VIRGIN Money has grown its mortgage book by three per cent to £20.9 billion in the third quarter of the year.

Retail deposits were also up by three per cent to £21.8bn while credit card balances ended the three months to September 30 slightly ahead of the group's expectations at £1bn. Profitability was said to have increased but Virgin did not give details.

Jayne-Anne Gadhia, chief executive, said: "We have accelerated our growth."