Bank announces broker accreditation changes

Bankwest will require all new accreditations and brokers transferring to a new aggregator to:

• hold a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking
• attain a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management within 12 months of receiving initial accreditation
• hold two years’ relevant industry experience or have an MFAA or FBAA accredited mentor and return a signed Bankwest Mentoring Agreement
• provide a police check that is less than three months old 

The bank noted that the changes do not apply to brokers already accredited or to brokers that have already applied for accreditation.

Further, the non-major has announced revised mentorship standards designed to make it “clearer for both mentors and mentees to understand the expectations on both parties”.

Bankwest will now require a signed Bankwest Mentoring Agreement for brokers seeking accreditation with less than two years of industry experience.

As part of the Mentoring Agreement, mentors must:

• be an MFAA- or FBAA-registered mentor
• review and sign off at least 12 mentee deal submissions
• maintain regular contact with the mentee
• co-sign written records of all mentor-mentee contact as maintained by the mentee

Mentees will be required to:

• actively participate as mentee for up to two years
• commit to becoming a competent loan writer
• complete their diploma within the first 12 months
• complete at least 12 deal submissions
• maintain regular contact with the mentor
• maintain current written records of communication and meeting outcomes

“These changes, along with updated commission structure, will ensure that, together, we align to evolving industry practice and regulator expectations to deliver better customer outcomes,” general manager of third party Ian Rakhit said.

Mr Rakhit added: “These final changes are important to all of us and they will ultimately result in a stronger and more sustainable broker industry which will continue to deliver amazing results for our customers.

“We value our relationship with [brokers] and look forward to working together to build a more sustainable industry.”

Bankwest’s announcement follows changes introduced by CBA in December 2017, which include requiring new brokers or brokers transferring to a new aggregator to:

• hold at least a Diploma of Finance and Mortgage Broking Management
• have at least two years’ experience writing regulated residential loans
• be a current member of either the Mortgage & Finance Association of Australia (MFAA) or the Finance Brokers Association of Australia (FBAA)
• be a Direct Credit Representative or employee of an approved aggregator/head group or Australian Credit Licence (ACL) holder

More to come.

  [Related: Bankwest announces broker commission changes]