Another introducer program, this time from ANZ, is the subject of civil proceedings from ASIC.
ANZ contravened s29 of the Credit Act by engaging, without an Australian credit licence, in a credit activity within the meaning of the Credit Act, namely by providing a credit service, ASIC alleges.
ASIC alleges that between June 2016 and March 2018, ANZ breached consumer protection credit laws by accepting customer information and documents from introducers and other unlicensed individuals when this was not allowed. ASIC also alleges that some of the documents provided were fraudulent.
ASIC Deputy Chair Sarah Court said “ASIC is concerned that as a result of this conduct some loans may have been granted by ANZ based on false information and some consumers may have entered into home loans that were beyond their ability to pay.
“If banks are going to accept referrals of consumers seeking a home loan from unlicensed individuals, who receive commission payments for the referrals, they need to make sure they have the right systems in place to properly process those referrals.”
From 2015 to June 2020, more than 50,000 loans were referred to ANZ through the introducer program, resulting in lending of more than A$18.5 billion. In September 2018, the introducer program contributed to approximately 10 per cent of all home loans sold by ANZ’s branch network in Australia.
ANZ said the matter relates to 74 home loan applications made between 2016 and 2018.
ASIC also alleges between November 2015 to June 2020, ANZ breached its general conduct obligations as an Australian Credit Licence holder by failing to take reasonable steps to ensure its representatives did not conduct business with unlicensed third parties and thereby failed to engage in credit activities efficiently, honestly and fairly.
ASIC is seeking declarations, pecuniary penalties and other orders, including for ANZ to engage an independent expert to conduct a review of ANZ’s existing home loan customer referral arrangements.
The proceeding will be listed for directions on a date to be determined by the court.