Judo Bank

What Judo Bank does

Judo Bank Pty Ltd is an Australian Authorised Deposit-taking Institution (ADI) founded in 2016 and headquartered in Melbourne, listed on the ASX under ticker JDO. The bank is purpose-built to serve Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs) via a relationship-led lending model in which dedicated relationship bankers — organised by sector specialism (agribusiness, professional services, acquisition finance) — exercise direct credit decision authority using a judgement-based framework rather than pure algorithmic underwriting. The core business lending book (minimum loan size $250,000) includes growth loans, acquisition loans up to $15 million, agribusiness loans, professional services loans, bridging finance, equipment loans, lines of credit, and bank guarantees, supplemented by home loans for existing business customers. Pricing on the lending book is anchored to a proprietary benchmark, the Judo Market Base Rate (JMBR), repriced monthly with reference to BBSW and wholesale funding costs, while home loans use a separate Judo Home Loan Base Rate (JHLBR).

The bank funds its lending book through an integrated deposit franchise comprising personal, business, and SMSF term deposits, plus tiered personal, business, and SMSF savings accounts, all distributed through a digital self-serve platform (web and mobile) backed by an Australian-based support team. Distribution is dual-channel: direct relationship banking for SME lending (supported by 30+ administrative offices across all Australian states and territories) and broker referrals via a dedicated Broker Hub, alongside fully digital onboarding for deposit and savings customers. Revenue is generated primarily through net interest spread between lending yields and deposit costs, supplemented by lending fees (loan variations, early repayment charges, bank guarantee fees). The company reported 52,900+ term deposit customers and $9.9 billion+ in deposits, with 501–1,000 employees. Judo holds APRA ADI status, Australian Credit Licence, and AFSL 501 091, and is recognised as Australia's only challenger bank dedicated exclusively to SMEs.

Name

Judo Bank

Legal name

Judo Bank Pty Ltd

Website

https://judo.bank

Company type

Public

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Judo Bank is an Australian ASX-listed challenger bank founded in 2016, offering judgement-based SME business lending (loans from $250,000) alongside personal, business, and SMSF term deposits and savings accounts, distributed through 30+ offices and digital channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

SME Business Banking

NAICS

Depository Credit Intermediation (5221), Credit Intermediation and Related Activities (522)

SIC

National Commercial Banks (6021), Functions Related To Depository Banking, Nec (6099)

akta.pro primary industry

Credit Cards & Revolving Credit (FSABAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

BaaS Platforms & Sponsor Bank Enablement (FSAGALAA)

Keywords

• SME business banking
• Business lending services
• Term deposit products
• Savings accounts
• Agribusiness lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices22 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Net Interest Income - Business Lending: Judo Bank earns interest income from its SME lending portfolio including growth loans, acquisition loans, agribusiness loans, professional services loans, equipment loans, and bridging finance. The bank prices loans using the Judo Market Base Rate plus customer margin.
2. Net Interest Income - Home Loans: Interest income from flexible home loans offered to complement business lending customers. Loans are priced using the Judo Home Loan Base Rate.
3. Term Deposit Interest Spread: The bank accepts term deposits (personal, business, SMSF) and uses those funds to support SME lending. Interest spread is earned between deposit rates paid and loan rates charged.
4. Savings Account Interest Spread: Variable rate savings accounts (personal, business, SMSF) funded by customer deposits, generating interest spread income.
5. Lending Fees and Charges: Fees from loan variations, early repayment costs on fixed rate loans, bank guarantee fees, and other lending-related charges.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Judo Bank is an Australian challenger bank purpose-built exclusively for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), providing relationship-based business lending (Growth Loans, Acquisition Loans, Agribusiness Lending, Professional Services Lending, Bridging Finance, Bank Guarantees and Lines of Credit from A$250,000) funded by retail and wholesale deposits (Personal, Business and SMSF Term Deposits and Savings Accounts), supported by a digital banking platform and flexible Home Loans for business owner customers.

Product overview

Judo Bank is an Australian challenger bank purpose-built for SMEs, offering a integrated portfolio of business lending products (Growth Loans, Acquisition Loans, Agribusiness, Professional Services, Bridging Finance, Home Loans) and deposit products (Personal, Business, and SMSF Term Deposits and Savings Accounts). The bank combines relationship-based lending with digital banking platforms, providing SME customers with dedicated relationship bankers alongside online account management tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Lending Core SME lending franchise offering judgement-based lending to Australian small and medium businesses, with dedicated relationship bankers empowered to make fast, informed credit decisions. Includes Business Loans, Lines of Credit, Equipment Loans and Bank Guarantees with lending starting at A$250,000.
• Growth Loan Flexible term loan for Australian businesses ready to scale, offering fixed or variable rate options, tailored repayment structures, and redraw facilities to support expansion, hiring or equipment investment.
• Acquisition Loan Funding solution for business acquisitions and buy-outs, borrowing up to 100% of acquisition costs up to A$15 million, with loan terms up to 15 years and flexible Principal & Interest or Interest Only repayment options.
• Agribusiness Lending Specialist lending for Australian agribusinesses using character-first, judgement-based lending with local experienced Agribusiness bankers covering livestock, cropping, horticulture, dairy, cotton, aquaculture, transport, poultry and viticulture sectors.
• Professional Services Lending Lending solutions for professional services firms including business acquisition, goodwill funding, partner buy-ins, business premises funding, construction loans, and asset finance for equipment, motor vehicles and fit-out funding.
• Bridging Finance Short-term lending solution typically up to 12 months for capable sponsors to secure opportunities requiring fast action, providing temporary liquidity while a well-defined exit is completed.
• Home Loans Flexible home loans for Judo business lending customers offering variable or fixed interest rates, flexible repayment options, terms up to 30 years, with Principal & Interest or Interest Only choices, priced using the proprietary Judo Home Loan Base Rate (JHLBR).
• Personal Term Deposit Award-winning fixed-rate term deposit for individuals seeking secure returns, with terms from 1 month to 5 years, competitive rates (e.g. 5.45% p.a. for 11 months, 5.35% p.a. for 1 year) and loyalty bonus for rollovers, covered under the Government Financial Claims Scheme up to A$250,000.
• Business Term Deposit Term deposit for businesses to earn competitive returns on surplus funds while supporting Australian SMEs, available for private companies, trusts with individual trustees and incorporated associations.
• SMSF Term Deposit Self-managed super fund term deposit for SMSF trustees seeking secure, predictable returns with flexible terms from 3 months to 5 years, covered under the Financial Claims Scheme.
• Personal Savings Account High-interest savings account for personal use earning up to 5.35% p.a. variable rate on balances up to A$250,000, requiring A$300 monthly deposit to unlock the bonus rate with no withdrawal penalties.
• Business Savings Account Business savings account earning competitive tiered interest on surplus funds (4.85% p.a. on first A$250,000; 4.15% p.a. on A$250,001-A$2,000,000; 1.75% p.a. above A$2,000,001) with no monthly deposit conditions, ideal for businesses with irregular cash flow.
• SMSF Savings Account SMSF savings account for trustees with a competitive variable rate (up to 5.11% p.a. on balances up to A$250,000) and total flexibility, requiring A$500 monthly deposit to trigger the bonus rate with unlimited withdrawals and no lock-in contracts.
• Digital Banking Platform Judo Bank's digital banking platform enabling customers to manage accounts, transfer funds, view statements and communicate securely via web or mobile app without branches.

Quantifiable outcome

• 53% increase in profit before tax YoY in H1 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Up: Australian mobile-first neobank owned by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Comparable as a digital-only Australian bank competing for deposit and small business customers, though primarily consumer-led.
• Tyro Payments: Australian ASX-listed challenger targeting SMEs with acquiring and business banking. Comparable in serving Australian SMEs with a digital-first model, but anchored in payments rather than relationship lending.

Broad incumbents

• Suncorp Bank: Australian universal bank with meaningful SME and agribusiness lending franchises alongside retail and commercial banking. Comparable to Judo in target SME segment but operates broader, branch-based model.
• National Australia Bank (NAB): One of Australia's Big 4 banks with a large SME and business banking franchise. Comparable end market (Australian SMEs), but operates a much broader universal banking model and is the source of much of Judo's senior leadership talent.
• Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ): One of Australia's Big 4 banks with substantial SME, agribusiness and institutional banking. Comparable target market including agribusiness lending, which Judo also serves through its specialist bankers.
• Macquarie Bank: Australia's largest challenger-style bank with deep business banking, deposits and home loan franchises. Comparable in challenger-bank heritage and SME reach, though Macquarie's business is far broader across wealth, markets and infrastructure.

Direct peers

• Bendigo and Adelaide Bank: Australian challenger bank historically focused on SME and community banking. Most directly comparable peer to Judo given its SME lending franchise, branch footprint and deposit gathering, though it operates a hybrid branch-and-digital model rather than digital-only.
• Bank of Queensland: Australian regional and SME-focused bank. Comparable to Judo in its focus on business lending, owner-operated SME segment and owner-manager home lending, though it relies on a franchised brand distribution model.
• ME Bank: Australian direct bank (no branches) historically focused on home loans and deposits with a smaller SME lending book. Comparable to Judo's digital-only distribution model and deposit-led funding strategy.

Regional players

• Allica Bank: UK challenger bank focused on SME lending with a relationship-led model and dedicated business bankers. Highly comparable in business model and target segment to Judo, though operating in the UK rather than Australia.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/judocapital
• Facebookfacebook.com/judo-capital-886576858131385
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/judobank
• Instagraminstagram.com/judo_bank

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds9 records

Investors15 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Judo Bank