Broker vote opens for MFAA 2026 lender awards

MFAA members can now cast their votes to decide which lenders stand out for service and support ahead of the MFAA Excellence Awards 2026. Voting has officially opened for the lender categories, giving brokers a direct say in which institutions are recognised as the industry’s top partners.

With brokers now writing 77.3% of new home loans worth $130.23 billion, the member vote comes at a time when the broker channel dominates Australia’s mortgage market. 

The lender awards are entirely member‑determined and are designed to mirror brokers’ real‑world experiences working with banks and non‑banks across the country. Voting runs from Tuesday, 17 February to Tuesday, 10 March, with each MFAA member able to submit one vote in each category.

Members are invited to rate lenders across five key lender categories that reflect the breadth of the mortgage and finance landscape:

• major lender

• non‑major lender

• mutual or credit union

• specialty lender

• fintech lender

MFAA CEO Anja Pannek (pictured) said the lender categories are an important way to spotlight lenders that genuinely champion the broker channel and deliver strong outcomes for clients.

“These awards are unique because they are informed directly by brokers and their interactions with lenders,” Pannek said. “They recognise lenders that consistently demonstrate quality service, strong relationships and a commitment to collaborate with brokers to deliver better results for borrowers. Broker voting means these awards reflect what matters most: helping Australians achieve their financial goals.”

The MFAA boss stressed that the awards are as much about partnership as performance.

“Our industry works well when brokers and lenders operate as trusted partners,” Pannek said. “The lender categories acknowledge those organisations that understand how brokers work and invest in the people, systems and processes that support outstanding customer experiences.”

Voting is open to MFAA members only, with all returns independently checked by Hall Chadwick to safeguard fairness and transparency in the final outcome.

Finalists in each lender category will be revealed in early April. State‑level winners will then automatically progress as national finalists for the MFAA National Excellence Awards 2026, scheduled for 22 July at Crown Melbourne.

MFAA is encouraging brokers to take part in the voting window and ensure their experiences and preferences are reflected in this year’s lender honours.

The announcement follows MFAA’s Looking Ahead 2026 virtual conference, where ASIC outlined its first targeted review of brokers’ best interests duty since the obligation began in 2021.

Vote for the lender awards here.

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