than 3 months before the expiry of your existing product, early repayment charges may be payable¹⁹. If Kent Reliance does not hear from you before your current deal ends, the mortgage reverts to the rate confirmed in the original mortgage offer¹⁷.

Mortgage fees, overpayments and early repayment charges

Kent Reliance publishes a mortgage fees and charges document, effective from 1 September 2026, which sets out the full list²¹. Rather than quoting individual amounts here, the categories it covers are the ones to expect from any specialist lender: an application fee, a funds transfer fee for electronically sending mortgage funds to you or your solicitor, valuation and reinspection fees, legal fees, and a product fee which Kent Reliance says to refer to your broker about. Administration fees cover changes to your mortgage: a change of term fee for extending or reducing the remaining term, a change of repayment method fee, a partial release of property fee, a change of parties administration fee, and a consent to let fee if you let a property that does not have a buy to let mortgage. At the end of the loan there is a mortgage exit fee, and some third party fees, such as for commencing possession proceedings, are variable. For today's figures, check the fees document on Kent Reliance's own site.

Early repayment charges are the ones that catch borrowers out. The charge is variable and set out in your mortgage offer, and it is payable if you repay all or part of your mortgage earlier than the end of the agreed term, including an additional payment of more than £499 in any month¹⁷. Overpayments and lump sum payments may be possible depending on your product, but some carry an early repayment charge, so Kent Reliance tells customers to check the mortgage offer first¹⁷.

If your mortgage falls into arrears, Kent Reliance sends a quarterly statement in addition to the normal annual one, covering the last 3-month period²². Fees and charges are not shown separately on the statement summary page; the total is included in the overall account balance, and fees charged during the quarter appear in the detailed transaction breakdown. Arrears can bring their own charges, for example when a representative carries out a home visit or an administration fee for solicitors' letters, and interest is charged on the total balance including arrears and fees²².

Banking with Kent Reliance: branches, phone and the new Online Services

Kent Reliance has branches located throughout the south of England⁷. All branches offer appointments, subject to availability, bookable by phone and held in private meeting rooms, and all branches are either level access or have wheelchair ramps, with seating areas provided⁷. Branch and telephony staff cannot offer advice, only information¹⁵.

By phone, Customer Services is on 0345 122 1122⁶. If you are worried about fraud, there is a freephone fraud prevention number, 0800 077 8210⁶, and Kent Reliance's fraud hub advises calling 999 if a crime is in progress and 101 if it is urgent but not an emergency. If you have a passbook, Kent Reliance advises keeping it safe and never letting anyone else have possession of it, and telling it as soon as possible if you lose it or believe someone else has obtained it.

Kent Reliance has moved its online banking to a new Online Services platform, and customers who used the old service need to register again. Registration uses your contact details, including email address, mobile number and home address, and a mobile phone is needed to register²³. Kent Reliance states it is essential that all accounts are associated with a mobile number or email address²⁴. The new service offers a quicker account opening process, less than 10 minutes, real-time payments in and out, instant deposits and withdrawals via a "move money" button next to your savings accounts, timely SMS notifications and monthly statements²⁴. All payments in or out of products held on the new Online Services must now be made electronically²⁴.

When Kent Reliance changes rates or terms

The notice Kent Reliance must give depends on the type of change. For a decrease in your interest rate, or a change to interest tiers to your disadvantage, it must give at least 14 days' notice before the change takes effect¹³. For an increase, the position is the reverse: Kent Reliance will tell you as soon as reasonably possible, the change is effective immediately, and notices are placed in branches and on its website⁶. For all other changes that are not to your disadvantage, it tells you within 30 days after the change takes effect⁶.

Accounts whose rate is linked to a reference rate behave differently: the interest rate changes on the first working day of the month after the reference rate changes, and you will not be notified of this change unless the product literature says otherwise⁶. Changes to the Payment Services Agreement and electronic transfer charges carry two months' advance notice by email, a message on your statement, or another individual method¹³.

Two further rules affect long-held accounts. An account may be flagged as dormant if there have been no customer initiated transactions for a continuous period of 15 years or more¹³. A dormant account still earns interest, but no withdrawals or changes can be made, online registration and transactions are blocked until it is reactivated, and some correspondence may be suspended¹¹. If you have lost track of an old Kent Reliance account, the My Lost Account scheme at mylostaccount.org.uk can trace it¹¹. Separately, Kent Reliance may transfer the balances of dormant accounts to the UK dormant accounts reclaim fund, known as RFL; if that happens your right to payment is retained, but it will be against RFL, with Kent Reliance remaining responsible for managing the relationship and handling repayment claims on RFL's behalf¹¹.

Complaints: how they are handled and where to escalate

Kent Reliance aims to resolve all complaints by the close of three working days after the date the complaint is received⁷. Where a complaint cannot be resolved that quickly, it has 8 weeks to resolve it¹¹. Complaints can be made in writing, by phone, or by secure message through Online Services. Kent Reliance publishes its complaint data every half year when it receives 500 or more reportable complaints²⁵.

The most recent figures, for 1 January to 30 June 2026, show 1,168 complaints opened and 1,045 closed in banking and credit cards, and 1,007 opened and 954 closed in home finance²⁵. Kent Reliance states most of the complaints it received were classed as "general administration and customer service", and within banking and credit cards the main cause was recorded as errors or not following instructions²⁵.

If you are unhappy with the final response, or 8 weeks have passed without one, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free for consumers. Kent Reliance's complaints data is also published by the Financial Conduct Authority²⁵. Our consumer protection guide explains how the ombudsman process works step by step.

How your savings are protected

Eligible deposits with Kent Reliance are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit protection scheme, up to £120,000 per eligible person³. Kent Reliance shares its banking licence with other brands, so deposits held across those brands count together towards one £120,000 limit; the FCA Register lists the firm's other trading names, including Precise Mortgages, Interbay and Heritable⁴. Your account statement will confirm whether your deposits are eligible³.

For joint accounts, each eligible account holder is entitled to £120,000 protection in total, so two holders of a joint account have £240,000 of protection between them³. Eligible deposits in business accounts are treated as if made by a single depositor, so they are protected only up to £120,000³.

There are two timing points worth knowing. Any money Kent Reliance receives before your identity is verified and the account is open is not protected by the FSCS¹³. And if you have a temporary high balance, for example from selling your home, or from a major life event such as a death, marriage or civil partnership, divorce, retirement, redundancy, disability or incapacity, or compensation for personal injuries or wrongful conviction, you may be entitled to more than £120,000 of protection for six months from when the amount was first deposited or legally transferred³.

If a bank fails, the FSCS will typically return deposits within seven business days, by cheque or electronic payment into an alternative account, though payments may take longer in exceptional circumstances, for example where there is a temporary high balance or the deposit is held on behalf of underlying beneficiaries³. Some deposits are excluded from protection altogether, for example where the account holder is itself a financial institution, or where the deposit is involved in transactions linked to a criminal conviction for money laundering³. Our consumer protection guide sets out the full FSCS rules.