This June marks 20 years since Managing Director, Dean Koutsoumidis, founded Melbourne based mortgage lender and investment fund, Equity-One.

Specialising in property financing and investments, the company has found clients still seek the same services today as they did when the office first opened, servicing borrowers in need of non-bank lending solutions and investors with liquidity, seeking secured and reliable yields. For instance, $2.7 billion in investment transactions have been completed since 2005.

Equity-One can be differentiated from other lenders by their long running efficacy for service reliability. Elaborating on this, Koutsoumidis comments: “We try not to forget our core values and why we are relevant to both groups of clients. Whilst the way we do business evolves, with electronic/digital ways of signing documents and communicating, the core function of our firm remains the same. We focus on our people. The relationship with our borrowers, the brokers who introduce them, and the investors that fund our mortgages are our life blood. We aren’t really one entity, but rather the sum of all the relationships we have with clients.”

The team at Equity-One work tirelessly to deliver a high standard of service, led by a talented group of accountants and credit analysts. Chief Investment Officer Tom Danaher, who has been with Equity-One for 17 years, reflects on the dedication of staff, stating: “Something that stands out to me is the longevity of service dedication from team members. The team continues to grow and when we do welcome someone new, it is not unusual to see them contribute to our business for many years. It is a testament to the loyalty of our staff but also the fun working environment we have created in the office. The staff genuinely enjoy each other’s company.”

While Koutsoumidis remarked, “If 20 years teaches you anything, it’s clear that strong client relations, providing the right working conditions and environment for staff and sticking true to the core values of the business is crucial to a quality business model.”