Online home loan start-up Athena has appointed independent agency The Royals to its creative account as it prepares to disrupt Australia’s $1.7 trillion mortgage market when it officially launches in Q1 2019.
The Royals won the account in a competitive pitch and have started work on the brand’s marketing and advertising strategy.
Athena is built to be a very different kind of home lender and a genuine alternative to the big banks.
Powered by Australia’s first cloud-native digital mortgage platform, Athena delivers great rates through a unique funding structure, bypassing the banks to connect borrowers to superfund-backed loans.
The company was founded by two ex-bankers, Nathan Walsh and Michael Starkey, who are passionate about making the journey to homeownership faster, cheaper and stress-free.
Athena chief marketing officer Natalie Dinsdale said: “The home loans market in Australia is incredibly competitive and yet there has been very little disruption in the way loans are originated, serviced and funded.
“Athena is here to change that, and we needed a partner who is just as passionate as we are about doing things differently.
“We’re so excited to have appointed The Royals to help us win over Australians to the best value mortgage in the country.”
The Royals managing Partner Dan Beaumont added: “As a digital-first business that wants to solve a real customer issue and disrupt a staid category, Athena is the type of modern client we love to partner at The Royals.
“We can’t wait to deploy our full strategic, customer and creative capabilities for Athena and cause a stir in the home loan market.”
