HSBC promises to lend extra £2bn in mortgages this year

The move will extend HSBC’s mortgage funding pledge to £17bn in 2012, up from £15bn announced earlier this year. It's lending pledge to first-time buyers has increased from £3bn to £4bn. The bank - the sixth biggest lender which loaned £11.3bn in 2010 - signalled its intention to increase market share in January. Peter Dockar (pictured), head of mortgages at HSBC, said: “At a time when many other lenders are contracting their lending, we remain committed to helping more customers who aspire to own their own home and we approved a record number of mortgages in the first half of this ye...