Fintech start-ups threaten mortgage broking old guard amid royal commission heat
The emergence of fintech disrupters to the lucrative mortgage broking industry is being driven by three key dynamics. First, banks pay $2 billion a year in commissions to mortgage brokers for the delivery of home loan borrowers – but want to pay less. Second, the Hayne royal commission is investigating whether current broker pay structures create conflicts of interest and exploring better ways to serve customers. Third, technology is making self-service easier, and “open banking” will put customers in control of their data, including all the information required to make a mortgage application. So enter the mortgage broking entrepreneurs and a bunch of start-ups ruffling the feathers of the powerful […]
MoneyMe teams with USYD to grant $96k Fintech Partner Scholarship
Leading consumer fintech, MoneyMe, has teamed with the University of Sydney Business School to award a $96,000 Fintech Industry Partner Scholarship to Sydney University Business Analytics PhD doctoral student, Jian Tina Zhai. The partnership reflects MoneyMe’s commitment to the long term future of the rapidly expanding fintech sector and the Business School’s commitment to strong industry links as well as cutting edge research. The scholarship will waive Tina’s fees throughout the 3 years of her candidature at the School, while also providing her with firsthand work experience at MoneyMe assisting in the development of their state-of-the-art, purpose-built consumer lending platform, ‘Horizon’. “My ultimate aim is to apply my academic research to a wide range of […]
The Australian fintech startups disrupting home loans
A new type of fintech company is helping home buyer owners save on their home loans, using technology to drive competition and take business from the big banks. The differences between mortgage deals offered by the big four banks are hard to spot and even harder to work out when looking for a home loan deal, according to an investigation by the consumer watchdog, the ACCC (Australian Competition and Consumer Commission). The watchdog says there are signs of “less-than-vigorous” price competition in Australia’s $1.75 trillion mortgage lending industry. However, a group of startups are trying to change that. A number of property-related fintechs have lodged entries to this year’s Finnie […]
N2N Connect buys a stake in Australian peer-to-peer lender
N2N Connect Bhd has agreed to acquire a 28% stake in an Australian peer-to-peer lending company for AU$2.8mil (RM8.33mil) cash. The company told the stock exchange today that the acquisition of OurMoneyMarket Holdings Pty Ltd is not expected to have any “material effect” on its earnings and net asset for the financial year ending Dec 31, 2018. OurMoneyMarket operates a platform that provides borrowers with a 100% online application process. “OurMoneyMarket intends to redefine the role that marketplace lending plays in Australian financial services with a focus on collaborating with, rather than competing against, traditional lenders,” N2N Connect said. Its advanced investor platform applies securitisation “best practice” methods to provide […]
CashDeck releases software to help brokers and borrowers prepare for tougher lending measures
There’s no doubting that the Hayne Royal Commission will bring about changes to the way borrowers, brokers and bankers behave. As lenders are required to more carefully scrutinise loan applications and living expenses, it is expected that home buyers borrowing power will be greatly reduced. A recent UBS report suggests that credit availability could be cut by 21 to 41%, depending on income. While nobody can tell exactly what measures will come about, change is certain, and smart brokers will already be making changes to their business processes. Compliance will be top of the list, and for brokers this will mean more accurately assessing living expenses—an onerous task. Technology must […]
Australia lags on digital banking revolution: Oracle survey
Would you be prepared to give a little-known business access to your most sensitive financial data, if it meant getting a better deal on your home loan? This type of question is set to become increasingly relevant in the coming years, as the big data revolution joins forces with a push for greater competition in banking. Data is one of the most valuable assets in the financial world, and there’s a clear trend towards policies that put more of this value back into the hands of consumers, rather than large corporations. The only catch is that often, the way for consumers to squeeze more value from their data it to […]
Open banking a solution to royal commission lending concerns
The government’s “Open Banking” regime will allow banks to meet stricter requirements to lend responsibly that may flow from the Hayne royal commission, experts say, because it will allow each major bank to get the actual income and expenses data from new customers’ existing banks, avoiding the need to rely on estimates or benchmarks. After the banking royal commission expressed concern about ANZ Banking Group not checking borrower expenses submitted by mortgage brokers, ANZ’s business services head, Nigel Dobson, told The Australian Financial Review Banking & Wealth Summit that open banking will “help us to enhance our responsible lending obligations, as we will have more precision and transparency around a […]
The 2018 Fintech Business Awards winners
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2018 Fintech Business Awards: Crowdfunding Innovator of the Year OnMarket Lending Innovator of the Year SocietyOne Personal Finance Innovator of the Year Pocketbook Insurance Innovator of the Year Cover Genius Payments Innovator of the Year Afterpay Australia Compliance Innovator of the Year Moneycatcha Software Innovator of the Year BGL Corporate Solutions Fintech Mentor of the Year Peta Tilse, Sophisticated Access Fintech Entrepreneur of the Year Philip Copeland, Avoka Investment Innovator of the Year Acorns Australia Fintech Thought leader of the Year Jonathon Wilkinson, Equitise Accounting Innovator of the Year Class Limited Financial Advice Innovator of the Year myprosperity Lending Platform Innovator of the […]