Our Panel of Lenders

What a lender panel is and why it matters

A panel is the set of lenders a broker is accredited to submit applications to. A wide panel matters because lender policies differ enormously. The bank that declines a self-employed applicant may be the one that comfortably approves them. The lender with a sharp advertised rate may have fees that make it more expensive overall. Comparing across a panel is how you find the genuine best fit rather than the loudest advertisement.

Think of it as the difference between asking one shop whether it has what you need and asking a whole street. When you can only see one lender’s answer, you have no way of knowing whether a better deal was sitting next door. A broad panel turns a single yes-or-no into a real comparison, which is where the value of using a broker comes from.

It also protects you when your situation is not textbook. Self-employed income, a career break, a HECS debt, a small deposit, or an unusual property can all turn a straightforward approval into a maze at the wrong lender and a simple yes at the right one. The wider the panel, the more likely there is a lender whose policy fits your circumstances comfortably, which is often worth far more than a fractional difference in rate.

The types of lender on our panel

Through our licensee we have access to a broad cross-section of the Australian lending market. That includes the major banks, whose scale and features suit many straightforward borrowers, and the second-tier and regional banks, which often compete hard on rate and can be more flexible on policy. It also includes non-bank lenders, which are funded differently and frequently lead the market on price, and specialist lenders, which are built for situations the big banks find awkward.

That range is the point. A pristine salaried applicant with a large deposit has very different needs from a self-employed buyer with a complex income, or someone with a small deposit relying on a government scheme. Having lenders of every type on the panel means we can match the borrower to the institution most likely to say yes on the best terms. A full, current list of our accredited lenders is available on request.

How we choose a lender for you

Choosing the right lender is not simply a hunt for the lowest advertised rate. We weigh several things together: your borrowing power at each lender, their policy on your specific income and deposit, the true cost of the loan once rate and fees are combined, the features that matter to you such as an offset account or redraw, and how quickly each lender can turn an application around when timing is tight.

Those factors pull in different directions, and the best choice is the one that balances them for your situation. A slightly higher rate with a genuine offset can beat a headline-cheap loan with no flexibility. A lender that approves you comfortably is worth more than one that technically offers a few dollars less but may decline. Our job is to hold all of that up against your goals and recommend the option that serves you best.

Policy is often the deciding factor, and it is the part borrowers rarely see. One lender might count all of your overtime while another counts half, one might accept a smaller deposit on the property type you want while another will not, and one might process your file in days while another takes weeks. Knowing those differences across the panel, rather than discovering them one rejected application at a time, is exactly what a broker is for.

Why not just walk into your own bank

Your own bank can only offer its own products, and it assesses you against its own single policy. If it says no, or offers a mediocre rate, you have no comparison and no leverage. You are left to wonder whether another lender would have said yes, or offered a better deal, with no way to find out short of applying somewhere else and adding another mark to your credit file.

A broker turns that one option into many, at no cost to you for most loans. Instead of taking whatever your branch happens to offer, you get a comparison across the panel and a recommendation made under a legal duty to act in your interests. For most borrowers that is a straightforward decision, which is why the majority of Australians now arrange their home loan through a broker rather than directly with a single bank.

Commission does not drive our advice

It is fair to ask how a broker is paid, and we are upfront about it. For most home loans the lender pays the broker a commission when the loan settles, at no cost to you. Lenders are required to pay broadly similar rates, so there is no lender quietly paying us more to steer you toward it. On top of that industry structure sits the Best Interests Duty, a legal obligation that requires us to recommend the option that is in your best interests, regardless of commission.

In other words, the incentive and the law both point the same way: toward the loan that suits you. We set all of this out in full in our Fee and Commission Disclosure, so you can see exactly how we are paid before you decide to work with us. Nothing about it is hidden, because a recommendation you cannot trust is worth nothing.

Frequently asked questions

Which lenders are on your panel?

We have access to a broad panel spanning the major banks, second-tier and regional banks, non-bank lenders, and specialist lenders. A full, current list of our accredited lenders is available on request.

Does a wider panel always mean a cheaper loan?

Not always cheaper, but almost always a better fit. A wide panel lets us match your specific situation to the lender most likely to approve you on the best overall terms, which considers the true cost of rate and fees together, not just the headline number.

Will comparing lenders hurt my credit score?

No. We assess your options against lender policies before any application is lodged, so we can identify the right fit without submitting multiple applications and leaving multiple marks on your credit file.

Do you get paid more by some lenders than others?

Lenders are required to pay broadly similar commission rates, so no single lender can pay us to favour it, and the Best Interests Duty legally requires us to recommend what suits you. Our Fee and Commission Disclosure explains this in full.

Can you still help if my own bank already said no?

Often, yes. A decline from one lender simply means you did not fit that lender’s policy, not that you are unsuitable everywhere. We can look at where your situation fits across the panel and, in many cases, find a lender who views it very differently.