In just over two weeks, NAB and CBA have already received a total of 3,000 applications

First-home buyers who are aiming to be part of the first 10,000 beneficiaries of the federal government's First Home Loan Deposit Scheme should act fast as the slots are quickly being filled.

A spokesperson for Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said that 3,000 applications have been made since the start of the scheme, with around 190 already getting a pre-approval.

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and the National Australia Bank (NAB) received half of all the initial 10,000 guarantees available this year. The two banks started offering government-backed loans at the start of the year.

Another 5,000 slots will be opened on 1 February, all of which will be provided to the 25 non-major lenders appointed by the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation (NHFIC).

There are plans to open 10,000 more slots in July.

First-home buyers wishing to apply for the scheme should lodge their applications through participating lenders and their authorised representatives. NHFIC will not accept applications directly.

Aside from the two major lenders, the following banks are assigned by the NHFIC to process applications for the scheme:

  • Australian Military Bank
  • Auswide Bank
  • Bank Australia
  • Bank First
  • Bank of us
  • Bendigo Bank
  • Beyond Bank Australia
  • Community First Credit Union
  • CUA
  • Defence Bank
  • Gateway Bank
  • G&C Mutual Bank
  • Indigenous Business Australia
  • Mortgageport
  • MyState Bank
  • People’s Choice Credit Union
  • Police Bank (including the Border Bank and Bank of Heritage Isle)
  • P&N Bank
  • QBAnk
  • Queensland Country Credit Union
  • Regional Australia Bank
  • Sydney Mutual Bank and Endeavour Mutual Bank (divisions of Australian Mutual Bank Ltd)
  • Teachers Mutual Bank Limited (including Firefighters Mutual Bank, Health Professionals Bank, Teachers Mutual Bank and UniBank)
  • The Mutual Bank
  • WAW Credit Union

NHFIC unveiled an online tool to help would-be applicants determine their eligibility for the scheme. It adds to the property price lookup tool that has also been developed to help first-home buyers check the property price threshold that applies under the program.

Collections: