Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada

What Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada does

Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada (CIMBC) is a private, member-owned cooperative founded around 2015 to represent independent mortgage brokerages across Canada. Headquartered in Richmond Hill, Ontario, the organization aggregates 1,800+ member brokers across 90+ brokerages coast to coast and processes more than $12 billion in annual funded volume through its network. CIMBC's core offering is a no-fee membership program that gives independent brokers access to direct lender relationships, the CIMBC National Co-Broker Program for cross-province licensing, executive mentorship, and exclusive partnership programs, all while allowing members to retain their own brand identity and own their client data and technology choices.

CIMBC monetizes through negotiated commission and partnership arrangements with lenders rather than through membership dues, monthly fees, or desk fees, explicitly positioning against traditional networks that charge splits and recurring costs. Its go-to-market is community-led: growth is driven by word-of-mouth referrals, member testimonials, industry events (notably a recurring program of charity golf tournaments with Home Trust, Equitable Bank, CMBA, and Women in Mortgages), and award sponsorships such as the CIMBC Lender BDM of the Year categories at the Canadian Mortgage Awards. There is no disclosed proprietary technology stack, no software products, and no AI/ML capabilities; CIMBC operates as a relationship and coalition layer over the existing Canadian mortgage origination stack, with a core operational anchor in its relationship with Mortgage Edge (founded by CEO John Bargis).

Strategically, CIMBC is led by CEO and founder John Bargis (30+ years in the Canadian mortgage industry, former Chair of Mortgage Professionals Canada) and CFO & COO Bob Sinclair (joined from BMO Bank of Montreal in 2018), supported by a small executive team covering national accounts, underwriting, and marketing. The organization does not disclose funding, investors, or parent entities, and there is no indication of outside capital, M&A, or international expansion. Its growth has been steady rather than venture-scaled, expanding from roughly 82 brokerages and just under $10 billion in volume in March 2021 to 90+ brokerages and $12B+ in volume more recently.

Name

Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada

Legal name

Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada

Website

https://cimbc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada (CIMBC) is a member-owned cooperative serving independent mortgage brokers across Canada. It aggregates 1,800+ brokers across 90+ brokerages, providing no-fee national licensing, direct lender access, and collective bargaining on $12B+ in annual funded volume.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mortgage Brokerage Services

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (52231), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Loan Brokers (6163), Mortgage Bankers & Loan Correspondents (6162)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYFSABAEAL

Federations/Centrals & Cooperative Banking Networks (2nd-Tier Co-ops)

Financial & Insurance/Banking (Commerical, Retail & Consumer)/Community & Cooperative Banking (Credit Unions, Mutuals)

SECONDARYFSABAEAF

Cooperative Banks (Member-Owned Commercial/Retail)

Financial & Insurance/Banking (Commerical, Retail & Consumer)/Community & Cooperative Banking (Credit Unions, Mutuals)

Keywords

• Mortgage brokerage coalition
• Independent broker network
• Lender partnership program
• National co-broker licensing
• Mortgage broker advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond Hill

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Broker Membership/Transaction Based: CIMBC generates revenue through its cooperative structure where member brokers access collective volume benefits, lender partnerships, and commission structures. The organization does not charge monthly fees, desk fees, or hidden costs to members. Revenue appears to be generated through negotiated commission arrangements and partnership agreements with lenders rather than direct membership fees.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CIMBC is a cooperative coalition that aggregates independent Canadian mortgage brokerages to secure collective negotiating leverage with lenders. It provides members with national licensing through its Co-Broker Program, direct lender access, top-tier commissions, executive mentorship, and training, while charging no monthly fees, desk fees, or hidden costs. Its core deliverables are the cooperative membership arrangement and the national co-broker licensing framework that let brokers operate under their own brand across all Canadian provinces.

Product overview

CIMBC is a cooperative membership organization for independent mortgage brokers, not a software product company. The core offering is the CIMBC Membership Program, which provides brokerages with national licensing capabilities through the CIMBC National Co-Broker Program, enabling members to operate and be recognized under their own brand across Canada. Members benefit from no monthly fees, direct lender access, executive mentorship, and training on lender product offerings. The organization facilitates business growth through collective influence rather than through discrete technology products or modules.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIMBC Membership Program
• CIMBC National Co-Broker Program

Quantifiable outcome

• $12B+ in annual volume processed through member network
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Home Trust CompanyminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 14 September 2023Home Trust Company organizes the annual Tom Trenouth Charity Golf Tournament for mental health. CIMBC has been a consistent sponsor and participant, with their ice cream truck as a crowd favorite at these events. CIMBC was one of the sponsors of the 13th Annual event.
• CMBA (Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 August 2023CMBA organizes the Annual Summerfest Golf Tournament. CIMBC team attends and participates as a sponsor, supporting the mortgage broker industry community.
• Equitable BankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2023Equitable Bank hosts an annual charity golf tournament in support of Madison Community Services. CIMBC attends as a sponsor and participant, dedicating support to the industry and community.
• Women in MortgagesminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2023Women in Mortgages organizes an annual charity golf tournament. CIMBC sponsors the event and maintains a presence with their ice cream truck at the CIMBC hole.
• Mortgage EdgecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 March 2021Founded by John Bargis, CEO of CIMBC. Mortgage Edge is the Principal organization and represents a core partnership within the CIMBC ecosystem. John Bargis serves as both CEO/founder of CIMBC and Principal of Mortgage Edge.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Centum Financial Group: Canadian mortgage and financial services network aggregating independent mortgage professionals. Competes for the same independent-broker membership segment that CIMBC serves.
• Mortgage Architects: Canadian mortgage brokerage network providing brokerages with national access, technology, and lender partnerships. Competes with CIMBC for the same independent broker membership base across Canada.
• VERICO: Canadian mortgage broker network offering brokerages access to multiple lenders, marketing, and operational support. Direct competitor in the Canadian independent mortgage broker channel alongside CIMBC.
• TMG The Mortgage Group: Canadian mortgage brokerage network providing independent brokers with multi-lender access and back-office support. Directly comparable to CIMBC's value proposition for independent brokerages.
• M3 Financial Group: Canadian mortgage broker network formed through consolidation of multiple regional brokerages, offering multi-lender access to members. A direct competitor in the Canadian broker network space.
• Dominion Lending Centres: Largest Canadian mortgage broker network, aggregating thousands of brokers across the country with national licensing and lender relationships — directly comparable to CIMBC's role as a broker coalition but operating as a traditional network with fees and splits.

Broad incumbents

• CMLS Financial: Large Canadian mortgage services firm operating across origination, securitization, and lending. Broader incumbent that interfaces with broker channels, including CIMBC member brokers.

Emerging players

• CanWise Financial: Canadian digital mortgage broker/lender operating a tech-forward, multi-province model. Representative of the digital-first competitors that may pressure traditional broker networks like CIMBC over time.

Regional players

• Canadian Mortgage Brokers Association (CMBA): Canadian mortgage broker industry association that CIMBC partners with on events like the Summerfest Golf Tournament. A peer trade/industry body relevant to CIMBC's representation and advocacy role.

Others

• Mortgage Professionals Canada (MPC): National Canadian mortgage industry association of which CIMBC's CEO is a past Chair. Comparable as an industry-body peer representing the mortgage profession, though it does not operate as a broker network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CIMBC
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cimbc/?viewAsMember=true
• Instagraminstagram.com/cimbccanada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Coalition of Independent Mortgage Brokers of Canada