This guide compares major Australian banks and non-bank lenders for accountants.
You will see which lenders currently publish accountant-specific benefits. You will also learn how their policies differ for LMI, deposits, income and self-employed applications.
Home Loans For Accountants: Lender Comparison
The biggest difference between lenders is how they treat your profession and income.
Some banks publish specific LMI waivers for accountants. Others focus on broader low-deposit options.
Summary: Account Home Loans From Different Banks In Australia
| Lender | Accountant LMI Benefit | Self-Employed Flexibility | Key Strength |
| ANZ | Up to 90% LVR without LMI for eligible accountants | Strong | Clear accountant-specific policy |
| NAB | Professional LMI waiver available | Standard bank assessment | Recognises CA, CPA and IPA |
| Westpac | 90% LVR without LMI for eligible accountants | Standard bank assessment | Clear income threshold |
| CommBank | Professional LMI waiver available | Standard bank assessment | Low-deposit and digital options |
| Pepper Money | No accountant-specific waiver identified | Very flexible | Full doc and Alt Doc options |
| Liberty | No accountant-specific waiver identified | Very flexible | Low-doc options for self-employed borrowers |
| Resimac | No accountant-specific waiver identified | Very flexible | Specialist and Alt Doc lending |
The comparison shows an important point.
You should not choose a lender simply because it advertises professional lending.
The right option depends on your qualification, deposit, income structure and documentation.
ANZ Home Loans For Accountants
ANZ currently has one of the clearest accountant-specific LMI policies.
Eligible accountants can have the LMI premium waived with an LVR of up to 90%.
Importantly, ANZ’s published accountant policy states that no minimum income is required.
This makes ANZ particularly interesting for accountants who have a 10% deposit.
Who Can Qualify With ANZ?
ANZ’s published policy includes several professional memberships.
Eligible applicants can include members of:
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand: Current CA membership can satisfy the professional requirement.
- CPA Australia: Current CPA membership can qualify under the published policy.
- Chartered Financial Analyst Institute: CFA membership can qualify under the professional policy.
- Institute of Actuaries of Australia: FIAA membership can qualify under the policy.
ANZ’s published criteria also require the applicant to hold at least an equal or majority share in the property.
The policy also sets maximum lending and property values.
For example, ANZ’s published policy allows borrowing up to $4.5 million for a purchase or refinance. The total ANZ home lending limit is $8 million.
ANZ And Self-Employed Accountants
ANZ also has specific information for business owners.
If you own less than 25% of a company or partnership, ANZ can still treat you as self-employed.
The bank states that you may need your individual tax return and ATO notice of assessment.
It also requires an ABN or ACN that has generally been valid for at least 18 months.
ANZ also states that accountants may be eligible for an LMI waiver up to 95% LVR on its broader business-owner home loan page.
However, its detailed accountant LMI document specifies a 90% LVR waiver.
Therefore, you should confirm which policy applies to your exact application.
ANZ Best Suited To
ANZ may suit you if you:
- Have CA or CPA membership: These memberships are explicitly recognised in ANZ’s accountant policy.
- Have a 10% deposit: The published waiver allows up to 90% LVR.
- Have lower income: The detailed policy states there is no minimum income requirement.
- Have complex income: ANZ publishes separate self-employed assessment guidance.
NAB Home Loans For Accountants
NAB also publishes a dedicated professional LMI waiver policy.
Its current policy specifically includes accountants.
Eligible accountant categories include CA ANZ, CPA and IPA members.
NAB states that financial professionals must be practising and currently registered with an eligible professional institute.
This means your membership status matters.
NAB Accountant Eligibility
NAB’s published accountant categories include:
- Chartered Accountant: CA Australia and New Zealand members can qualify.
- Certified Public Accountant: CPA members can qualify.
- Institute of Public Accountants: IPA members can qualify.
NAB also recognises certain actuaries and financial analysts under its wider professional policy.
However, NAB does not publish one universal LVR for every professional category on its public page.
The waiver depends on your profession, loan type and LVR threshold.
Therefore, your exact eligibility needs to be confirmed before relying on the waiver.
NAB And LMI
NAB explains that LMI typically applies when borrowers do not have the required deposit.
The bank states that LMI can cost up to 6.5% of the loan amount.
However, the actual premium depends on the property, loan size, LVR and other factors.
That makes an eligible professional waiver potentially valuable.
It can prevent the premium from being added to your borrowing.
NAB Best Suited To
NAB may suit you if you:
- Hold CA, CPA or IPA membership: These accounting bodies are explicitly listed.
- Want a major bank: NAB offers professional lending through its mainstream home loan platform.
- Have less than 20% deposit: Professional LMI waivers can potentially reduce upfront requirements.
- Want to compare professional lending with standard products: NAB provides both pathways.
Westpac Home Loans For Accountants
Westpac provides another clearly defined professional option.
Its published information states that eligible accountants can have LMI waived with a 10% deposit.
That means an eligible accountant can potentially borrow up to 90% LVR without LMI.
Westpac also specifies a minimum gross taxable income of $120,000 annually.
This makes its policy different from ANZ’s published accountant policy.
Which Accountant Memberships Does Westpac Accept?
Westpac lists several professional memberships.
These include:
- Institute of Public Accountants: Current IPA membership can qualify.
- Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand: CA ANZ membership can qualify.
- CPA Australia: CPA membership can qualify.
- Chartered Financial Analyst Institute Australia: CFA membership can qualify.
- Fellowship of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia: FIAA membership can qualify.
Westpac also requires Australian citizenship or an approved permanent visa for this professional policy.
Westpac Best Suited To
Westpac may suit you if you:
- Earn at least $120,000: This meets the published minimum income requirement.
- Have a 10% deposit: The professional policy allows LMI to be waived.
- Hold an accepted professional membership: Westpac lists several accounting and finance bodies.
- Want a major bank: Westpac provides mainstream home lending alongside professional options.
CommBank Home Loans For Accountants
CommBank also promotes professional LMI waivers.
Its low-deposit home loan page specifically asks doctors, lawyers and accountants to check whether they qualify.
The bank states that eligible professionals may access an LMI waiver with a deposit as low as 10%.
However, CommBank does not publish the same detailed accountant eligibility table publicly on this page.
Therefore, you should confirm the professional criteria directly with CommBank.
CommBank Low-Deposit Options
CommBank provides several ways to buy with less than a 20% deposit.
These include government schemes, LMI, Low Deposit Premium, guarantor support and professional LMI waivers.
This gives accountants more than one potential pathway.
Your professional status may therefore be one option rather than the only option.
CommBank Loan Features
CommBank’s variable home loans can provide access to offset accounts.
Its Standard Variable Rate Home Loan can have up to 99 offset accounts.
The bank also offers conditional approval through its digital application process for eligible customers.
CommBank Best Suited To
CommBank may suit you if you:
- Want a major bank: CommBank provides extensive mainstream home lending.
- Have a 10% deposit: Professional LMI waivers may be available.
- Value offset facilities: Selected variable loans support offset accounts.
- Want digital application options: Eligible applicants can access online conditional approval.
Non-Bank Home Loans For Accountants
Banks are not your only option.
Non-bank lenders can become particularly relevant when you are self-employed or have complex income.
They may not offer an accountant-specific LMI waiver.
However, their income assessment can sometimes be more flexible.
This distinction is crucial for accountants who own businesses or operate through companies, partnerships or trusts.
Pepper Money Home Loans For Accountants
Pepper Money is a non-bank lender with a strong focus on self-employed borrowers.
It states that self-employed applicants can apply with only six months of ABN activity on some loan options.
Pepper also offers loans up to 95% of property value on some products.
Its published self-employed options include both Full Doc and Alt Doc applications.
Pepper Full Doc
For Full Doc applications, Pepper can accept:
- Tax returns: One or two years of tax returns can support income verification.
- ATO notices of assessment: These can accompany tax returns.
- Financial statements: One or two years of accountant-prepared financial statements can also be accepted.
Pepper states that Full Doc applicants can access the same interest rates and LVR requirements as PAYG customers within its relevant product structure.
Pepper Alt Doc
Pepper’s Alt Doc pathway can suit borrowers with newer businesses.
The lender can consider six months of ABN and GST registration.
It can also consider six months of business bank statements or lodged BAS statements.
An accountant’s letter may also be accepted where eligibility criteria are met.
This can make Pepper particularly relevant for self-employed accountants.
Liberty Home Loans For Accountants
Liberty is another non-bank lender worth comparing.
It does not publicly position its low-deposit product as an accountant-specific LMI waiver.
Instead, Liberty focuses on flexible lending for different borrower circumstances.
Its low-deposit home loan can provide borrowing up to 95% of the purchase price.
LMI may apply under that product.
Liberty Low-Doc Lending
Liberty’s low-doc loans can suit self-employed borrowers who cannot provide standard income documentation.
The lender states that alternative evidence can include:
- Bank statements: Business banking records can help demonstrate cash flow.
- BAS statements: BAS records can support evidence of business income.
- Accountant declaration: An accountant’s declaration can provide alternative income verification.
- Older tax returns: Previous tax information may also support an application.
This approach can help when your latest financial statements do not reflect your current income.
Liberty Best Suited To
Liberty may suit you if you:
- Are self-employed: Its lending model accommodates non-standard income.
- Have limited documentation: Low-doc options provide alternative verification.
- Have a smaller deposit: Selected loans allow borrowing up to 95%.
- Do not fit traditional bank criteria: Liberty specialises in flexible lending.
Resimac Home Loans For Accountants
Resimac also offers specialist lending for borrowers outside traditional bank guidelines.
Its Resimac Specialist product is designed for self-employed borrowers, credit-impaired borrowers and contract workers.
The published product allows up to 90% LVR.
It also offers a 100% offset on eligible products.
Resimac Alt Doc
Resimac’s Prime Alt Doc offering is particularly relevant to self-employed applicants.
Its published policy allows up to 90% LVR.
Income can be verified using one of several methods.
These include an accountant’s verification, BAS statements or business bank statements.
This can be useful for an accountant whose business income does not fit a traditional PAYG model.
However, an Alt Doc product should not automatically be considered cheaper.
You should compare its interest rate, fees and long-term suitability against Full Doc alternatives.
Bank Vs Non-Bank Lenders For Accountants
The key difference is usually the lending approach.
| Factor | Major Banks | Non-Bank Lenders |
| Accountant LMI waiver | Stronger availability | Less common as a profession-specific benefit |
| Standard PAYG income | Usually straightforward | Usually available |
| Self-employed income | Can require extensive documentation | Often more flexible |
| Alt Doc | More limited | Commonly available |
| Low deposit | Professional waivers may help | Often available with LMI or other pricing |
| Complex income | Policy dependent | Often a key lending niche |
| Credit issues | Generally stricter | Some specialist options exist |
| Product choice | Broad mainstream range | More specialised options |
This means a bank may be stronger for an employed accountant with a 10% deposit.
A non-bank lender may become more attractive when you are self-employed.
| Accountant Type | Lenders To Consider | Why They May Suit |
| PAYG accountant | ANZ, NAB, Westpac, CommBank | These lenders offer professional or low-deposit pathways. ANZ stands out with a published 90% LVR accountant policy and no minimum income requirement. |
| Self-employed accountant | Pepper Money, Liberty, Resimac | These lenders offer greater flexibility around income verification and self-employed applications. Pepper Money offers six-month ABN and Alt Doc options. |
| Complex income structure | Pepper Money, Liberty, Resimac | Non-bank lenders may provide more flexibility for business profits, distributions, dividends and irregular income. However, pricing and loan terms can differ. |
| Best overall option | Depends on your circumstances | There is no single best lender. Compare LVR, LMI, interest rate, fees, documentation and borrowing capacity before choosing. |
Conclusion
The best home loans for accountants are not necessarily found by searching for the lowest advertised rate.
The bigger opportunity can come from finding the lender with the right professional policy.
ANZ currently publishes a strong accountant-specific LMI waiver with up to 90% LVR and no minimum income in its detailed policy.
NAB recognises CA, CPA and IPA members under its professional LMI waiver.
Westpac offers a 90% LVR accountant pathway but publishes a $120,000 minimum income requirement.
CommBank also provides professional LMI waiver options for eligible accountants with deposits as low as 10%.
For self-employed accountants, the comparison becomes more complex.
Pepper Money, Liberty and Resimac provide alternative income verification and specialist lending options.
Therefore, the right lender depends on whether you are PAYG, self-employed, a partner or operating through a business structure.
Your deposit, professional membership, income evidence and borrowing requirements should all shape the comparison.
Most importantly, professional status does not guarantee approval.
Every lender still applies its own credit assessment, serviceability rules and property criteria.
FAQs About Home Loans For Accountants
Which Bank Is Best For Accountants?
There is no single best bank for every accountant.
ANZ currently publishes particularly clear professional LMI criteria.
However, NAB, Westpac and CommBank also provide professional lending options.
Which Bank Offers LMI Waivers For Accountants?
ANZ, NAB, Westpac and CommBank currently publish professional LMI waiver options.
Eligibility and maximum LVRs differ between lenders.
Can Accountants Get A 90% Home Loan Without LMI?
Yes, eligible accountants can access 90% LVR without LMI with some lenders.
ANZ and Westpac publicly document 90% LVR professional pathways.
Does ANZ Offer An LMI Waiver For Accountants?
Yes, ANZ publishes an accountant-specific LMI waiver.
Its detailed policy allows eligible accountants up to 90% LVR without LMI.
It also states that no minimum income is required under that policy.
Does Westpac Offer An Accountant LMI Waiver?
Yes, Westpac offers an LMI waiver for eligible accountants with a 10% deposit.
Its published criteria include a $120,000 minimum gross taxable income.
Can Self-Employed Accountants Get A Home Loan?
Yes, self-employed accountants can obtain home loans.
Pepper Money, Liberty and Resimac publish flexible options for self-employed borrowers.
Documentation requirements vary between lenders.
Are Non-Bank Lenders Better For Self-Employed Accountants?
They can be more flexible when your income is difficult to document.
Pepper, Liberty and Resimac offer alternative documentation pathways.
However, you should compare rates, fees and LVR requirements carefully.
Do Accountants Get Better Home Loan Rates?
Some lenders offer professional pricing to eligible professionals.
However, accountant discounts are not universal.
The final rate depends on the lender, loan product, LVR and borrower profile.
Financial Disclaimer – This article provides general information only and does not constitute personal financial or credit advice. Lender policies, interest rates, fees, LVR limits and eligibility criteria can change. Always check current lender requirements and consider your circumstances before applying for a home loan.
