Northern Rock plc is a mortgage and savings bank based in the United Kingdom. Its core lending business is United Kingdom residential mortgages, which comprise over 90% by value of total loans and advances to customers. The balance of loans and advances to customers includes a portfolio of personal unsecured loans and a small portfolio of secured commercial loans. The distribution network consists of over 70 branches, plus postal, telephone and Internet operations. The Company also uses the United Kingdom financial intermediary market to distribute products to customers.