As read in the Aust Broker Online, Westpac has announced changes to its lending practices governing foreign buyers, in response to APRA’s push to rein in the levels of finance being supplied to investors.

The major bank is attempting to curtail lending to foreign investors by writing to mortgage brokers to tell them that all applicants must have an Australian visa and confirm to Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) requirements.

The bank issued the advice in a letter to brokers last week that was leaked to the Australian Financial Review.

“All future home lending applications that you submit to Westpac must contain a primary application that has an Australian residential address,” the letter read.

According to the AFR, the letter was sent to brokers identified as having a high portion of clients who did not reside in Australia.

In a statement to the AFR, a Westpac spokesperson said the bank was reminding brokers to operate within the FIRB rules.

“It’s just a reminder to brokers with a higher percentage of non-resident lending that when submitting owner-occupied application [they] should contain an Australian residential address.”

John can be contacted on 0749722081 or 0410433919. or email him at jwhitten@ihl.net.au or net www.ihl.net.au. John Whitten is a credit representative (CRN 399796) of BLASSA Pty Ltd (Australian Credit Licence No 391237).