🏦 ANZ

Support Staff Access to the ANZ Broker Portal

ANZ is progressively introducing a new feature allowing accredited brokers to provide designated support staff with access to the ANZ Broker Portal.

Key points

• Brokers will be able to invite and manage support staff directly.
• Each support staff member will use their own login credentials.
• Brokers can authorise access for up to 10 support staff.
• The feature will be released in stages.
• Eligible brokers will receive an email once the functionality becomes available.

🏦 Bank First

Expanded LMI Waiver Eligibility

Bank First has expanded its LMI waiver, potentially assisting more eligible healthcare and education professionals purchasing a home.

Key benefits

• Loans of up to $1.5 million
• Up to 90% LVR
• No LMI premium
• Available to eligible existing homeowners as well as first home buyers

Eligibility

• The property must be an established or completed owner-occupied home.
• The property must become the borrower’s principal place of residence.
• At least one borrower must work in an eligible healthcare or education occupation.
• Applicants must satisfy:
• A serviceability surplus of more than $200
• Genuine savings requirements
• Maximum DTI of 5
• Standard security requirements

Not available for

• Construction loans
• Refinances
• Debt consolidation
• Cash out
• Borrowers eligible for the Australian Government’s 5% Home Guarantee Scheme

🏦 Bank of Sydney

90% LVR Without LMI for Select Professionals

Bank of Sydney offers lending up to 90% LVR without LMI for eligible owner-occupied principal-and-interest applications.

Eligible professions may include:

• Teachers
• Engineers
• Doctors
• Registered nurses
• Commercial pilots
• Emergency services workers
• Surveyors
• Police officers
• Firefighters
• Accountants
• Lawyers
• Defence Force personnel

Eligibility, pricing and security requirements apply.

🔍 Residential Lending Niches

Serviceability

• Consumer Debt Reducer: Simplified treatment may be available for applicants with joint liabilities.
• Investment property expenses: Rental income shading may remove the need to separately enter investment property expenses for servicing.

Borrower and assessment options

• Credit scores do not determine the applicable interest rate.
• Company and trust borrowers may be accepted for investment and owner-occupied lending.

Property niches

• Up to four properties on one title or site may be considered under residential policy for purchases, refinances and non-developer construction.
• Residential acreage above six acres may be considered up to:
• 70% LVR in metropolitan areas
• 50% LVR in regional areas
• Bridging finance may be available for up to 12 months and 80% peak debt where a contract of sale has been exchanged on the existing property.
• Fixed-price contracts, cost-plus contracts, vacant land and owner-builder scenarios may be considered.

🏦 Better Choice

FY27 Jumbo Loan Update

Better Choice has updated its jumbo loan offering for borrowers requiring between $2.5 million and $5 million against a single security.

🏦 Great Southern Bank

Overtime and Allowance Income

The minimum verification period for overtime and allowance income has been reduced from six months to three months.

Subject to policy:

• Eligible overtime may be accepted at:
• 100% for essential workers
• 80% for non-essential workers
• Eligible shift allowance income may be accepted at 100%.
• Other eligible allowances may be accepted at 80%.

Property Title and Change of Name Requirements

Customers are no longer required to update the name recorded on their property title before settlement.

Where the title remains in a previous or maiden name:

• Include a note in the application.
• Provide a Marriage Certificate or formal Change of Name Certificate linking the customer’s current name to the title.
• A “One and the Same” statutory declaration will be included with the loan documents.
• The declaration does not need to be certified.

Rental Income Recognition

Great Southern Bank may now use 95% of eligible residential rental income when assessing serviceability.

Ongoing Rent and Board Commitments

For married or de facto applicants living together, one notional housing expense may now be applied to the household rather than one expense per applicant.

Key treatment

• Where an applicant will not live in the property being purchased or another property they own, an ongoing housing expense will apply.
• The expense will be the higher of:
• Actual rent or board; or
• A minimum notional expense of $150 per week or $650 per month.
• Where rent is shared with a financially independent person who is not included in the application, the applicant’s share may be apportioned.
• A notional housing expense does not apply where the applicant lives with a spouse or de facto partner who owns or is purchasing their shared home.

$600 Establishment Fee Waiver Extended

The $600 establishment fee waiver has been extended for eligible applications:

• Applications must be received by 26 February 2027.
• Loans must settle by 26 May 2027.

Eligible home loan products may also include:

• No annual fee
• No redraw fee
• Up to six 100% offset accounts with no account fee

Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

🏦 ING

Broker Commission Changes

From 1 August 2026, ING is simplifying its broker commission structure.

New commission model

• Flat upfront commission of 71.5 bps including GST
• Trail commission of 16.5 bps including GST
• The same upfront rate will apply regardless of LVR.
• The LVR-based tiered upfront structure will be removed.

Property sale clawback change

For new loans settling from 1 August 2026, clawback will not apply where:

• The secured property is sold; and
• The loan is discharged between 12 and 18 months after settlement.

Higher commissionable loan cap

The maximum loan amount eligible for upfront commission will increase from:

• $2 million to $5 million

Eligible variations to an existing loan involving no additional security will continue to receive the 71.5 bps upfront commission.

🏦 Paramount

Lo Doc Commercial Lending to 80% LVR

Paramount has highlighted its Lo Doc commercial lending option.

Key features

• Loans up to $3 million
• Up to 80% LVR
• Loan terms of up to 30 years
• No annual loan reviews
• Flexible income verification
• No broker clawback fees or penalties

Eligibility, security and credit requirements apply.

🏦 Resimac

⚠️ SMSF Residential Lending Deadline

Resimac has confirmed that current SMSF residential lending remains available during the transition period.

To qualify under the current arrangements:

• Residential property contracts must have been exchanged by 9 August 2026.
• Loan documents may be signed after 9 August, provided the contract was exchanged before the deadline.

PAYG Income Policy

Subject to product and policy requirements:

• Overtime and shift allowances:
  Up to 100% may be accepted where regularly earned for at least six months.
• Commission income:
  Up to 100% may be accepted where regularly earned for at least six months with the same employer, or where the borrower has two years’ relevant industry experience.
• Bonus income:
  Up to 100% of the two-year average may be accepted where the borrower remains with the same employer or within the same industry.
• Casual income:
  Up to 100% may be accepted over a 46-week period where the borrower has:
• At least six months in the current role; and
• At least six months’ previous employment history.
• Second-job and permanent part-time income:
  Up to 100% may be accepted after six months’ employment, with combined working hours capped at 60 hours per week.

Self-Employed Income Policy

For Prime Full Doc and Specialist Clear applications:

• One year’s financials may be accepted up to 80% LVR.
• Evidence may include:
• The latest year’s tax returns
• Financial statements
• Latest ATO Notice of Assessment
• A 100% depreciation add-back may be available.

Salaried Self-Employed Applicants

Payslips may be accepted where no additional business income is required for servicing.

Potential requirements include:

• Prime Full Doc non-LMI or Specialist Clear application
• Maximum 80% LVR
• ABN registered for at least two years
• GST registration for at least 12 months where turnover exceeds $75,000
• Regular salary received for at least six months
• Two payslips
• ATO Income Statement
• Accountant’s letter confirming the business is trading profitably

🏦 Suncorp Bank

Registered Property Title Required Before Approval

From 23 July 2026, a registered property title is required before Suncorp can issue formal home loan approval.

This applies to:

• Land applications
• Established property applications
• Applications that had not received approval by 23 July 2026

Brokers should speak with their BDM where the title has not yet registered or where timing may affect approval.

🎓 EDUCATION, WEBINARS & BROKER TRAINING

All upcoming lender education sessions are grouped below so you can quickly see what is on and decide which ones deserve a spot in the calendar.

🏦 Brighten by LMG

Brighten Product Launch

📅 Tuesday, 28 July 2026
🕛 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

The session will introduce Brighten’s lending offering across:

• Residential lending
• Commercial lending
• SMSF lending
• Reverse mortgages
• Ideal borrower profiles
• Product integration and broker opportunities

👉 Register here 

🏦 Deposit Power

Growing Your Business With Deposit Bonds

📅 Wednesday, 29 July 2026
🕐 1:00 pm–2:00 pm

The session will cover:

• How deposit bonds may remove the upfront cash-deposit barrier
• Supporting clients through the property purchase journey
• Practical strategies to improve client conversion
• Identifying suitable deposit bond opportunities

👉 Register here 

🏦 MA Money

Alt Doc 101

📅 Thursday, 30 July 2026
🕛 12:00 pm–1:00 pm

This webinar is designed to help brokers confidently identify, structure and submit Alt Doc applications.

Topics include:

• What an Alt Doc loan is
• When Alt Doc may be appropriate
• Identifying suitable customers
• The application and credit process
• Supporting tools
• Servicing calculations
• Real-life lending scenarios

👉 Register here 

🏦 MA Money

SMSF Commercial Lending

📅 Tuesday, 4 August 2026
🕛 12:00 pm–1:00 pm AEST

Topics include:

• How SMSF commercial lending works
• Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements
• Product features and eligibility
• SMSF calculators and client tools
• Credit process and required documentation
• Case studies and live Q&A

🎓 Attendance qualifies for one CPD point

👉 Register here 

🏦 AMP

AMP Bank Update

📅 Wednesday, 5 August 2026
🕚 11:00 am–12:00 pm

Topics include:

• AMP’s lending platform
• Assessment performance
• Broker experience
• SMSF SuperEdge
• New product launches
• Professional-package niches

👉 Register here 

🏦 ANZ

Brokerology: Business Income Policy

📅 Wednesday, 5 August 2026
🕚 11:00 am–11:45 am AEST

The session will cover:

• ANZ’s business income policy
• Common scenarios
• Frequently asked questions
• Niche applications
• Practical submission tips
• Applying the policy with greater confidence

🎓 Attendance qualifies for CPD points

👉 Register here 

🏦 ING

Five-Part Investor Refinance Series

ING’s education series explores how brokers can use refinance strategies to assist property investors seeking:

• Improved pricing
• Better cash flow
• More effective loan structures
• Higher-LVR refinance options
• Flexible employment income treatment
• Common Debt Reducer servicing benefits

Check ING’s broker communications for individual session dates and registration details.

🏦 Westpac Reminder!

Credit Policy Learning Bites: Self-Employed Customers

Westpac’s latest Learning Bite focuses on four servicing pathways available for self-employed applicants.

1. Fast Track

• Uses ATO Notices of Assessment
• Income is generally averaged over two years
• May suit straightforward self-employed scenarios

2. One-Year Assessment

• Uses the latest year’s financial information
• May assist borrowers with stronger recent trading performance

3. Latest-Year Assessment

• May use 100% of the latest year’s income
• May assist where business income has grown significantly year-on-year
• Eligibility requirements apply

4. Two-Year Average Assessment

• Uses the average of the previous two years
• The lower year may apply where income has reduced

Brokers should refer to Westpac Policy 03.16 for full eligibility criteria, evidence requirements and applicable terms.

My Random Broker Hack of the Week: Let ChatGPT Decide What’s for Dinner

Today’s Credit Crunch is, of course, packed with lending updates—but I also think it’s worth sharing the little hacks that make life outside mortgage broking easier.

Because let’s be honest: after a full day of clients, lender policy, servicing calculations, compliance, emails and the occasional deal that decides to spontaneously combust at 4:45 pm, the last thing most of us feel like doing is working out what on earth to cook for the family.

Since returning from annual leave a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been using ChatGPT to help me with dinner—and it has honestly been a game changer.

Here’s all I do:

1. Pull out whatever ingredients I have in the fridge.
2. Take a quick photo.
3. Upload it to ChatGPT.
4. Ask it to create some meal ideas using those ingredients.

It will suggest several options, and once I choose one, it writes the full recipe and instructions for me. No searching through recipe websites. No scrolling past someone’s life story before finding the ingredient list. No extra thinking required.

Last night, I had already put some smoky barbecue pork ribs in the slow cooker, but I had no idea what salad, salsa or side dish to serve with them.

I laid out the ingredients I had—corn, avocado, red onion, capsicum, celery, cos lettuce, spring onion, coriander and sour cream—took the photo below and used this prompt:

“I am cooking slow-cooked pork ribs with a smoky barbecue sauce, and these are the ingredients I have for a salad or salsa to go with them. I also have jasmine rice. Can you give me some recipe ideas using the ingredients in the photo?”

ChatGPT came back with several ideas, including:

• Charred corn, avocado and coriander salsa
• A Mexican-style barbecue pork rice bowl
• Creamy crunchy salad
• Barbecue street corn salad
• A fresh green salad with lime dressing

The winner was the charred corn, avocado and coriander salsa, served with the ribs, jasmine rice and sour cream.

Charred Corn, Avocado and Coriander Salsa

Ingredients

• 2 corn cobs
• 1 avocado, diced
• ½ red onion, finely diced
• ½ red capsicum, diced
• 2 spring onions, sliced
• A generous handful of coriander, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime or lemon
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• Optional chilli or chilli flakes

Method

1. Cook the corn until just tender.
2. Slice the kernels from the cob and char them in a hot frying pan with a small drizzle of oil.
3. Combine the corn with the avocado, red onion, capsicum, spring onion and coriander.
4. Dress with lime juice, olive oil, salt and pepper.
5. Serve alongside the ribs and jasmine rice with a dollop of sour cream.

I’ve been doing this almost daily. Earlier in the week, I had absolutely no idea what to cook, so I placed all the random ingredients from my fridge on the bench and took a photo. ChatGPT gave me seven different dinner ideas. I ran the options past the family, the kids chose their favourite, and dinner was sorted.

I’ve tried plenty of systems over the years. I’m naturally a planner, I’ve done the Sunday meal-prepping routine, and I’ve used meal-kit services. They all have their place—but this is such a brilliant last-minute option when the week has gone sideways and you’re staring into the fridge waiting for it to provide emotional support.

So, brokers, this is my random hack of the week:

Take a photo of what you already have and ask ChatGPT to work out dinner.

No meal planning. No food waste. No recipe searching. No decision fatigue.

At the end of a long day in mortgage broking, sometimes outsourcing one more decision is exactly what we need. That’s it from me this week.

I hope the lender updates keep you in the know and the random hack makes your week slightly easier.

I’ll see you next week, Kath