AMP Bank exits non-resident lending

According to a statement of credit policy changes provided to Mortgage Business by AMP, non-resident borrowers are now classified as an “unacceptable borrower type, unless a spouse/de facto is a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or New Zealand and a borrower of the loan”.

The bank has also implemented a two-tiered system for foreign currencies as part of new LVR restrictions.

Where foreign income is used for serviceability from a tier 1 currency – the Canadian dollar, the British pound, the Hong Kong dollar, the Japanese yen, the New Zealand dollar, the Singapore dollar and the US dollar – the maximum LVR is now 70 per cent.

Where the Chinese yuan (a tier 2 currency) is used for serviceability, the LVR is now 50 per cent.

Furthermore, AMP is now only accepting 80 per cent of income derived from tier 1 currencies and 50 per cent of income derived from the Chinese yuan for lending purposes, while foreign self-employed income is “not acceptable”.

“Our standards are continually reviewed with market developments to ensure we remain a prudent and responsible lender,” an AMP spokesperson told Mortgage Business.

“Our criteria for overseas borrowers has recently been reviewed in line with this objective.”

AMP is the latest lender to alter its policy for foreign buyers, following changes by NAB, Westpac, ANZ, Commonwealth Bank, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank and Citi.

[Related: Foreign investor taxes a ‘gravely risky strategy’]