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This audio version covers: Private Credit – Filling the $41 Trillion Global Funding Vacuum

THE BROKER TIMES EXCLUSIVE

Private Credit – Filling the $41 Trillion Global Funding Vacuum

As traditional banks retrench due to tighter capital standards and APRA’s new DTI caps, private credit has evolved into a systemic pillar of modern finance. For the Australian mortgage broker, this shift represents a move from “last resort” lending to a critical tool for client certainty and business resilience.

Step 1: The $41 Trillion Macro Shift

The global addressable credit market is estimated at $41 trillion. Private funds are on track to replace up to 15% of traditional lending as institutional investors seek yield away from volatile public markets. Assets under management are projected to surpass $2.3 trillion by the end of 2026.

Why It Matters to You

This isn’t just a global trend; it’s local liquidity. Australian super funds and family offices are pouring capital into private credit, meaning more diversity in the lenders you can access.

Step 2: The 25.3% Non-ADI Surge

While major banks grew their lending books by just 3.9% in 2025, non-bank (non-ADI) volumes surged by 25.3%. This divergence is driven by “Bank Retrenchment”—traditional lenders pulling back from complexity to maintain capital buffers.

Lending Segment 2025 Growth Key Advantage
Non-ADI (Private) 25.3% Flexibility & Speed
Major Banks 3.9% Lowest Base Rates
Asset-Backed Record Inflows Structural Resilience

Step 3: Managing the 2026 DTI Cliff

Effective 1 February 2026, APRA rules limit banks to writing only 20% of new loans at DTIs of 6x or higher. This creates a “timing risk” where a bank might decline a great client because their quarterly high-DTI quota is exhausted.

DTI Ratio = Total Debt / Gross Annual Income

Strategic Opening: New-Builds

Loans for new dwelling construction are exempt from the DTI cap. If your client is hitting a DTI wall, pivot their strategy toward house-and-land or off-the-plan options to bypass the 20% quota.

Step 4: Dual-Track Strategy & Compliance

Don’t wait for a bank decline. Run “Dual-Track” financing—parallel conversations with banks and private lenders. This ensures certainty of execution for your client.

Script Example: The Quota Conversation

“Look, because of the new APRA caps, banks have a tight 20% limit each quarter for high-DTI loans. If we wait until the end of the month, the ‘bucket’ might be full. That’s why we’re running a dual-track approach—getting a private credit term sheet ready as a backstop while we chase the bank’s lower rate. It guarantees you won’t miss this property.”

ASIC BID Compliance Note

When recommending a higher-cost private credit option, ensure your documentation is contemporaneous. Explicitly state that the recommendation was chosen for speed or certainty to meet the client’s specific objective.