Liberty's innovative culture and broker support drives unique approach
This article is sponsored by Liberty
What is a free thinker? At Liberty, their team and customer base are full of them.
This innovative, out-of-the-box attitude allows the award-winning non-bank lender to continue supporting brokers and helping people access the funds they need.
Free thinking is in Liberty’s DNA and is evident throughout the organisation, from how it approaches each application to how it supports brokers and business partners.
Liberty has helped over 850,000 people get financial during its 27 years, advancing over $38 billion in finance across its broad loan offering.
Putting people first
“At Liberty, we believe our people are our superpower,” chief distribution officer David Smith says. “With a local, Melbourne-based sales and service team, plus a team of BDMs across the entire country, brokers and customers can count on Liberty to be available when they need us.”
For customers, Liberty’s people-first approach means recognising challenging economic conditions may cause increased financial pressure and working with brokers to gather the whole story for an assessment.
For brokers, this means that any scenario is welcome, and with direct access to underwriters, Liberty exhausts all options in trying to find a way to say “yes.”
For communities, Liberty is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen.
Its dedication to making a difference extends beyond lending. With an understanding that customers care about the social impact of the businesses they engage with, the Work180-endorsed employer attained certified B Corp status and is also a participant in the Financial Inclusion Action Plan (FIAP).
The organisation is an active partner with the Kinaway Aboriginal Chamber of Commerce and champions women, members of the LGBTQIA+ and reconciliation.
First in free-thinking finance
Liberty’s mission is to provide free-thinking finance, which it does across a broad range of home, car, personal, business, commercial and SMSF loans and insurance products. The non-bank provides prime and custom lending options and remains the only non-bank lender with an investment-grade credit rating.
“Liberty has always championed the broker distribution model, and these relationships are vital to Liberty’s growth and success,” says Smith. “We’re dedicated to assisting brokers to diversify their service offering, which helps to grow their business and ensure they remain relevant as a customer progresses through their lending life.”
He also highlights that the culture, community and free-thinking approach helped Liberty earn a place on MPA’s Top Mortgage Employers list for the second consecutive year.
“In an ever-evolving industry, particularly during highly uncertain times, it has been a challenging environment for mortgage professionals to navigate with customers,” Smith says. “How a company supports its staff and business partners is paramount and can be the difference between a team that survives and a team that thrives.”
Commitment in action
It’s one thing to talk about support, diversity, inclusion and free thinking, and it’s another to act on it. These qualities are at the forefront of Liberty’s practices and decision-making. The organisation continuously seeks ways to improve its business and assist more customers.
For example, Liberty has introduced new initiatives to support brokers, including serviceability enhancements such as considerations for custom borrowers who receive child support and family tax benefits and debt consolidation options for ATO and state department tax debts.
In addition to increasing loan limits, Liberty also, for a limited time until 31 October 2024, offers rate reductions and a lender’s mortgage protection fee waiver on eligible low-doc loans.
Empowering culture
Liberty’s continued commitment to the third-party mortgage space is evident by the inclusion of several brands within the Liberty Financial Group: Liberty, nMB, Liberty Network Services, ALI and MoneyPlace.
These brands primarily support the broking channel, which drives almost 90% of the lender’s new loan originations, according to Liberty’s FY24 full-year financial results.
The organisation has built a reputation for empowering brokers, backed by a large and experienced team of BDMs in each state, a local sales support team and direct access to credit assessors, ensuring brokers always get the help they need.
“We prioritise broker training and development to ensure their business success through all economic climates,” says Smith. “Our variety of educational resources, including various training forums, dedicated BDMs and investment in tech, give brokers the tools to diversify into new business channels.”
