Brighten, MSA team up for faster digital settlements

Publication Date: Friday, 25 July 2025
This article originally appeared in Austra lian Broker.

Tech upgrade delivers faster, easier home loan settlements

Australian-owned non-bank lender Brighten has joined forces with MSA National, a provider of mortgage documentation and settlement services, to streamline the loan settlement experience for brokers and borrowers, leveraging digital tools to improve turnaround times.

The collaboration means a portion of Brighten’s loan book will now use MSA National’s services, aimed at making settlements quicker, simpler, and more transparent.

The announcement follows Brighten’s broker channel expansion. The firm recently onboarded 4,500 brokers through its Connective Horizons white-label product range. Connective Horizon, launched in partnership with aggregator Connective Home Loans, targets underserved segments such as expat and non-resident borrowers, commercial securities, construction, and vacant land.

Brighten CEO Jason Azzopardi (pictured) said the lender’s strategy is centred on tech innovation to elevate the broker and borrower experience as the business continues to scale.

“We’re focused on making the lending experience faster and more frictionless for brokers and borrowers,” Azzopardi said. “We know how important it is to be easy to deal with and to help borrowers move quickly to secure their dream home. Removing pain points from the settlement process is a key part of that, and our partnership with MSA has delivered.”

Faster, smarter, more transparent for brokers

MSA National’s platform enhances every stage of the loan process, from document creation to post-settlement tracking. Key benefits for brokers include:

DigiDocs: Paperless documentation issued within 90 seconds, error-free, for faster completion and better signed-to-settle rates.
LoanTrak portal: Real-time file visibility across devices, helping brokers stay on top of loan progress.
IDyou: VOI is simplified with secure video-call-based verification.
Single contact model: One point of contact per loan ensures accountability and proactive updates on outstanding items.

Borrower experience made easier

Customers also gain from digital enhancements such as:

MyVideo emails: Step-by-step video guides to help borrowers through key milestones, reducing confusion and speeding up settlements.
OnTrak customer portal: Real-time loan status updates and direct communication with their broker for added transparency.

“It’s now simpler for brokers and borrowers to sign documents, track progress, and manage outstanding requirements,” Azzopardi said. “This is another important milestone in our journey to become the non-bank lender of choice for brokers.”

MSA National: “Proud of what we’ve achieved for Brighten”

MSA National Managing Director and CEO Sam Makhoul welcomed the partnership and reaffirmed the company’s customer-first approach.

“The team at MSA are proud of what we have achieved for Brighten,” Makhoul said. “The customer is at the heart of every touch point we design for and every solution we develop. We look forward to helping their broker network deliver a faster, more modern lending experience.”

A broader push into digital innovation

The Brighten-MSA collaboration aligns with Brighten’s ongoing digital transformation. Over the past year, the lender has integrated with NextGen’s ApplyOnline, upgraded its in-house loan origination platform, and launched cloud-based broker and customer portals.