Before adding any bank, regardless of its size, to our panel of active lenders, we insist that the bank have:

  • Responsive, English-speaking mortgage advisers to handle your file

  • Application forms and explanations in English

  • Transparent mortgage rates in line with or better than the going rate

  • No hidden fees or costs to the borrower


Registered in France, Olive Tree arranges mortgages with French banks for buyers requiring a mortgage to purchase a home in France. French estate agents, financial advisers, notaires and architects are amongst the professionals who refer English-speaking clients to us. For those who already own a property in France, we can arrange a re-mortgage or an equity-release mortgage (a repayment mortgage to release funds from a home you already own).

  



Please note that we do not arrange finance for gites or other commercial premises where the income from the business is required to support the borrowing. However, lenders may take potential letting income into consideration on residential loan applications or for buy-to-let mortgages.

We do not generally charge you any fees as we are paid by the banks on our lending panel. Taking a free mortgage introduction from us gives you the benefit of our research, advice and assistance for nothing. If we do need to charge any fee this will only be with prior agreement.

We are a family company, established by Paul and Frances Cronk, each contributing 25 years of banking experience. It is always our aim to serve our clients in a friendly and professional manner.

Paul Cronk, Managing Director, has 25 years' experience as a commercial banker. Much of his career was with Bank of America, one of the world's premier commercial banks, in London. He has also fulfilled independent consultancy assignments for both British and French commercial banks. An expert in relationships with other banks, Paul's background is ideally suited to finding the best banking partners to handle your application and to monitoring their performance on your behalf.


Frances Cronk is not an executive of the company. However, after a career of 25 years at the Bank of England her oversight is invaluable in ensuring we remain in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and maintain the highest standards of customer service and confidentiality.

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