Best brokers display advocacy, tenacity and organisational skills
BDM in the Spotlight and State Manager in the Spotlight and is a regular series, giving brokers insight into the lives of some of the country’s leading relationship managers.
This week MPA is featuring Paul Meilak, a broker development manager for the member-owned BankVic, which was set up 50 years ago to provide financial services for Victoria Police and their families and has since grown to more than 120,000 members, who now include emergency and health workers.
Meilak joined BankVic over six years ago, working in mobile lender and lending manager roles, before being appointed as a BDM in February 2023. He has notched up 25 years of experience in the finance industry working at several banks.
He says he’s keen to increase BankVic’s broker partners and loves meeting and talking to brokers, which he describes as a supportive community.
Advocacy, tenacity and organisational skills are what sets the best brokers apart, says Meilak.
Full name: Paul Meilak
Job title: Broker Development Manager
Company: BankVic
Number of years in the industry: 25
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
What did you do before entering the industry?
A mix of retail and admin roles
Please give a brief description of your role and how you support brokers
To bring on and welcome newly accredited brokers to the BankVic program. My support work involves assisting brokers with workshopping scenarios and bank processes, also helping identify lending opportunities which meet BankVic’s niche.
A goal that you aim to achieve in your role this year?
I want to build on the BankVic foundations that we have established and grow into the broker segment. I want to grow our accredited broker numbers.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
The people and community that you get to meet, whether it be during PD days or lender sessions, I get to talk about all things BankVic with the broking community. Being a relatively new player in the broker space, I have been astounded at just how broad the segment is. It is pleasing to see such a supportive community.
What sets successful brokers apart?
Advocacy, tenacity and organisation. Advocacy for their clients, which is an ability to put the lending story together; tenacity – a willingness to support the client and represent them positively to the bank, and organisation – we all know how busy brokers and people are these days.
Being organised creates efficiency and results in quicker, better, clearer outcomes for the client, the broker and the bank.
What should brokers be demanding from a BDM and lender relationship?
Availability and two-way communication. It is important for BDMs to remember that on the back of every scenario and opportunity presented to the bank, there is a client.
The client is looking for a solution, the broker is seeking that solution from the bank. If the bank is unable to assist, it’s ok to say no, but say no in a timely manner and communicate clearly – don’t just ignore the scenario, for example.
What do you provide to brokers that makes you valuable to them?
Knowledge of BankVic policy, our niche (police and emergency service, residential home and investment lending) and most important – being approachable and available.
Describe your ideal weekend.
Watching some AFL on a Friday night. (Go the Blues). Kids sport – Saturday it’s basketball, netball, and soccer (or dad’s taxi service as I like to call it). A round of golf on Sunday and nice family lunch/ dinner to get ready for the week ahead.
BDM in the Spotlight and State Manager in the Spotlight features a range of relationship managers and BDMs within the mortgage and finance industry.
Among those recently featured include: Red Zed’s Mitch Shaw, Pepper Money’s Bettina Lumsden, Assetline Capital’s Jason Lucas, AMP Bank’s Nicole Woodruff, outsource Financial’s Sonia Diamante, BOQ Group’s Samantha Robinson, Mortgage Choice’s Ben Livera, SFG’s Amy Thorburn, Beyond Bank’s Tristian Cunningham, AMP Bank’s David Askew, Moula’s Gillian Paton, Aquamore’s Michael Riddiford
Do you know a great BDM or state manager that deserves to be featured in MPA? Email [email protected] with the details
