09/09/2026
"The bank said no." If you've heard that on a commercial deal, watch this before you give up on it.
Most of the time, a decline isn't a verdict on whether the numbers work. It's a good file sitting with the wrong lender. I spent nearly ten years at Westpac and Suncorp before becoming a broker, so I've sat on the side of the desk that issues these knock-backs, and that's almost always what's really going on.
The biggest mistake people make is walking straight into the next bank with the same application. Same policy, same answer. The better move is to understand why you were declined, then take the file to a lender who actually fits it, whether that's a second-tier bank, a non-bank lender who reads self-employed income properly, or a structure built around the lease.
Have a watch, and the full guide is linked in the comments.
If a bank has recently declined a commercial purchase, it's worth a second look before you walk away.