70 basis points the new commission benchmark
Major bank upfront commissions for broker mortgage sales have increased from around 50 basis points to around 55 points over the past 12 months, while the average for smaller lenders has increased from an average of 55 points to over 60 points, according to analysis by JP Morgan.The most aggressive lenders are Bankwest and Macquarie Bank, which both pay upfront commissions of 70 basis points.Lenders have become less selective with their commissions, JP Morgan said. Previously, upfront commissions would be higher if certain criteria were met but now many of the performance hurdles have been removed.Some performance-based bonus commissions remain in place, with higher commissions paid for larger loans and lower loan-to-valuation ratios.In its financial report released last month, broker franchise group Mortgage Choice said a number of lenders on its panel increased their commission rates over the past year. These include Bankwest, National Australia Bank, St George Bank, Suncorp Bank, Westpac and Macquarie Bank.Three of the big banks - ANZ, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac - have a similar commission structure, with base rates of 50 basis points for upfront commissions rising to maximum rates of 65 to 67 basis points if performance criteria are met.NAB has a base rate of 65 basis points, along with Suncorp Bank, and St George. Trail commissions are 15 basis points in the first and second years, in almost all cases, rising to 20 basis points in later years.