Which lenders offer Help to Buy in Australia?
7 brands are on Housing Australia's official directory as of 28 October 2026. Only these brands can write a Help to Buy loan. The table below copies the directory and links to each lender's own Help to Buy page.
| Lender brand | Lending group | Lender's own page |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Australia | Bank Australia | Bank Australia Help to Buy page |
| Commonwealth Bank | Commonwealth Bank | Commonwealth Bank Help to Buy page |
| Teachers Mutual Bank | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | Teachers Mutual Bank Help to Buy page |
| Health Professionals Bank | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | Health Professionals Bank Help to Buy page |
| Firefighters Mutual Bank | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | Firefighters Mutual Bank Help to Buy page |
| UniBank | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | UniBank Help to Buy page |
| Queensland Country Bank | Queensland Country Bank | Queensland Country Bank Help to Buy page |
Source: Housing Australia, Help to Buy participating lenders, read 28 October 2026. The page shows no publication date. Housing Australia says each lender assesses your eligibility under its own criteria and is your main contact through to settlement.
For who qualifies, the share the government takes and the price caps, read the Help to Buy guide. This page only covers the lenders.
When did each Help to Buy lender join?
Two brands began on 5 December 2025, four on 27 July 2026 and one on 6 October 2026. Dates come from each lender's own announcement, not from the directory, which shows no dates. We use the date each lender says it began.
| Lender brand | Began offering Help to Buy | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Australia | 5 December 2025 | Bank Australia broker communications archive, item dated 5 December 2025 |
| Commonwealth Bank | 5 December 2025 | Commonwealth Bank launch announcement |
| Teachers Mutual Bank | 27 July 2026 | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited announcement, 27 July 2026 |
| Health Professionals Bank | 27 July 2026 | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited announcement, 27 July 2026 |
| Firefighters Mutual Bank | 27 July 2026 | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited announcement, 27 July 2026 |
| UniBank | 27 July 2026 | Teachers Mutual Bank Limited announcement, 27 July 2026 |
| Queensland Country Bank | 6 October 2026 | Queensland Country Bank launch announcement, 6 October 2026 |
Commonwealth Bank's launch page names Friday 5 December 2025, the day applications opened. The page shows no publication date in its text.
Can I apply for Help to Buy through a mortgage broker?
Sometimes. Broker access is set by each lender, and a broker must be accredited with that lender to submit. Bank Australia, Queensland Country Bank and the Teachers Mutual Bank group describe broker channels. For Commonwealth Bank we found no current statement either way.
| Lender brand | Channel | What the lender says |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Australia | Direct and broker | Its own explainer describes applying direct or through a broker. |
| Commonwealth Bank | Direct | Its scheme page points applicants to a Home Lending Specialist. We did not find a current statement from the bank on broker access. |
| Teachers Mutual Bank | Direct, and broker from 6 October 2026 | The group says its accredited broker network can submit from 6 October 2026. |
| Health Professionals Bank | Direct, and broker from 6 October 2026 | Covered by the same group announcement. |
| Firefighters Mutual Bank | Direct, and broker from 6 October 2026 | Covered by the same group announcement. |
| UniBank | Direct, and broker from 6 October 2026 | Covered by the same group announcement. |
| Queensland Country Bank | Direct and broker | Its launch announcement names retail and broker channels. |
A broker that works with a lender for ordinary home loans may not be set up for its Help to Buy loans. Ask two questions before you hand over documents. Can you submit a Help to Buy application to this lender today? Have you done one before? If the answer to the first is no, apply direct.
Are Teachers Mutual Bank, UniBank, Health Professionals Bank and Firefighters Mutual Bank separate lenders?
4 consumer brands belong to one institution, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. The directory lists each brand, so it shows 7 entries. Counted by group there are 4. The group announced Help to Buy for all four brands together on 27 July 2026.
| Lending group | Brands in the directory | Number of brands |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Australia | Bank Australia | 1 |
| Commonwealth Bank | Commonwealth Bank | 1 |
| Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | Teachers Mutual Bank, Health Professionals Bank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, UniBank | 4 |
| Queensland Country Bank | Queensland Country Bank | 1 |
Why it matters: brands in one group share a parent, so do not count them as separate lenders when you compare options.
Why is my bank not on the Help to Buy list?
Because the bank is not in the official directory. On 28 October 2026 NAB, Westpac and ANZ are not among the 7 brands. A bank can talk about government schemes on its website without taking part in Help to Buy. Only the directory settles it.
- A page about “government schemes and grants” is not proof that a bank offers Help to Buy.
- Some lenders in the directory still describe an older, shorter panel on their own pages. The directory is newer than those pages.
- We list a new lender only when the directory or the lender's own announcement says so. We do not list rumours.
Do all Help to Buy lenders use the same eligibility rules?
The scheme rules are the same at every lender. The lender's credit decision is not. Housing Australia sets who is eligible for the scheme. Each lender then decides whether it will lend to you, how it counts your income and which properties it accepts.
| Question | Set by the scheme (same everywhere) | Set by the lender (can differ) |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit | $103,000 for one applicant, $165,000 for joint applicants or a single parent, using the FY2026 Notice of Assessment | How much of your income it counts when it works out what you can repay |
| Citizenship and age | Every applicant must be an Australian citizen and at least 18 | Identity checks and how it verifies them |
| Deposit | Minimum 2% of the purchase price, plus purchase costs | The deposit it expects you to put in, which can be more than the minimum |
| Government contribution | Up to 30% for an existing home and up to 40% for a new home | Its view of the maximum reasonable amount you can fund yourself |
| Financial need | You cannot be someone who could buy without the scheme | Its assessment of your financial capacity |
| Property | Price caps by location and eligible property types | Which properties and construction types it will lend against |
The maximum government contribution is not automatic. The lender assesses your financial capacity, and a lender may ask for a bigger deposit than the 2% minimum. Housing Australia's FAQ describes a “maximum reasonable deposit”. Emergency savings can be considered. Full rules are in the Help to Buy guide.
Do Help to Buy loans have different interest rates or fees?
Yes, because there is no single scheme mortgage rate. The government contribution has no interest and no rent. The mortgage on the rest of the price carries the lender's own rate and fees. We do not publish a rate table here, because we have no comparable current rates from every lender.
| Ask the lender | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| What is the interest rate on the Help to Buy product, and is it variable or fixed? | The rate applies to the smaller mortgage, not to the government share. |
| What are the application, valuation and ongoing fees? | Housing Australia cannot charge scheme fees, but valuation and other permitted costs can be passed on. |
| Is there an offset account or redraw, and what do they cost? | Features differ between lenders and products. |
| What happens to the rate and fees if I refinance within the panel? | Switching between participating lenders needs approvals. |
| Can I get the lender's product disclosure in writing? | The written terms, not a sales call, are what bind the lender. |
Teachers Mutual Bank answers rate questions on its own Help to Buy page. Use each lender's page from the table above for current figures.
Which Help to Buy lenders accept self employed income?
We cannot name lenders that accept self employed income, because we have not read each lender's policy. Two tests apply. The scheme tests your income against its limit using your Notice of Assessment. The lender separately decides how much of that income it will count.
| Ask | Why |
|---|---|
| How many years of tax returns do you need? | Lenders set their own history requirements. |
| Do you average income across years, or use the latest year? | This changes how much income is counted. |
| Which documents do you need beyond the Notice of Assessment? | Business statements and accountant letters are common asks. Confirm what this lender wants. |
| Does my income sit under the scheme limit for the financial year the scheme uses? | The scheme limit is a separate test from the lender's. |
Can every participating lender finance a new build?
Do not assume so. Housing Australia lets Help to Buy be used for qualifying new homes, including eligible house and land packages. That does not oblige each lender to accept your builder, your contract or your construction timeline. Confirm with the lender before you sign.
| Check | What the official guide says or what to confirm |
|---|---|
| Counts as new | Housing Australia decides. A seller calling a property new is not enough. |
| Scheme timing rules | Set by the scheme, not the lender. See which homes qualify in the Help to Buy guide. |
| Contract type | Ask the lender whether it accepts your fixed price build contract and your builder. |
| Construction lending | Ask how the lender releases funds during the build and which builders it accepts. |
The official Building a New Home Guide sets out the contract rules.
What documents do I need to apply for Help to Buy?
Expect to show who you are, that you are an Australian citizen, your income, your savings and debts, and the property. Each lender publishes its own checklist, so use the list below as a starting point and confirm it with the lender you choose.
| Document | Purpose | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Photo identification | Confirms who you are | Application |
| Proof of Australian citizenship | Citizenship is a scheme requirement. Permanent residence alone is not enough. | Application |
| Notice of Assessment for the financial year the scheme uses | Tests your income against the scheme limit | Application |
| Payslips or business records | Lets the lender work out what you can repay | Application |
| Savings, assets and debt statements | Shows your deposit and your financial capacity | Application |
| Contract of sale or building contract | Identifies the property and the price | After you find a property |
| Building insurance evidence | Provide evidence to your lender and Housing Australia's conveyancer before settlement, then updated evidence each year | Before settlement, then annually |
How long does Help to Buy approval take?
We found no standard approval timeframe in the sources we checked. Confirm timing with your lender. What is published is the reservation: conditional scheme approval normally holds your place for 90 days, and a further 90 days can be approved.
| Stage | Who | What is published |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a participating lender | You | The official directory above |
| Lender assesses your eligibility and financial capacity | Lender | No published timeframe |
| Conditional scheme approval reserves a place | Housing Australia | 90 days, with a further 90 days possible |
| Find the property and have it valued | You and the lender | Valuation affects your share, so allow for it |
| Sign contracts and settle | You, your conveyancer and the lender | Settlement dates are set in the contract |
Start the lender conversation before you make an offer, so your 90 days are not used up waiting on paperwork.
Can I change lenders after joining Help to Buy?
Possibly, if you move to another participating lender and the required approvals are given. Moving to a lender outside the panel means repaying the whole Commonwealth share first. The government interest does not simply move with the mortgage.
| Route | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Refinance to another participating lender | Possible with the required approvals. Check the new lender's Help to Buy rules first. |
| Refinance to a lender outside the panel | The Commonwealth share must be repaid in full. |
| Change product at the same lender | Ask the lender whether it counts as a product change or a refinance. |
That is a good reason to choose carefully the first time. See the pillar for how repayment and buying back the government share work.
How do I choose a Help to Buy lender or broker?
Pick from the seven brands in the table, then compare the channel, the lender's credit fit and the cost of its loan. If you use a broker, make them confirm in writing that they can submit to your chosen lender. A broker can check which participating lender suits your situation.
| Compare | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Is it in the directory? | Only the 7 brands above can write a Help to Buy loan. |
| Channel | Direct only, or direct and broker. See the channel table. |
| Credit fit | How it counts your type of income, deposit and debts. |
| Property fit | Whether it accepts your property type, including a new build. |
| Cost | Rate, fees and features, in writing. |
| Broker access | Ask the broker whether they can submit to that lender and have done so before. |
Not sure which lender fits?
A broker can check which participating lender suits your situation and whether they can submit to it.
Find a brokerHelp to Buy lender questions
Which lenders offer Help to Buy?
7 brands from 4 lending groups are on the official directory read on 28 October 2026: Bank Australia, Commonwealth Bank, Teachers Mutual Bank, Health Professionals Bank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, UniBank and Queensland Country Bank.
Is NAB, Westpac or ANZ a Help to Buy lender?
Not in the official directory we read on 28 October 2026. The directory is the only list that decides who takes part, so check it again before you plan around any other bank.
Can I use a mortgage broker for Help to Buy?
Sometimes. It depends on the lender. Bank Australia, Queensland Country Bank and the Teachers Mutual Bank group say they take broker applications. Ask the broker to confirm in writing that they can submit to your chosen lender.
Are UniBank and Teachers Mutual Bank the same lender?
They are separate consumer brands owned by one banking group, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited. So are Health Professionals Bank and Firefighters Mutual Bank. We count them as four brands but one group.
Do all Help to Buy lenders use the same rules?
The scheme rules are the same. Each lender still runs its own credit assessment, so one lender can approve what another declines. See the Help to Buy guide for eligibility.
Does Help to Buy have its own interest rate?
No. The government contribution carries no interest or rent. The mortgage you take from the lender has the lender's own rate and fees, so ask each lender for its current product details.
Can I change lenders after I join Help to Buy?
Another participating lender may be possible with the required approvals. Moving to a lender outside the panel means repaying the Commonwealth share in full.
How often does this list change?
Two brands began on 5 December 2025, four on 27 July 2026 and one on 6 October 2026. We re check the official directory and update this page when it changes. The date at the top shows the last check.
Sources
How we checked: every figure on this page was read on the official source pages listed below on 28 October 2026.
| Publisher | Title | Page date |
|---|---|---|
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy participating lenders | No date shown on the page. Read 28 October 2026. |
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy frequently asked questions | No date shown on the page. |
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy Fact Sheet | 1 July 2026 (version 260701). |
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy Customer Guide | Version 260701. |
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy scheme overview | No date shown on the page. |
| Housing Australia | Help to Buy income and threshold updates | Effective 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027. |
| Housing Australia | Building a New Home Guide | Version 260701. |
| Bank Australia | Help to Buy and broker communications archive | Launch item dated 5 December 2025. |
| Commonwealth Bank | Help to Buy launch announcement | No date shown in the page text. |
| Teachers Mutual Bank Limited | More ways to buy a home | 27 July 2026. |
| Queensland Country Bank | Help to Buy launch announcement | 6 October 2026. |
The lender list changes. We re check the directory and update this page and its date when it does. See something out of date? Tell us.
General information, not personal advice.