Australian finance and mortgage brokers are moving quickly to plug artificial intelligence (AI) into their businesses, but a sharp age divide and cyber concerns are tempering enthusiasm.
The latest monthly poll from the Finance Brokers Association of Australasia (FBAA) shows that 39% of brokers now consider AI either “a core part” of their business or say they are “actively integrating AI across multiple areas of the business”.
Most of this activity is clustered around front-end tasks such as marketing campaigns, lead nurturing and day‑to‑day client communication, where brokers see immediate wins in speed and scale.
The shift at broker level echoes a broader AI‑driven upswing playing out across the economy. CBA’s new outlook says AI‑driven investment has cushioned tariff shocks and kept growth resilient, even as rates, inflation, and geopolitical risks stay high too – a reminder that smarter technology is now central to how financial services navigate volatility.
AI tailwinds meet broker‑level reality
This macro backdrop mirrors what many brokers are seeing at ground level: when used well, automation can deepen client engagement and free up time for higher‑value advice. Across lenders and aggregators, AI is already handling discovery calls, document collection, and loan processing, freeing brokers to focus on more relationships.
FBAA interim CEO Peter White (pictured), who announced his retirement from the association this month, said the findings show brokers are learning where AI fits in practice.
“We know there are still many limitations in AI and I wouldn’t be rushing to use it for legal or compliance issues but it can increase efficiency and save time in other areas,” White said. “Brokers must embrace rapidly changing technology on an ongoing basis, and as they do this sensibly and even cautiously, they won’t be left behind.”
The poll also reveals a clear generational split. Brokers under 50 are twice as likely to be using AI tools at work (54%) as their counterparts over 50 (27%), highlighting how younger professionals are more comfortable overhauling long‑standing processes.
Security and privacy worries remain a major brake on deeper adoption. Twelve per cent of those surveyed reported a cybersecurity incident in the past year, and many linked this to their reluctance to lean more heavily on third‑party AI platforms.
FBAA is advising members not to upload client or company personal data into public AI systems, echoing guidance from the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner that warns: “Once personal information has been input into AI systems, particularly generative AI products, it will be very difficult to track or control how it is used, and potentially impossible to remove the information from the system.”
Even so, momentum is building: four in ten brokers who have used, tested, or explored AI report a notable and positive difference to their business.
Originally written by: Mina Martin
Source: AustralianBroker
Published on: 2 March 2026
Link to original article: Aussie finance brokers fast-track AI amid security fears, generational divide
