LENDER PROFILE
Bendigo Bank
First home + FHG · Alt-doc self-employed
Halo's preferred non-major lender. Strong FHG allocation, alt-doc from 12-month ABN. Stable policy, fastest decision among mid-tier banks.
Policy notes updated 2026-04-18
Why Bendigo sits near the top of Halo's panel
It's a price alternative to the big-four and a policy alternative to non-banks — it does almost everything a major can do, costs 5-15 bp more but carries looser policy, especially on FHG allocation and alt-doc.
Policy snapshot
| Metric | Bendigo |
|---|---|
| Full-doc OO max LVR | 95% (FHG — LMI waived) |
| Alt-doc OO max LVR | 80% (1-year ABN and up) |
| Investment max LVR | 90% |
| Overseas income shading | CN/IN/PH 70%, NZ/UK/US/HK/SG 80% |
| Typical decision | full-doc 3-5 days; alt-doc 5-8 days |
| Serviceability buffer | 2.75% (APRA aligned) |
From 2026-04-15 alt-doc rate shading moves to 5% (was 2%). Still mid-to-loose for the industry.
What Halo sees in the field
Higher-than-average approval rate:
- Fully-compliant FHG first-home buyers (~95% approval)
- 2+ yrs PAYG + 5-15% deposit (~92%)
- Alt-doc with 2+ yrs ABN + complete BAS (~85%)
Common decline triggers:
- HECS/HELP > $40k with no early-repayment plan
- Multiple entities under one director + loss-making history
- Melbourne high-rise apartments (> 30 floors or B-grade suburbs)
ProfileFirst home · 3 yrs PAYG · Melbourne Caulfield
Scenario$680k apartment, FHG 5% deposit
结果Halo submits to Bendigo, 46h approval, LMI waived
Matches with Halo products
- Halo Prime defaults to Bendigo channel
- Halo Flex alt-doc first choice is Bendigo, fallback Macquarie
Next step
Check fit with Bendigo Bank
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