What Approved Financing Centre does

Approved Financing Centre is a privately held Canadian mortgage brokerage headquartered at 275 Garry Street in Winnipeg, Manitoba, operating primarily across Manitoba and Saskatchewan with commercial financing capability extending nationally. Founded in 2018 and led by owner/president Jeff Silverstein (35+ years in financial services), the firm originates residential and commercial mortgages on behalf of borrowers by brokering them to a panel of lenders — including banks, private capital providers, and Canadian mortgage default insurers (CMHC, Sagen, Canada Guarantee). Core products include residential mortgage financing (purchases, refinances, transfers, pre-approvals, rental property), commercial mortgages (multi-residential, industrial, office, retail, hospitality, automotive, self-storage), private commercial mortgages for non-bankable projects, bridge financing (90 days–24 months), commercial refinance, and ancillary services such as credit repair and CHIP reverse mortgages.

The firm operates as a traditional brokerage with no proprietary technology platform; underwriting is relationship-driven and led by Silverstein, supplemented by an online pre-approval application portal and a website (approvedfinancing.ca) providing educational content (Mortgages 101), a mortgage calculator, and direct broker contact channels. Distribution is sales-led, relying on phone, email, referrals, and website lead capture rather than digital marketing infrastructure.

Revenue is generated primarily through lender-paid commissions on placed mortgages, with borrower-paid fees applicable on alternative-lending placements (disclosed upfront). Customers are predominantly unnamed SMBs and individual borrowers across real estate, automotive, healthcare, and transportation — with deal sizes ranging from $185K to $13.5M. The firm is owner-operated with a small core team and no disclosed institutional funding.

Name

Approved Financing Centre

Legal name

Approved Financing Centre

Website

https://approvedfinancing.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Approved Financing Centre is a Winnipeg-based Canadian mortgage brokerage that originates residential and commercial mortgages for individual and SMB borrowers, including non-bankable and private/bridge financing needs across Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and nationally for commercial deals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mortgage Brokerage Services

NAICS

Mortgage and Nonmortgage Loan Brokers (522310), Real Estate Credit (522292)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Commercial Mortgage Brokerage (FSAEAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Residential Mortgage Brokerage (Purchase & Refinance) (FSAEAEAA)

Keywords

• Mortgage brokerage
• Residential mortgages
• Commercial mortgages
• Bridge financing
• Alternative lending

Headquarters

HQ city

Winnipeg

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Mortgage Commission (Lender-Paid): Mortgage Brokers are generally paid by the Lending Institutions once a mortgage has been placed. This is the primary revenue model where the company earns commissions from lenders for placing mortgages.
2. Borrower Fees (Alternative Lending): In cases where borrowers may not qualify for traditional mortgages due to high debt, questionable credit, or other concerns, there may be a fee paid by the borrower. These fees are completely disclosed before commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Approved Financing Centre is a Canadian mortgage brokerage that places residential and commercial mortgages on behalf of borrowers by brokering across multiple lending institutions. The firm provides home purchase, refinance, transfer, and pre-approval financing for residential customers—including those with bruised credit, no credit, self-employed, or new-to-Canada status—alongside commercial mortgage financing for multi-residential, industrial, office, retail, hotel, automotive, medical, and self-storage properties, plus private commercial mortgages, bridge financing, commercial refinance, CHIP reverse mortgages, and credit repair services.

Product overview

Approved Financing Centre is a mortgage brokerage offering residential and commercial mortgage financing services in Canada. The core offerings include residential mortgage financing for purchases, refinances, and transfers with solutions for challenging credit situations; and commercial mortgage financing covering multi-residential, industrial, office, retail, hospitality, automotive, and construction projects. Supporting services include private commercial mortgages and bridge financing for short-term needs, commercial refinance for property improvements, credit repair, CHIP reverse mortgages, and educational resources through Mortgages 101. The company positions itself as working for the borrower rather than the bank, leveraging broker relationships to access competitive rates and alternative lending sources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Mortgage Financing

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients can withdraw up to $25,000 from RRSPs tax-free to buy or build a qualifying home under the Home Buyers Plan

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• EquifaxminorOthersCredit reporting agency that allows consumers to order their credit profile for free on an annual basis. Company recommends clients monitor their credit through Equifax.
• TransUnionminorOthersCredit reporting agency that allows consumers to order their credit profile for free on an annual basis. Company recommends clients monitor their credit through TransUnion.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Pineapple: Online Canadian mortgage platform providing brokers with digital application tools; also Approved Financing Centre's disclosed technology partner. Comparable in mortgage brokerage scope but operates via a tech-enabled rather than traditional relationship model.
• Nesto: Digital-first Canadian mortgage brokerage leveraging technology to compete with traditional brokerages. Comparable value proposition (multi-lender shopping, lender-paid commission) but delivers via online platform rather than the personalized phone-based service model.

Direct peers

• Mortgage Architects: Canadian mortgage broker network serving independent brokers with multi-lender access for residential and commercial deals. Closely comparable to Approved Financing Centre in business model, product breadth, and broker-paid-by-lender revenue approach.
• CanWise Financial (Ratehub): Canadian mortgage broker and rate comparison platform operating across multiple provinces. Directly comparable brokerage function with multi-lender access, plus a digital/marketing layer that contrasts with Approved Financing Centre's traditional approach.
• Dominion Lending Centres: Largest Canadian mortgage brokerage network, connecting independent brokers with multiple lenders across the country. Directly comparable business model: independent mortgage brokers paid lender commissions for placing residential and commercial mortgages, including alternative-lender access.
• Verico: National Canadian mortgage brokerage network offering residential and commercial mortgage brokering through independent member brokers. Comparable in lending-channel aggregation, lender commission revenue, and focus on multi-lender shopping.

Broad incumbents

• First National Financial: Major Canadian non-bank lender and mortgage originator serving residential and commercial markets. Comparable in commercial and residential mortgage activity, but as a sizable institutional lender rather than a small brokerage.
• Home Trust: Canadian alternative residential mortgage lender serving self-employed, new-to-Canada, and non-prime borrowers — directly comparable end-customer profile to Approved Financing Centre's alternative-lending focus, but operating as a direct lender rather than broker.
• MCAP: One of Canada's largest independent mortgage finance companies, offering both lending and broker/financing services across residential and commercial. Comparable in commercial mortgage origination but as a much larger institutional player with broader product suite.

Others

• CMHC (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation): Canada's national mortgage default insurance agency and a referenced partner of Approved Financing Centre for insured mortgages. Comparable only at the ecosystem level: a regulatory and infrastructure participant rather than a direct brokerage competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Approved Financing Centre