SME Challenger Bank Judo Bank Receives Full Banking License From Australian Prudential Regulation Authority
Judo Bank (formerly Judo Capital), an SME challenger bank, announced on Wednesday it was granted a full banking license by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). According to the bank’s Chairman, Peter Hodgson, the full license means Judo will be able to significantly extend the scope and depth of services it provides to those businesses across the country.
Founded in 2016, Judo stated it is challenging the “one size fits all” approach of its much larger competitors because it believes every business is unique and should be treated that way.
“We prioritize time with each and every one of our customers to build an unrivaled understanding of every aspect of their business and find solutions that are genuinely right for them, in a timeframe that meets their needs.”
While sharing more details about the license, Hodgson explained:
“We are delighted to be granted an unrestricted banking license, helping to solidify our position as Australia’s first fully licensed challenger bank dedicated to small and medium-sized business lending. To achieve our full license in such a tight timeframe, we worked closely with APRA to meet the strict conditions necessary for a licensed bank, including the strength of our business model, and governance policies and principles – a process that has involved substantial work by the team since we first applied in May 2018. On behalf of our investors and Judo team across Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, we are delighted to have been granted this full banking license, following new legislation that has opened up the industry to much needed competition.”
Hodgson also reported that to support its core lending business, Judo will be launching deposit products, starting out with term deposits and notice accounts for business, consumers, SMSF, and wholesale depositors. He added:
“We have been thrilled with the support we have received from the business community since we launched Judo in April 2018. The ability to now offer term deposits and accordingly, to change our name to Judo Bank, will help drive growth, and provides an opportunity for businesses and the broader community to support business funding at competitive rates.”
