Brighten expands commercial lending access
Publication Date: Monday, 14 April 2025
This article originally appeared in Broker Daily.
The non-bank lender announced an expansion that will see products available to more brokers.
Brighten has announced that its commercial lending products will now be available to brokers operating under aggregators Finsure, YBR, and outsource Financial.
Brighten’s director, head of sales and distribution, Chris Meaker said “evolving” broker needs place a strong emphasis on diversified offerings.
“The broker market is scaling rapidly, driven by increasing diversification and an entrepreneurial spirit. This strategic expansion puts Brighten in a stronger position to support brokers, anticipating their evolving needs and enabling them to successfully expand their market share in commercial lending,” Meaker said.
Spurring this move was an increase in the number of brokers servicing commercial loans.
“Commercial lending has traditionally been a less explored space for brokers, who currently originate only around 30 per cent of commercial loans compared to [76 per cent] of residential loans. It’s an untapped opportunity for brokers,” said Ben Mckell, Brighten’s head of commercial lending.
“We’re here to help brokers capture this opportunity by removing complexity and providing clear processes, fast turnarounds and direct support. Brighten’s commercial lending solutions are built around brokers’ needs, enabling them to confidently expand their businesses.”
According to recent MFAA research, the number of brokers writing commercial loans surged nearly 20 per cent in six months.
With 6,755 brokers writing commercial loans, the figure is at an all-time high. Meanwhile, commercial loan settlements through brokers jumped 23 per cent year-on-year, reaching over $20 billion.
Brighten has made headlines in recent times with its moves to expand. Just last month the non-bank joined the Mortgage Choice lender panel.
It was also announced in the back end of 2024 that Brighten would be integrating NextGen’s ApplyOnline platform to boost broker experience.