124 five-star Google reviews
MFAA accredited brokers
60+ banks and lenders on panel
Local Adelaide team
Mortgage broker vs bank Adelaide

Why Adelaide borrowers choose
a broker over their bank.

Lendology compares 60+ lenders at no cost to you — and is legally required to recommend what is genuinely best for your situation.

Book a free chat Call 08 8270 5138
Home Mortgage broker vs bank Adelaide
The honest answer

Your bank can only offer you its own loans.
A broker compares 60+.

When you go directly to a bank, you get one set of products, one set of policies and one rate. When you use Lendology, we compare your situation across 60+ lenders simultaneously — and we're legally required to recommend what's genuinely best for you, not what's most profitable for us.

60+
Lenders Lendology compares vs one bank
$0
Cost to you — brokers are paid by the lender
Best
Interest
Duty — legally required to act in your interest
124
Five-star Google reviews from Adelaide clients

Side by side

Mortgage broker vs bank — the real differences

Not all the differences are obvious. Here's an honest comparison across the factors that actually matter.

Factor Going direct to your bank Using Lendology ✓
Lenders available One — the bank you're sitting in front of 60+ lenders compared simultaneously
Cost to you Free — but you may pay more in rate Free — broker paid by lender at settlement
Rate competitiveness Bank's standard rate — not their sharpest Genuine competition between lenders drives better outcomes
Legal obligation Bank acts in its own interest Best Interest Duty — legally required to recommend what suits you
Self-employed income Often assessed conservatively by major banks Matched to lenders with favourable policy for your structure
Government schemes Only if that bank participates Access to all participating lenders for FHBG, FHG and more
Application process You manage it yourself Lendology manages everything from lodgement to settlement
Credit enquiries One per bank — multiple applications damage your score One enquiry — we identify the right lender before lodging
After settlement You're on your own Lendology monitors your rate and checks in annually

The legal difference

Banks sell. Brokers are legally required to advise.

Since January 2021, mortgage brokers in Australia have been subject to a Best Interest Duty — a legal obligation to act in the best interests of the borrower, not the lender or the broker's own commission.

Banks are not subject to the same obligation. A bank employee recommending a product is recommending their employer's product. A Lendology broker recommending a product is recommending what is genuinely right for your situation — and is legally required to do so.

This is not marketing copy — it is the law. ASIC enforces Best Interest Duty obligations on mortgage brokers across Australia.

What Best Interest Duty means in practice
We must recommend the loan that suits you — not the loan that pays us the most
We must tell you if a different lender offers a better outcome — even if we prefer working with another
We must consider your long-term interests — not just the short-term transaction
We must disclose how we are paid and what commission we receive from the lender

Being honest

When going directly to a bank is fine

Lendology gives you an honest answer — even when that answer is that a broker isn't necessary. Going directly to a bank can work well if:

You have a simple financial situation and an existing relationship with a bank that offers competitive rates.
If you're PAYG employed, have a 20% deposit, no unusual income or debts, and your bank is already offering you a genuinely competitive rate — you may not need to look further. Lendology will tell you this in a free rate review before recommending anything.
You only want one specific product from one specific lender.
If you have a strong reason to use a particular bank — an existing relationship, a specific product feature, or a cashback offer you've already researched — going direct is straightforward. A broker adds most value when you want to compare across the market.
In every other situation — first home buyers, self-employed borrowers, investors, refinancers, people with complex income or unusual circumstances — a broker almost always finds a better outcome. Lendology is free, so there is no cost to finding out.

What clients say

124 five-star Google reviews

Read all reviews →
★★★★★
"I went to my bank first and they offered me 6.8%. Jason found me 5.9% with cashback through a lender I'd never heard of. The process took the same amount of time and cost me nothing extra."
SR
Sarah R.
Refinance client · Glenelg
★★★★★
"My bank said I couldn't borrow enough. Lendology found a lender that assessed my self-employed income differently and I got the loan I needed. I wish I'd come here first."
MR
Michael R.
Self-employed · Kingswood
★★★★★
"I assumed using a broker would cost more. It cost nothing. Steve found a better rate than my bank offered and handled all the paperwork. I'll never go directly to a bank again."
DW
David W.
First home buyer · Prospect

Common questions

Mortgage broker vs bank FAQs

Is it better to use a mortgage broker or go directly to a bank?
A mortgage broker compares loans across 60+ lenders at no cost to you. A bank can only offer its own products. In most cases a broker finds a more competitive rate and better-structured loan — particularly for first home buyers, self-employed borrowers or anyone accessing government schemes. The only exception is if you have a simple situation and your bank is already offering a genuinely competitive rate — which Lendology will confirm for free.
Does using a mortgage broker cost more?
No. Mortgage brokers are paid a commission by the lender at settlement — not by you. Your interest rate and loan costs are identical whether you apply through a broker or directly. In practice, brokers often secure lower rates because they create genuine competition between lenders.
Will a mortgage broker find me a better rate than my bank?
In most cases yes — particularly if you have been with your bank for more than 12 months. Banks offer their sharpest rates to attract new customers. Lendology compares your current rate against 60+ lenders and tells you honestly whether switching saves money after all costs are factored in. If your rate is genuinely competitive, we will tell you.
Can a mortgage broker access loans my bank cannot offer?
Yes. Lendology has access to 60+ lenders including major banks, second-tier lenders, credit unions and specialist lenders. Some of these lenders are only accessible through brokers. This breadth of access is particularly valuable for borrowers with complex income structures, smaller deposits, or unusual circumstances.
What is Best Interest Duty and does it apply to Lendology?
Best Interest Duty is a legal obligation introduced in January 2021 requiring mortgage brokers to act in the best interests of the borrower. It means Lendology must recommend the loan that genuinely suits you — not the loan that pays us the most commission. This obligation does not apply to bank employees recommending their own bank's products. Yes, it applies to Lendology — and we take it seriously.
Free — no obligation

See what 60+ lenders can offer you.
It costs nothing to find out.

Book a free chat with Jason or Steve. We compare your situation across our full lender panel and give you an honest answer — with no obligation to proceed.

Book a free chat Call 08 8270 5138
Lendology is paid by the lender at settlement. Your consultation is completely free.

The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute financial advice. Given Finance Pty Ltd (t/a Lendology) ACN 624 144 501 is authorised under LMG Broker Services Pty Ltd ACL 517192.