winner: Non-Bank Lender of the Year

First Mortgage Trust

Paul Bendall

CEO

Paul Bendall is the Chief Executive Officer of First Mortgage Trust (FMT), New Zealand’s largest non-bank first mortgage lender. With over 25 years of experience in banking and property finance, Paul is known for his strategic vision and people-first leadership. Since joining FMT in 2020, the loan book has grown significantly, and funds under management have nearly doubled from $1 billion to $2 billion. Under his guidance, FMT has solidified its reputation for flexible, shorter-term property lending and consistent investment returns for over 7,000 investors. Paul’s passion for property and innovation continues to drive FMT’s success in the non-bank lending sector.

CEO

Paul Bendall

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@the_mortgage_girls_nz

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As an independent, forward-thinking girls’ school we are committed to preparing girls for a lifetime of learning, leadership and engagement in our global community. We believe in girls. At Ruyton Girls’ School we foster the individuality of each girl in a caring and safe environment, nurturing her intellectual, physical, social and emotional qualities that are essential to flourish. Powerful learning is central to the Ruyton culture, building on our strong academic reputation. We focus on advancing the learning of every girl through the engagement of intellectual curiosity, building their knowledge and skills about how to learn, and supporting them to achieve their personal best and be exemplary citizens. We believe in real-world learning beyond the classroom, collaborating with the wider community to promote growth, discovery and sustainability. We empower our girls to lead lives of purpose with courage, character and compassion. Through the development of values and action-focused learning they are inspired to pursue equity and justice for self and others. By embracing diversity and raising their voices, our girls effect positive change and make a difference.

As a proudly Kiwi-owned business with nearly 30 years of experience, First Mortgage Trust (FMT) continues to grow by building trusted relationships and delivering flexible property finance solutions. Advisers choose FMT for our experienced team, personal approach, local expertise and responsive, solution-focused service. While mainstream banks have stepped back, our relationship-first strategy has driven strong customer loyalty and repeat business. In 2024 – a year in which several lenders exited or scaled back – FMT remained resilient. We maintained a conservative average LVR of 46% and grew our team by 15%, reflecting our commitment to steady growth, a personal approach, flexibility and trust. Adviser partnerships are central to our success. While others tightened lending criteria, we continued to support advisers and their clients. We also invested significantly in technology and talent to enhance the adviser and borrower experience, improving turnaround times, approval speeds and responsiveness. And despite market challenges, our investment fund grew to over $1.7 billion and is now approaching $2 billion, expanding our lending capacity. FMT CEO Paul Bendall said, “It’s great to be recognised by the industry for the amazing work that our team is doing for our customers.”

Holly Sullivan

Founder

When I first entered the banking world, I was told to focus on helping people, and everything else would fall into place. I took that to heart and made it my mission to bring exceptional customer service to The Mortgage Girls. Sure, the numbers are important – we’re running a business, after all. But more than closed deals, The Mortgage Girls is a reflection of the passion and care we put into every single client interaction. Ten years and multiple awards later, nothing has changed. We’re still all about continuous improvement to deliver the best possible experience for our clients.

Founder

Holly Sullivan

Chris Meaker has over 21 years of experience in the finance industry with a focus on lending, business development and sales management. Prior to joining Brighten, he worked for La Trobe Financial, where he was an Executive General Manager and Head of Origination Channels. Previously, he worked for Pepper Financial Services Group as State Manager and Senior Business Development Manager.

Head of Distribution

Chris Meaker

EVENT PARTNER

Lending is from the First Mortgage Trust Group Investment Fund. First Mortgage Managers Limited, the issuer, is not a registered bank under the Banking (Prudential Supervision) Act 1989. Product Disclosure Statements are available at fmt.co.nz