A majority of credit-active Australians would be comfortable allowing an AI agent to apply for a loan on their behalf.
A majority of credit-active Australians would be comfortable allowing an artificial intelligence (AI) agent to apply for a loan or credit card on their behalf, according to new research from data and technology company Experian.
The Australian results form part of Experian’s AI in Risk: The Rise of Agentic Commerce research, commissioned with Forrester Consulting in July 2026.
The study surveyed 481 Australians who had applied for credit in the previous 12 months.
A total of 59 per cent of respondents said they would be comfortable with an AI agent lodging a loan or credit card application, signalling consumer willingness to let the technology move beyond information gathering and into the credit application process.
AI moves beyond loan comparison
Experian found consumer confidence was strongest when AI agents were used to search and assess loan options.
Nearly eight in 10 respondents (79 per cent) said they trusted large language models (LLMs) to compare loans offered by different providers.
More than four in five respondents (81 per cent) said they would be comfortable with an agent searching for the best offer and compiling the results, while 77 per cent would be comfortable with an agent negotiating a better deal or offer.
The research also showed willingness to hand AI responsibility for other application steps.
Nearly seven in 10 respondents (69 per cent) would be comfortable with an agent completing identity checks, while 68 per cent would permit an agent to accept a loan offer where it met preset criteria.
Consumers see a practical benefit
Respondents said AI agents could make financial decisions easier by processing more information and identifying potential value that may be difficult for consumers to uncover manually.
Four in five respondents (80 per cent) said they believed that an AI agent could compare more options than they could themselves, and a further 78 per cent said an agent could help save money by identifying better prices or rates.
Meanwhile, 76 per cent stated that AI could reduce the chance of overlooking significant details, including hidden fees or contractual terms.
Experian Australia and New Zealand CEO Andrew Black said the findings pointed to strong interest in AI tools that reduce the effort involved in researching and comparing financial products.
“Australians surveyed are open to using AI when researching and comparing financial products, with the findings showing clear interest in tools that can save time and make it easier to consider different offers,” Black said.
“Banks and lenders now need to give consumers confidence that their information will be protected and that they will remain in control of important decisions.”
Australians surveyed were also prepared to share personal financial information with AI where there was a clear customer benefit.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) said they would be comfortable providing information such as credit scores and bank statements to an LLM in return for more accurate and personalised feedback.
Data security and consent in focus
Despite the appetite for AI-enabled assistance, the research revealed that trust, privacy, and customer authority would shape whether the technology is adopted in lending.
Four in five respondents (80 per cent) identified the risk of personal data being accessed or misused as a leading concern about using AI agents.
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) said they would feel more comfortable using an LLM linked to a financial provider they already trust.
Black said banks would need to establish clear consent mechanisms as AI agents are used across more stages of the loan application process.
“As AI agents begin to support more parts of the loan application process, banks and lenders will need clear methods to confirm that an agent has permission to act for a customer,” he said.
“It is also important for banks and lenders to protect customers’ information and explain clearly what an AI agent is authorised to do on behalf of the customer.”
Interest in AI assistance was not limited to researching, comparing, and applying for credit.
More than three-quarters of respondents (78 per cent) said they would value alerts when they were at risk of missing a payment or entering overdraft, alongside suggestions that could help them avoid fees.
A further 77 per cent said they would value an agent detecting unusual charges and notifying them immediately.
[Related: YBR debuts new AI platform across broker network]
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