NAB-owned UBank launches robot to sell home loans
In a first for an Australian bank, NAB-owned UBank has launched an artificial intelligence “chatbot” for home loans. Using IBM Watson’s supercomputer technology, it aims to reduce the time it takes to complete an application for a home loan, by providing real-time answers to questions that is available 24/7. Called RoboChat, it has been trained using data collected from customer questions and will continue to learn as more customers engage with it, becoming smarter and more user-friendly over time. Users ask it questions such as “what term do you offer on home loans” and “do you offer redraws and how do they work”, with RoboChat offering on-the-spot help. A handful […]
OnDeck launches ‘Turn That No Around’ campaign
Small business loan specialist OnDeck Australia has kicked off a campaign, #turnthatNOaround, targeted at small business owners who are looking to seize growth opportunities, but are unable to do so due to lack of funding from traditional sources. The campaign, which is already running on radio, is scheduled to run across outdoor, social (LinkedIn and Facebook) and digital media to encapsulate an integrated multi-channel outreach. With the #turnthatNOaround campaign, OnDeck aims to reach small business owners who have experienced a “no” from their banks, giving them an opportunity to secure a loan that is much faster than the banks – it takes just one business day. “Small business owners, which […]
Aussies getting ‘fleeced’ by major banks, says HashChing
A recent analysis conducted by the online mortgage marketplace has claimed that borrowers with the big four are paying up to $90,000 more than they need to for their home loans. By comparing the fixed and variable rates offered by the big four banks with those available through the HashChing platform, the analysis revealed it was possible to save up to $90,000 over the life of a home loan. HashChing pointed out that according to the RBA, one-third of borrowers have less than a month’s worth of breathing room around their mortgage, with millions of Australians at risk of falling behind on their payments. Commenting on the findings, HashChing CEO […]
Budget’s big bank levy could open the door for fintech lenders
In the 2017 Budget announcement, Treasurer Scott Morrison announced a 0.06% annual levy on key funding sources for Australia’s major banks – a cost that could be passed on to Aussie borrowers and may drive them toward alternate lending sources. The levy will apply to funding sources such as corporate bonds and large deposits and will only affect banks with debts above $100 billion – effectively limiting it to big players the Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, NAB, ANZ and Macquarie. “This represents a fair contribution to the community from our major banks, is consistent with other advanced countries and helps foster competition from smaller banks,” according to budget papers. If it […]
Personal loan applications surge as credit cards wane
Australians are shunning high interest credit cards and turning to personal loans for large purchases. Driving the switch are tech-savvy consumers taking up loans from peer-to-peer (P2P) lenders, a new breed of online competitors to banks. Credit card applications fell by almost 4 per cent in the March 2017 quarter compared with the same quarter last year, the latest report on consumer credit by credit bureau Equifax shows. That’s the biggest fall since September 2012 quarter. Personal loan applications rose by 13.5 per cent over the same period, the biggest increase since the March 2005 quarter. The latest period of sustained growth in personal loan applications started in the second […]
Moneysoft enters new partnership with Mortgage Choice
Moneysoft’s advice technology will power a new Mortgage Choice Financial Planning tool aimed at bolstering clients’ money management skills and helping them reach their financial goals. Mortgage Choice Financial Planning will offer the tool under the name of MoneyTrack as a part of their cash flow coaching service. Tania Milnes, general manager of Mortgage Choice Financial Planning, said the new tool will help its national network of advisers to enhance the affordable and transparent advice they provide to clients. “The introduction of MoneyTrack will provide a robust basis for the advice we currently provide to help manage their cash flow,” she said. “It gives clients an easy to understand tool […]
SocietyOne hits new lending records
SocietyOne sets new lending record as growth continues to accelerate in 2017 $250 million in total lending originations since inception March 2017 sets new monthly record for new lending of $20 million Second best quarter on record for personal loans and agri-lending Loan book goes through $150 million – 165% increase year-on-year Significant increase in investor funding following appointment of CIO John Cummins SocietyOne, Australia’s leading and fastest-growing marketplace lender, has set a further new record for marketplace lending after passing through the $250 million lending mark following another strong quarter of growth. Strong demand from borrowers for personal loans in the post-Christmas and New Year period, and growing interest […]
Fintech Down Under
Cameron Dart is the CEO of International Fintech, a hub that connects Australian fintech companies to the rest of the world and vice versa. The company recently opened a London “launch pad” office that helps Australian startups expand globally and links startups in other countries to the Australian market. To help shed light on the state of Australian fintech, Benzinga caught up with Cameron Dart for a Q&A about innovation and how fintech solves problems for Australian users. Q&A With Cameron Dart What’s the general “lay of the land” of Australian fintech? The Australian fintech industry as a whole is in its infancy compared to the United States and the […]
