The owner of Kent Reliance increased its loan book by 5% in the first three months of the year and enjoyed strong numbers of mortgage applications.

OneSavings Bank, based in Chatham, upped its net loans and advances by £283 million to £6.2 billion.

Bosses said margins remain very strong after organic growth in new loans to customers increased £599 million.

Chief executive Andy Golding said he is “delighted with the performance of the business so far this year”.

He said the firm had “enjoyed exceptionally strong levels of new mortgage applications” and expects the trend to continue into the second quarter of the year.

“This further demonstrates the strength of our specialist capabilities, which line up directly with the continuing professionalisation of the buy-to-let market,” said Mr Golding.

“We remain confident of achieving at least mid-teens net loan book growth in 2017.”