🚨 Lender Update Wrap-Up: New Policy Moves, Borrowing Flexibility & Broker Education

There’s plenty happening across the lender space, with a mix of policy enhancements, niche funding solutions and educational opportunities for brokers. From off-the-plan lending now live with ME Bank, to Think Tank’s new GST Loan, ING’s DTI uplift, and an upcoming NAB webinar on company and trust lending — here’s what you need to know. 👇

🏗️ ME Bank: Off-the-Plan Purchase Lending Is Now Live

ME Bank has officially launched off-the-plan purchase lending, giving brokers another option to support customers purchasing eligible new developments before construction is complete.

This is a handy addition for clients buying into new developments, but there are some important submission requirements and timeframes to keep in mind.

✅ Good to know

When submitting off-the-plan purchase applications:

• Enter the security address in ApplyOnline
• If the full address is not known, enter the lot number in the street name field, together with the street name
• If the street number is unknown, enter 0 (zero) in the street number field
• In the security title section, select the proposed / parent title type
• Set the title to unregistered
• You do not need to add the title identifier

⏰ Important lending timeframes

• Maximum 90 days from application submission date (AOL submission) to loan documents signed
• Maximum 180 days from application submission date to settlement

💡 Why it matters

This gives brokers another pathway for clients buying brand new property in eligible developments — but timing will be everything. This is not one to leave sitting in the too-hard basket.

 🏡Credit SA

Credit SA has updated its minimum security size to 40m², excluding balconies and carports.

💰 Think Tank: New GST Loans Now Available

Think Tank has introduced a new GST Loan solution, designed to help fund the GST payable at settlement without slowing down the transaction or draining the client’s working capital.

For clients purchasing commercial property — especially those needing to preserve cash flow — this could be a very smart add-on.

🚀 Why use a GST Loan?

GST Loans help finance the GST component of a property purchase, allowing clients to:

• Preserve liquidity
• Avoid tying up cash reserves
• Keep their core lending structure intact
• Settle on time without extra pressure on upfront funds

🔍 Key features

• Loan size: $10,000 to $500,000
• Term: Up to 6 months
• Repayment: Repaid via BAS refund
• Structure: Interest-only
• Principal: Repayable at any time without penalty

📈 LVR flexibility

• Total LVR can increase by up to 10% to accommodate GST funding

🏢 Availability

• Can be added to an accompanying commercial loan
• Can also be structured as a separate LRBA for commercial SMSF transactions

⚙️ How it works

• The base loan is approved under standard commercial parameters:
  • Full Doc
  • Mid Doc
  • Quick Doc
• Or under commercial SMSF parameters:
  • Full Doc
  • Mid Doc
• A GST Loan is then added to cover the GST component
• Interest-only repayments apply for the GST Loan term of up to 6 months
• The GST Loan is repaid in full once the BAS refund is received

💡 Why it matters

This is a neat solution for clients who are asset-strong but don’t want to have settlement day chewing through their cash flow. It also gives brokers another way to present a structured, flexible commercial outcome without adding unnecessary complexity. Love that for us. 😌

📊 ING: DTI Increased for 70%–80% LVR Loans

ING has updated its Debt to Income (DTI) settings, increasing the allowable DTI from less than 6 to less than 8 for home loan applications with an LVR between 70% and 80%.

✅ What’s changed?

Effective immediately:

• For loans with LVR ≤ 80%, DTI is now less than 8
• For loans with LVR > 80%, DTI remains less than 6

🎓 NAB Webinar: Company & Trust Lending

NAB is running an upcoming 1 CPD point webinar focused on company and trust lending, designed to help brokers better understand key structures, common lending scenarios, and submission considerations for corporate and trust entities.

If you’ve ever looked at one of these deals and thought “this is either going to be elegant… or deeply annoying,” this session may be worth your time. 😅

🗓️ Webinar details

Topic: NAB Company & Trust Lending Webinar
Date: 21 April 2026
Time: 10:00 AM
Location: Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney time
CPD: 1 point

🎤 Hosted by

• Anth Gravina
• Erica Coote
• Tracey Maneva
• Steph Campbell

📝 What the webinar will cover

• Key company and trust structures
• Common lending scenarios
• What to consider when submitting applications for corporate and trust entities
• Practical guidance to help brokers navigate these deals with more confidence

🔗 Registration

Register in advance for this webinar:  https://nab-au.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5ZGLnObKTE6uE4MTYacehw

🟡 NAB: Income Verification Changes + FY25 Self-Employed Reminder

NAB has flagged two important reminders for brokers, with changes effective 24 April and updated self-employed verification already in play.

📌 What’s changing?

• Account credits from other financial institutions (OFI) can no longer be used to verify PAYG income types. •
• Account credits from any financial institution (including NAB) can no longer be used to verify bonus or investment income. •
• Permanent Defence Force personnel must now submit payslips to verify their income - account credits and automated strategies will no longer be accepted. •
• Defence Reserves employees’ income can be verified by either a payslip or a letter from the Defence Force confirming their eligibility and rate of pay. A minimum of 20 days verification should be used for assessment, or the year-to-date (YTD) amount on their payslip if the 20-day minimum has been exceeded.

📌 Self-employed reminder

For applications submitted from 1 April 2026, NAB now requires the applicant’s FY25 financial information to verify self-employed income.

🔵 AMP: High LVR Policy Boost for Pre-Retiree Clients

AMP has introduced a smart policy enhancement giving brokers more flexibility for pre-retiree clients who still have strong income, solid planning options, and a need for smarter cash flow solutions.

📌 What’s new?

AMP is now offering:

• Up to 95% LVR on P&I loans
• Up to 90% LVR on Interest Only loans

This creates more investment opportunity for clients approaching retirement who may not fit the traditional lending mould, but still have the income and asset position to support a strong deal.

🏡 Other AMP reminders

• SMSF Pre-approvals are available
• AMP Bank has removed the genuine savings requirement, meaning brokers no longer need to evidence a three‑month savings history, with assessment now focused on ownership and verified source of funds.

✨ Mark Your Calendar: LMG Events Coming Up

📍 Commercial Upskill with Go Beyond & Bridgit by LMG
Unlock the power of commercial lending with Go Beyond and Bridgit, and discover how commercial lending, SMSF, and commercial bridging can give your business a competitive edge.

📅 Date: 30 April
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Venue: The Last Piece, U 7/2 Stadium Circuit, Mulgrave VIC 3170
🔗 Register: Register here

☕ LMG Lending Coffee Cluster
Come along for a coffee and a cannoli and hear from the LMG Lending team.

Get the latest insights from Zeus, Apollo, Go Beyond, Go Flexi and Bridgit by LMG.

📅 Date: 12 May
🕙 Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
📍 Venue: Yummy Cannoli, 10/66 Willandra Drive, Epping VIC 3076
🔗 Register: Register here

🥂 LMG Lending Speed Dating Lunch
Join the LMG Lending team for an informative speed dating lunch. Hear the latest updates from Zeus, Apollo, Go Beyond, Go Flexi and Bridgit by LMG.

📅 Date: 13 May
🕛 Time: 12:00pm – 2:00pm
📍 Venue: Lulie Tavern, 225 Johnston Street, Abbotsford VIC 3067
🔗 Register: Register here

✨ Final Wrap-Up

That’s it for the updates this week, - lots going on in the market. Have a great week, and I’ll see you next Monday, finance friends.