Show more

On 24th April 2019, Judo officially became a bank. With Joseph Healy and David Hornery at the helm, we set off on our mission of making lending human again, transforming the banking landscape for SMEs that need it most.

Out with the new, in with the old. That’s our motto at Judo Bank.

The industrialisation of the banking sector removed the human aspect from lending relationships. It’s all about volume, box-ticking and blanket criteria that form rigid frameworks for maximum streamlined efficiency.

Having spent much of his career working with the Big 4, Judo Bank co-CEO Joseph Healy wanted to bring back relationship banking in its truest form, with small to medium businesses the key focus.

“I felt passionately about banking for SMEs,” he explains. “I saw an opportunity to build a bank that specialised in small business only, staffed by people who understand small business.”

And so he did.

Joseph and co-CEO David Hornery assembled a small team, established enquiry investment, and built the team out to just over 200, with plans to double that by 2021. Driven by passion, Joseph believes that being successful in business requires a strong sense of purpose. We see that passion in our SME clients, and we mirror that in our approach to lending to them.

Competing against big banks that have been in business for over a hundred years and spend millions of dollars in marketing each year remains a challenge – but a challenge we embrace on a daily basis. With offices in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, Perth and soon-to-be Adelaide, Judo is reaching Australian SMEs across the country.

Our approach speaks for itself. “We’re a judgement-based lender, and emphasis on that is what’s differentiated us,” Joseph says. “We make decision makers available to our clients”, which means not having to chase the top for approval. We give our clients answers within 5 days, because we understand it’s important to them.

“SMEs are all we talk about!” Joseph joked.

Judo customers say their experience is the best they’ve had with a bank in 30 years – and that’s why we do what we do. We want to be different, because the SME lending landscape needed a rethink.

When speaking of how we compete in a world of giants, Joseph neatly explains, “we’ll never be the biggest bank, but we will be the best. My worst nightmare is waking up in 2 years as a mini-me of the big banks. We lose our purpose if that happens.”

Our mission is to bring back relationship banking, giving our bankers authority to tailor a solution to a business’ needs. By executing the industry correction that needs to happen in lending, our reputation will outweigh any amount of marketing dollars that other banks can spend.

We’re not hiding behind marketing slogans.

“We’re getting out there and supporting SMEs, both our customers and new customers and filling the gap that the banking sector has left unserviced.”

That’s the Judo way.

Disclaimer This document has been prepared by Judo Bank Pty Ltd ABN 11 615 995 581 AFSL 501091 and Australian Credit Licence 501091 (“Judo Bank”). Any advice contained in this document has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any advice in this document, Judo Bank recommends that you consider whether the advice is appropriate having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent legal, financial, taxation or other professional advice and read the relevant product disclosure documents and consider them prior to making a decision.

So far as laws and regulatory requirements permit, Judo Bank, its related companies, associated entities and any officer, employee, agent, adviser or contractor thereof (the “Judo Bank Group”) does not warrant or represent that the information, recommendations, opinions or conclusions contained in this document (“Information”) is accurate, reliable, complete or current. The Information is indicative and prepared for information purposes only and does not purport to contain all matters relevant to any particular investment or financial instrument. The Information is not intended to be relied upon and in all cases anyone proposing to use the Information should independently verify and check its accuracy, completeness, reliability and suitability and obtain appropriate professional advice. The Information is not intended to create any legal or fiduciary relationship and nothing contained in this document will be considered personal advice or an invitation to engage in business, a recommendation, guidance, invitation, inducement, proposal, advice or solicitation to provide investment, financial or banking services or an invitation to engage in business or invest, buy, sell or deal in any securities or other financial instruments.

The Information is subject to change without notice, but the Judo Bank Group shall not be under any duty to update or correct it. This document does not make, nor purports to make, any forward-looking statements, forecasts or financial projections. All statements as to future matters are not guaranteed to be accurate and any statements as to past performance do not represent future performance.

Subject to any terms implied by law and which cannot be excluded, the Judo Bank Group shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, defects or misrepresentations in the Information (including by reasons of negligence, negligent misstatement or otherwise) or for any loss or damage (whether direct, indirect or otherwise) suffered by persons who use or rely on the Information. If any law prohibits the exclusion of such liability, the Judo Bank Group limits its liability to the re-supply of the Information, provided that such limitation is permitted by law and is fair and reasonable.

This document is intended only for clients of the Judo Bank Group, and brokers who refer customers to the Judo Bank Group, and may not be reproduced or distributed without the consent of Judo Bank.

The Information is governed by, and is to be construed in accordance with, the laws in force in the State of Victoria, Australia.