Non-bank lender First Federal has gone live on NextGen's ApplyOnline platform, allowing Australian brokers to lodge its home loan applications through the system.
The switch-on follows through on a rollout the lender flagged earlier this month. At the time, it launched a Broker Portal with live loan tracking from submission to settlement, and added valuation ordering through Cotality's Property Hub.
First Federal has also switched on two NextGen tools from launch: ApplyOnline eSign and NextGenID. Between them, they move borrower signing and identity checks online, taking a layer of paperwork out of the application stage.
With eSign, borrowers sign consent and declaration forms electronically rather than on paper. NextGenID checks a borrower's identity digitally when the application is submitted, using government-backed verification, according to NextGen.
For brokers, having both tools live from the start means First Federal applications can move from client sign-off to lodgement without wet signatures or manual ID checks.
Marcus Walley (pictured left), strategic partnerships manager at NextGen, said the company was pleased to have been chosen as First Federal's preferred partner, given the lender's focus on easing the broker experience.
"With the addition of tools like eSign and NextGenID from the outset, First Federal is giving their brokers an efficient, secure lodgement experience, on a platform that's built to scale as their business grows," Walley said.
First Federal has pitched itself to the broker channel on service. It promotes same-day approvals, direct access to its credit team, and a no-clawback policy. A clawback is when a lender recovers commission from a broker if a loan is repaid or refinanced early.
The lender has also been growing. After First Federal joined the Finsure aggregator panel in March, chief executive James Angus (pictured right) told Australian Broker that settlements in the second half of 2025 were up 127% on the first half.
In June, it updated its home loan policy for harder-to-place clients. The update brought rates from 6.59%, loan-to-value ratios (LVRs) up to 90% with no minimum credit score, and one year's tax return for self-employed borrowers.
"We're focused on being one of the easiest lenders for brokers to deal with, and that starts with the tools we put in their hands," Angus said.
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