KRBS

KRBS is a savings and mortgage brand. Its full name in the provider's own documents is "krbs", and it sits alongside Kent Reliance Banking Services as two names for the same bank, which is part of the OSB Group¹. In practice, most customers know the brand as Kent Reliance: the website, the account terms and the statements usually carry that name, and KRBS is the shorter label the same bank uses in some of its materials and in its past registrations¹.

What that means for a saver is straightforward. The accounts are savings accounts and cash ISAs, and money in them is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to the limit stated in the provider's own FSCS information sheet: £120,000 per eligible depositor³. On the mortgage side, the position is different and important: Kent Reliance is not currently accepting applications for new lending or new customers, so its mortgages are closed to new borrowers, though existing mortgage customers keep a range of options⁴.

KRBS and Kent Reliance: one savings provider under two names

The account terms name the provider as "krbs and Kent Reliance Banking Services", two labels for the same bank¹. Kent Reliance is the name most customers see, and the FCA Register lists KRBS as a current name for the same firm, with "krbs" and "kent reliance" among its previous names¹. The bank appears on the Bank of England's list of UK-incorporated banks authorised to accept deposits⁶, and Companies House records the company behind the brands as active, incorporated on 13 July 2010⁷.

For a consumer, the two names matter in two places. First, documents: you may open an account with Kent Reliance and receive statements or terms that mention KRBS, or the other way round. They are the same institution, so there is no transfer of your account happening and nothing you need to do. Second, protection: because both names belong to one bank, deposits held across both count together towards one FSCS compensation limit, not one each³. Someone with savings in a Kent Reliance account and savings in a KRBS-branded account has one combined allowance, not two.

The OSB Group, the wider group the bank belongs to, also includes Kent Reliance Property Loans; the firm's complaints data covers both trading names⁸. Sister brands appear in the group's reporting, but for everyday banking purposes the name you need is Kent Reliance, and its website is where account terms, forms and service information are published.

Savings accounts and cash ISAs

KRBS offers savings accounts across the main types a UK saver will recognise: easy access style accounts, notice accounts, fixed rate bonds and cash ISAs. Its savings terms describe the account provider and the general conditions that apply across its range¹. Fixed rate bonds are savings accounts where money is locked in for a set term, and cash ISAs hold savings free of income tax on the interest; the wider savings market includes ISAs, instant access and fixed term options, and KRBS sits within that market rather than apart from it².

There are four main types of ISA in the UK: cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, innovative finance ISAs and lifetime ISAs⁹. KRBS offers only the cash version. Its terms state: "We do not currently offer a stocks and shares ISA, an innovative finance ISA or a lifetime ISA."² If you want to invest inside an ISA wrapper, or to open a lifetime ISA, you would do that with a different provider; a lifetime ISA can be held with a provider of your choice, one per tax year. The ISAs guide explains how each type works, and the savings guide covers the account types in the wider market.

Savings with KRBS are deposit-based, not investments: the balance does not go down in value because of market moves, and the return comes from interest. The terms set out how interest is paid, when it can be withdrawn and what happens at the end of a fixed term¹. As with any savings account, the practical things to check before opening are how long your money is tied up, whether withdrawals are allowed and what notice is needed, and how and when interest is paid.

Kent Reliance mortgages are closed to new borrowers

The headline for anyone considering a Kent Reliance mortgage is that the range is shut. The lender's existing customers page states: "we're not currently accepting applications for new lending or new customers"⁴, and separately: "We are not currently open to new mortgage applications or additional lending."⁴ That applies to new borrowers and to existing customers who want to borrow more. The page also lists the mortgage ranges the lender has offered, which included residential, shared ownership, buy-to-let standard and buy-to-let ex-pat options⁴.

For existing mortgage customers, the same page is clear that support continues: "We provide ongoing support and switching options exclusively for our existing mortgage customers only"⁴. So the closure affects the front door, not the ongoing relationship. Borrowers keep their accounts, keep making payments and keep access to the options described in the next section.

If you do not have a Kent Reliance mortgage and want one, there is no route in at present. The mortgages guide and home buying guide cover how the market works and what other lenders offer. If you are struggling with mortgage payments, the lender describes your mortgage as a priority debt, which reflects the general rule that housing costs come before most other commitments when money is tight⁴; free help with debt is available from charities such as StepChange.

What existing mortgage customers can still do: product transfers, overpayments and moving home

Existing borrowers have several options that do not involve new lending. Product transfers, moving to a new deal with the same lender at the end of a fixed or tracker period, remain available as part of the "switching options" the lender provides for existing customers⁴. Overpayments and changes to the mortgage are handled through its servicing team, and the fee schedule lists charges for changes such as extending or reducing the term, changing the repayment method, or a change of parties¹⁰.

Moving home is also possible. Porting, transferring your existing mortgage to a new property, is a standard feature of the UK mortgage market, and house purchase approvals statistics explicitly include existing borrowers transferring their mortgage to another property¹¹. Which? notes that when you move you can often take your mortgage with you, though early repayment charges can apply if you repay the deal instead, and these "can add up to tens of thousands of pounds" on some products¹¹. The lender's own early repayment charge is set out in your mortgage offer rather than on a public price list¹⁰.

Some changes to a mortgage cannot be treated as immaterial to affordability. Under MCOB 11, these include extending the term into the customer's retirement, switching between repayment and interest-only, and adding or removing a customer¹². In practice, that means a lender must re-assess affordability for the changes that matter most, rather than rubber-stamping them. Borrowers in arrears face an extra hurdle: StepChange has reported that its clients with mortgage arrears "remain ineligible to move to a more affordable deal, either with their current lender or another provider"¹³, so falling behind can close off cheaper deals.

How mortgage fees and charges work

Kent Reliance publishes a mortgage fees and charges document, effective from 1 September 2026, which sets out the fees across the life of a mortgage¹⁰. Rather than quoting individual amounts here, this page explains the structure, because that is what tells you where charges can arise; today's figures are in the document itself and in your mortgage offer.

The schedule covers three broad stages. At application and completion, there is an application fee, a funds transfer fee for electronically sending mortgage funds to you or your solicitor, and a valuation fee, with the valuation amount confirmed on application; a reinspection fee applies where a property is being developed, converted or refurbished and works had not reached practical completion at the original valuation. Product and legal fees are variable and are confirmed through your broker or the website. During the mortgage, fees apply to changes: extending or reducing the remaining term, changing the repayment method, a partial release of property, a change of parties, and consent to let, which is charged per agreement where you let a property that does not have a buy-to-let mortgage. Servicing revaluations use an automated valuation model or desktop valuation free of charge, with a full valuation charged variably. At the end, there is a mortgage exit fee, and early repayment charges for repaying in full or changing the deal during a tie-in period are variable and set out in your mortgage offer¹⁰.

Two things are worth knowing about how fees behave. First, arrangement fees on fixed-rate deals generally can be worth paying to secure a lower rate, but Which? notes that percentage-based fees are generally found on properties over £750,000 and are much more common with buy-to-let mortgages¹⁴. Second, if you fall into arrears, charges can build up: the lender's arrears guidance lists a charge when a representative carries out a home visit, an administration fee for solicitors' letters relating to arrears or the start of possession proceedings, and any other costs arising from the arrears¹⁵. Interest is charged on the total balance including arrears and fees, calculated on the outstanding balance over 365 days¹⁵.

Banking with KRBS: online services, branches and phone

KRBS is primarily an online and telephone savings and mortgage brand rather than a high street banking network. Banking conduct rules (BCOBS 7) require firms to publish the availability of certain services by contact method: telephone (other than telephone banking), telephone banking, internet banking and mobile banking¹⁶. The services covered include checking a balance, accessing transaction history, sending money within the UK, setting up a standing order, sending money outside the UK, and paying in or cancelling a cheque¹⁷.

For KRBS customers, the practical channels are the Kent Reliance website for account management, forms and documents, and its telephone lines for service queries. Current contact details, including telephone numbers and opening hours, are published in the contact section of the Kent Reliance website, which serves the same bank. Savings customers manage accounts online; mortgage customers use the existing customers section of the site, which carries the options described above⁴.

There is no KRBS current account. The brand does not offer day-to-day banking with overdrafts, cards or branches in the way a full-service bank does, so customers typically hold their main current account elsewhere and move money to and from their KRBS savings. The banks and building societies directory lists full-service providers if that is what you are looking for.

How to open a KRBS savings account

Savings accounts with KRBS are opened directly with the provider, not through a branch network. The general pattern for opening a savings account is to complete an application form online, in person or by phone¹⁷, and for this provider the online route through the Kent Reliance website is the main one. You will need to satisfy identity checks: the savings terms describe the circumstances in which the bank verifies identity, including where "a minimum of six years have passed since the last time we verified your identity"¹, which is why established customers may occasionally be asked for documents again.

The steps are:

1. Choose the account type on the Kent Reliance website and read its terms².
2. Complete the application, providing your details and any funding information the account requires.
3. Pass identity and anti-money laundering checks, which may mean supplying documents even if you have banked with the firm before¹.
4. Fund the account and keep the confirmation, which states whether your deposits are eligible for FSCS protection³.

Two limits are worth knowing before you apply. The ISA allowance and how cash ISAs work are covered in the ISAs guide. And because KRBS offers no stocks and shares ISA, innovative finance ISA or lifetime ISA², anyone wanting those products needs a second provider alongside.

When interest rates and account terms change

For accounts where the interest rate is linked to a reference rate, the savings terms set out the timing: "the interest rate will change 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 indicates otherwise"². This is the single most important term for variable-rate savers to understand with this provider: a rate linked to a reference rate moves automatically, without a letter or email, so the balance of responsibility for noticing a change sits with you.

That makes it worth checking your rate periodically, either by logging in or by reading the annual statement. The wider context for rate movements, including how Bank Rate affects savings and mortgages, is covered in the rates and economy guide. Fixed rate bonds behave differently: the rate is fixed for the term, so it does not move with the reference rate, and the terms of the individual product govern what happens when the term ends².

For mortgage customers, changes to the interest rate are governed by your mortgage offer, and changes to the mortgage itself, such as a term extension or a change of repayment method, are subject to the affordability rules described earlier¹². If a change to your account is proposed that you did not ask for, ask for it in writing and check it against the terms before acting.

Complaints: how they are handled and where to go next

The first step with any complaint is to complain to the firm itself and give it the chance to put things right; this is the general rule across financial services and data rights alike, where you "should first complain to it" before going further¹⁸. Kent Reliance publishes a complaints report, which states that the data is also published by the Financial Conduct Authority⁸.

The firm's own figures give a sense of volume and outcomes. Between 1 January and 30 June 2026, it opened 1,168 complaints in banking and credit cards and closed 1,045; in home finance it opened 954 and closed 954. Of the home finance complaints closed, 44.55 per cent were upheld in the customer's favour⁸. These are the firm's own published numbers, covering Kent Reliance and Kent Reliance Property Loans as trading names of the OSB Group⁸.

If the firm's final response does not satisfy you, or eight weeks pass without one, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which considers complaints consumers have been unable to resolve with a firm¹⁹. The ombudsman is free to use and independent. Complaints about the firm's conduct as a lender can also be raised through the same route; there is no charge to the consumer either way.

Accounts left unused and joint accounts after a death

Dormant savings are a common issue with older accounts, and KRBS's terms point to the industry tracing service: "The My Lost Account scheme is available at mylostaccount.org.uk"¹. My Lost Account is a free service that can help find bank accounts that have not been used for three years or more²⁰. If you think you have an old Kent Reliance or KRBS account, the scheme is the place to start; the bank itself should also be able to search its records if you contact it directly.

Joint accounts have their own rule when a holder dies. The general position is that "if an account holder passes away, the joint account will continue in the remaining names"²¹, and the surviving holder takes ownership of the money. In practice, notify the bank as soon as you can, usually with a death certificate, so the account can be updated and any interest position sorted. MoneyHelper's guidance on joint accounts covers the practical steps²¹, and there is wider help on money after a death in the life events guide.

How your savings are protected

Money held with KRBS is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSCS covers deposits in current accounts, savings accounts, cash ISAs and savings bonds²², and the provider's own information sheet states the limit for its accounts: £120,000 per depositor per bank, building society or credit union³. Your account statement will confirm whether your deposits with Kent Reliance are eligible for FSCS protection³.

Because KRBS and Kent Reliance are the same bank, the limit applies once across both: each eligible account holder is entitled to £120,000 protection in total, so two holders of a joint account have £240,000 between them³. Eligible deposits in business accounts are treated as if made by a single depositor and protected only up to £120,000³. If a bank fails, FSCS will typically return deposits within seven business days by cheque or electronic payment into an alternative account³.

The wider rules on FSCS protection, including how the limit is applied and what happens when a firm fails, are covered in the consumer protection guide. The bank behind the Kent Reliance and KRBS brands is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority, and its entry can be checked on the FCA Register⁵.