Home loan approvals in the United Kingdom rose for a second straight month during September, exceeding economists' expectations, and remained the highest since late 2009, data released by the British Bankers' Association revealed on Wednesday.

Mortgage approvals for house purchase rose to a seasonally adjusted 42,990 from August's revised 38,834.

Economists had expected approvals to total 39,500 for the month. The latest figure is the highest since December 2009, when approvals were 45,318.