ABN AMRO welcomes freelancers after just one year of self-employment

A large majority of self-employed people believe that it would be difficult or even impossible to get a mortgage from a bank if they were looking to buy a home now. This is the conclusion of a survey of self-employed people commissioned by ABN AMRO. The reality is different, however: ABN AMRO welcomes freelancers for a mortgage interview after just one year of self-employment.

When asked how easy they thought it would be to get a mortgage for a home at this time, 37% estimated it would be impossible. Another 26% said it would be very difficult, and 28% said it would be difficult.

Enough scope

Frans Woelders, Managing Director of Retail Banking at ABN AMRO: ‘It’s a shame that so many self-employed people feel they are invisible when it comes to their mortgage needs. We see enough scope to offer these business people the prospect of getting a mortgage. After just one year of being on their own, they can have 75% of their income included in the calculation of the mortgage.’

Many self-employed people are doing well professionally and financially, according to ABN AMRO’s own survey of clients. The bank has not noted any differences in payment behaviour between clients with an employment contract and those who are self-employed.

Specially trained advisors

As part of its plans to devote extra attention to the self-employed, the bank has trained its advisors to listen to the needs of this group of clients and to help them discover what the bank has to offer them.