Bank of Queensland Limited (Bank of Queensland) has improved its lending practices following ASIC's concerns about the way it assessed applications for home loans.

ASIC was concerned that Bank of Queensland was using a benchmark figure, the Henderson Poverty Index (HPI), to estimate the living expenses of consumers applying for home loans, rather than asking borrowers about their actual expenses.

In ASIC's view, the lack of enquiry about actual expenses, and reliance solely on HPI (which is used as a measure for estimating the minimum amount of money families of different sizes need to cover basic essential needs) was not consistent with responsible lending obligations imposed by the National Credit Act.

Bank of Queensland has updated its home loan application forms to obtain more information about a customer's living expenses. The bank will carry out an assessment of the suitability of a loan using the higher of either the living expense figure supplied by the customer or an appropriate benchmark figure.

ASIC notes that the bank will continue to review the circumstances of borrowers who go into hardship or default to ensure that they have not been disadvantaged by a loan provided prior to the change in policy.

ASIC Deputy Chairman Peter Kell said, ‘This outcome is part of ASIC’s ongoing focus on the lending industry’s compliance with responsible lending laws.  Lenders must carry out inquiries to determine whether a credit contract will be unsuitable for a consumer. Using benchmark figures such as the Henderson Poverty Index alone to estimate a consumer's financial position is not sufficient to meet this requirement.’

In November 2014, ASIC updated Regulatory Guide 209 Credit licensing: Responsible lending conduct (RG 209) to clarify that credit licensees cannot rely solely on benchmark living expense figures, and must also make inquiries about the borrowers’ actual living expenses.

ASIC acknowledges the co-operation of Bank of Queensland in resolving this issue.

Background

The responsible lending obligations require credit licensees to ensure that consumers are only placed in credit contracts that meet their requirements and objectives and where they can meet their repayment obligations without substantial hardship. In doing this, credit licensees must make reasonable inquiries into an individual consumer’s specific circumstances and take reasonable steps to verify the consumer’s financial situation.

This action follows a number of developments and outcomes involving responsible lending at both bank and non-bank lenders:

• ASIC's announcement of a surveillance into the provision of interest only loans  (refer: 14-329MR)
• The Federal Court handed down The Cash Store decision which made it clear credit licensees must, at a minimum, inquire about the consumer’s current income and living expenses (refer: 14-220MR), and
• Wide Bay Australia Ltd (now Auswide Bank Ltd)  made changes to their responsible lending policy as a result of ASIC's intervention (refer: 15-013MR).