AMP

Online Only. AMP is a wealth management company (meaning they help people invest their money), who decided it would be a good fit to add home loans to their customer offering as well. On top of home loans, they also offer bank accounts and term deposits for personal and business customers. They’ve been around since 1849 (that’s 2 centuries back!) and are listed on the Australian Stock market (ASX). Their head office is based in Sydney and operate in Australia and New Zealand.

ANZ

Branch and Online. ANZ is a Melbourne-based bank that has been around since 1835. They offer a full range of banking and financial services, with a large branch network across the country. They are one of the ‘Big 4’ who were part of the 2017 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Industry.

Australian Military Bank

Online and branch. Australian Military Bank has been providing banking services to the Australian Defence Force personnel & their families since 1959. They also will happily have anyone as a customer, who isn’t in the armed forces. The Brisbane-based lender is a member bank, meaning as a customer, you’re also a part owner. They have a simple product set & generally have pretty damn good interest rates. Their tech has a bit to go though.

Auswide Bank

Online and branch. The result of several community-based regional Queensland building societies combining over a few decades, brings you the Bundaberg-based Auswide Bank.  With foundations from back in the 1960’s, they started to ‘provide an alternative to the big banks’ and are now listed on the Australian Stock market (ASX). They have a focus on customer service and offer most banking products for personal and business customers. A bank to seriously consider, particularly as they continue to improve their digital banking.

Bank of Melbourne

Branch and Online. After starting in 1989, Bank Of Melbourne was only around for 8 years before they were bought by Westpac, then disappeared altogether in 2004. However Westpac brought them back to life in 2011 and it seems Melbourne was pretty happy to get their bank back. They’re still owned by Westpac (under their St George brand) and offer most personal and business banking services. Generally only available to Victorian customers.

 

Bank SA

Branch and Online. Bank SA has been around since 1848 and is South Australia’s biggest bank. Apparently, their first customer was an Afghan shepherd (seriously!) and have continued serving locals ever since, offering all personal and business banking services. Despite some rough times in the past, a few name changes, plus being owned by Westpac, they’ll still be a favourite of most South Australians (like Coopers beer)! Generally only available to South Australian customers.

BankWest

Online with branches in WA. Perth-based BankWest are like banking royalty in Western Australia, having been around since 1895. They offer their banking services Australia-wide for both homeowners and business owners. They have a massive focus on digital banking and one of the leaders in the country after a big investment in recent years. Even though they are owned by the Commonwealth Bank, their service is more like that of a smaller bank.

BOQ

Online and branch. Dare we say it, Bank of Queensland (BOQ) is the sleeping giant of Australian banking. With foundations in Brisbane dating back to 1874, they have a national banking network, with branches in every state and territory across the country. They are listed on the Australian Stock market (ASX) and are a full-service personal and business bank. A big management shake-up in recent years and a massive tech investment underway, there is some more great stuff coming from these guys.

 

Commonwealth Bank

Branch and Online. Commbank (CBA) is a Sydney-based bank that has been around since 1912. They offer a full range of banking and financial services, with a large branch network across the country. They are one of the ‘Big 4’ who were part of the 2017 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Industry.

Connective Select (Adelaide Bank)

Online Only. With origins dating back to 1877, Adelaide Bank is part of the stock market-listed Bendigo and Adelaide Bank group and are well practised in providing top notch home lending and banking. Without their own branch network, they punch well above their weight with great products supported by their digital banking services. Their home loans are white-labelled through Connective Home Loans’ suite of products.

Connective Essentials (Advantedge)

Online Only. Advantedge is a non-bank lender that specialises in simple, low cost home loans, that are sold on its behalf. Based in Melbourne,  Advantedge was established in 2003 and is now one the largest wholesale lenders in Australia. Very fast application assessments & have nearly always one of the best rates in the market. No bank accounts, but decent tech; their home loans are white-labelled through Connective Home Loans’ suite of products.

Firefighters Mutual Bank

Online with a few branches. Not just for ‘Firies’ and their families, Firefighters Mutual is also available to the entire Emergency Services industry, such as Ambulance, Police, SES and Paramedics - including former staff and family. Being a Mutual Bank means that If you’re a customer, then you’re also a part owner, which is just that extra bit cool! They are based in Sydney, with a small branch network in most states and have been around since 1968. They offer most banking services, including accounts and credit cards, and always seem to have great interest rates on their home loans. But, they do have a bit to go on getting their digital banking up to speed. Part of the Teacher’s Mutual Family of banks.

Firstmac

Online. Firstmac are a Brisbane-based non-bank lender, meaning their focus is on loans only. They have been around since 1985 and are privately-owned. Their offering is pretty much limited to home and car loans, and even though they offer an ‘offset account’, it isn’t a deposit bank account. Which means it isn’t covered under the government guarantee for deposit accounts. But they do consistently have very competitive interest rates and also offer a discount for energy-efficient newly-built homes that have a minimum 7.0 Star NatHERS rating. The also own Loans.com.au

Gateway Bank

Online. From a small credit union to an online bank, all since they started in 1955. They’re a one-branch bank in Sydney City, and now service all their customers digitally nationwide. Another bank where if you’re a customer, you’re also a part owner. They offer most personal banking services, including accounts and personal loans. They have a great customer attitude & are totally worth a good look

Health Professionals Bank

Online + few branches. Health Professionals Bank is a division of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. Like them, they are an industry bank - just for current or retired employees of the Australian health sector and their families! In 2022 they were named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies & one of only 5 banks globally. They offer most banking services, including accounts and credit cards, and always seem to have great interest rates on their home loans. But, they do have a bit to go on getting their digital banking up to speed.

Heritage Bank

Branch and Online. Heritage is another customer-owned bank, meaning if you’re a customer then you’re also a part owner. They’ve been around since 1875 and are based in Toowoomba, yet have branches in most states around the country to provide their personal and business banking services. They are working hard on improving their digital banking and can be a little inconsistent with their service at times.

ING

Online Only. Dutch bank ING, came to Australia in 1999 and has become one of Australia's largest. They pioneered online-only banking and are famous for their high-interest savings account. Based in Sydney, they have consistently great home loan rates, awesome technology and tip-top service. If we had to find a fault, they are smidge picky on their customers.

Macquarie

Online Only. Formerly just an Investment Bank, Macquarie is now one of Australia’s top banks. They have invested in their tech & team, to now be one of the fastest lenders in the market, with fantastic service, consistently great rates and brilliant banking tech. This ASX-listed bank was established in Sydney in 1969 and offers most banking services to everyday Aussies. One of our favourite banks.

 

ME Bank

Online Only. ME started life back in Melbourne in 1999 when it was set up by 26 Industry Super funds, trying to get better deals for their members. It turned into a brilliant online-only bank that really lead the way with service & technology as they moved from branches to the internet. Recently bought by BOQ, they generally have pretty decent rates and a good suite of banking products. Oh, and we love their marketing campaigns too!

MyState

Online + a few branches. When a group of credit unions in Tasmania and Queensland get together to create better services for their members, you get MyState Bank. Another stock-market listed (ASX) bank, they are starting to be heard across the country with their fresh take on banking from their Hobart base. A near full-service bank with a growing digital presence, this is a bank that we think you’ll continue to hear more about in the future. We’re big fans of these guys.

NAB

Branch and Online. National Australia Bank (NAB) is a Melbourne-based bank that has been around since 1858. They offer a full range of banking and financial services, with a large branch network across the country. They are one of the ‘Big 4’ who were part of the 2017 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Industry.

 

Newcastle Permanent

Online & Branch A bank (or building society in this case) that supports the community it serves. Sounds like a contradiction of terms, right? Happily, Newcastle Permanent actually does. Having been around since 1908, they have a really good branch network across regional NSW, a great digital platform and all customers are part-owners. A truckload of banking products and great rates, you kinda feel a bit of FOMO by not being part of them!

Pepper Money

Online Only. Most banks want squeaky clean customers, whereas Pepper understands that life happens and things don’t always go according to plan. Since opening in Sydney in 2001 Pepper has become one of Australia’s leading alternative lenders for people who don’t tick the traditional boxes for a home loan. We normally don’t quote lender’s marketing here but their line of ‘in a world of no, they found a way of saying yes’ really did resonate with us.

p&n Bank

Online & Branches. Another example of when a few industry-based credit unions get together, you end up with a customer-owned bank! Having been around in some form since 1969 and based in WA, p&n (formerly just for police & nurses) offer a solid range of banking services from their good branch network or their online platforms. And (more importantly) they offer some really good interest rates to match!

 

RedZed

Online only. RedZed is a lender just for business owners. Where you might not fit the bigger lenders, RedZed will often step up. They understand that business owners need a little more flexibility, which they are happy to provide, but you will pay that little more for it. Based in Melbourne and around since 2007, these guys fill a good space for those that have taken a risk and started a business.

Resimac

Online Only. Resimac is a Perth-based non-bank lender that pretty much just do home loans. They have been around since 1985 and always seem to have rather good rates. They are well known for their range of loans that help people in most situations, where they don’t fit one of the mainstream banks. They are listed on the Australian Stock Market (ASX), but still have a bit to do on their banking tech.

St George

Branches & Online. Coming out of the famous St George district in Sydney in 1937, (where Don Bradman played) this is one of Australia’s most highly-regarded banks. Well known for their amazing service, little has changed with their big-bank backing. They often have market-leading loans and can lend where others generally won’t. It’s hard to find someone to say a bad word about St George. 

 

Suncorp

Branch & Online. These guys are one of Australia biggest finance companies, specialising in banking and insurance. They offer a full banking service for both individuals and businesses, with a large branch network, particularly across their home state of Qld. Suncorp was founded in 1902, and is now Australia’s fifth largest bank with head office in Brisbane.

Teachers Mutual

Online with a few branches. A bank just for teachers - now that’s kinda cool! Actually Teachers Mutual, is a bank for education industry staff (and their family). If you’re a customer, then you’re also a part owner, which is extra cool! And they always seem to have some of the lowest rates in the market. Based in Sydney since 1966, they offer most banking services; but they are still getting up to speed with their digital banking.

UniBank

Online with a few branches. A bank starting out of the Chemistry department of a university? Sounds like a Hollywood horror movie right? Actually it’s anything but that! UniBank, is a bank for staff, students & graduates (and their families) of any Australian Uni. Based in Perth in 1964 UniBank offers part ownership to all customers, which is the cherry on top! Offering most banking services and great rates; but they are still getting up to speed with their digital banking. Part of the Teacher’s Mutual Family of banks.

 

Ubank

Online (App) only. These guys are totally top-shelf. Even though we’re not meant to have favourites, these guys are totally our favourite! Absolutely amazing service; always fantastic rates & brilliant technology. They’ve thrown out the old-school bank rules on how to look after customers, which we love. Ubank merged with tech bank :86400 in 2022 and combined the great brand with the brilliant tech. Did we mention that we love them?

Westpac

Branch and Online. Westpac is a Sydney-based bank and was Australia’s first ever company, which was established in 1817. They offer a full range of banking and financial services, with a large branch network (that is starting to slim down) across the country. They are one of the ‘Big 4’ who were part of the 2017 Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking Industry.

 

Plus a few others

We have a few other lenders if we really need them, for your unusual or unique situation. We‘re talking Better Choice, Better Mortgage Management, BlueBay, LaTrobe; plus ThinkTank & Bluestone via the Connective Home Loans’ suite of products.

 

Our lenders

With plenty of lenders to pick from HoLo will always find the right deal for you