Small but mighty

It wasn’t so long ago that non-bank lenders were viewed purely as alternatives for borrowers who didn’t fit the neat box of traditional banking. Fast-forward to 2026, and the narrative has shifted completely. With traditional banks continuing to maintain rigid serviceability buffers, non-banks aren’t just sitting on the sidelines, they are driving mainstream market innovation.

From gaining a larger share of market, to delighting brokers with their experience, to integrating seamlessly into open banking ecosystems and joining government deposit schemes, non-bank lenders are proving that agility and flexibility are their ultimate superpowers.

In this 2026 edition of The Broker’s Guide to Non-Banks, we look at how these nimble powerhouses are expanding their footprint across Australia’s housing and business credit markets (page 2) and what brokers think of the non-bank experience (page 6).

We’re also unpacking what the lenders are doing for the channel (page 12) and what brokers want from their non-bank lenders (page 22).

Of course, the big calling cards for non-banks are their crucial role in providing credit for out-of-the-box scenarios, as we outline on page 16 and for business lending (page 26). 

We hope this Broker’s Guide to Non-Banks helps provide a better steer on what this growing cohort is doing.