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The latest Broker Pulse: Commercial Lending report by Agile Market Intelligence in partnership with CAFBA revealed a growing sense of pressure in Australia’s third-party commercial lending market.
Based on responses from over 131 commercial brokers conducted in June 2025, the report provides a timely snapshot of broker sentiment, lender performance, and anticipated market shifts.
Regulatory complexity emerges as top concern
When asked about challenges facing their brokerages, 46 per cent of brokers cited regulatory burden as their primary concern, outpacing credit policy hurdles (43 per cent) and economic uncertainty (42 per cent).
This underscores the growing operational strain brokers face in navigating compliance and policy settings.
“Many brokers are signalling that regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly time-consuming,” said Michael Johnson, director of Agile Market Intelligence.
“As the industry continues to evolve, there is a real opportunity for lenders and policymakers to work together with brokers to reduce complexity and support more efficient outcomes for clients.”
Strong forward-looking demand in key sectors
Nearly half (45 per cent) of commercial brokers expect demand for asset finance to increase in the next three months, reflecting continued business investment in equipment and vehicles.
Healthcare finance leads all industry sectors, with 51 per cent of brokers anticipating higher demand, followed closely by construction and manufacturing.
These expectations signal sustained resilience in essential and infrastructure-related industries.
“We’re seeing encouraging signs of resilience in sectors that underpin the economy. Brokers are particularly optimistic about healthcare, construction, and manufacturing finance, which suggests continued investment in essential services and infrastructure despite broader economic uncertainty,” said Johnson.
Turnaround times reveal competitive differentiators
Lender responsiveness remains a key competitive factor. The report highlighted top performers in credit decision speed:
- Business loans: Banjo recorded the fastest average turnaround at 2.0 days.
- Commercial mortgages: St.George led with an average of 2.8 days.
- Asset finance: Angle Finance topped the list with a 2.7-day average.
Non-banks continue to lead on broker satisfaction
Brokers consistently reported higher satisfaction with business development managers (BDMs) and credit assessment processes among non-bank lenders.
Metro, Flexi Commercial, and ScotPac all scored above 90 per cent for BDM satisfaction. Credit assessment scores showed a stark gap, ranging from the low 60s to over 90 per cent, with non-banks again outperforming major banks.
About the report
The Broker Pulse: Commercial Lending report is a community-driven benchmarking initiative capturing the experiences of commercial and asset finance brokers across Australia. The latest edition captures experiences for applications submitted throughout May 2025, with the survey conducted between 1 and 20 June 2025. The report includes data across asset finance, business loans, and commercial mortgages and is conducted by Agile Market Intelligence in partnership with the Commercial & Asset Finance Brokers Association (CAFBA).