As an ACL holder, you're required to complete an annual ACL Attestation to confirm you're meeting your general conduct obligations and Connective's requirements. This replaces the previous file audit survey and covers your broader compliance program.
Understanding what the attestation covers and how to complete it will help you demonstrate your compliance readiness and support Connective in meeting lender requirements.
What is the ACL Attestation?
The ACL Attestation is an annual written confirmation signed by a director or authorised person that you're meeting your General Conduct Obligations. These obligations include risk management, responsible lending, internal dispute resolution, privacy, IT security, and monitoring loans submitted under your licence for adherence to legislation (NCCP, BID, and Privacy).
The attestation includes 21 yes/no questions grouped into key compliance areas, plus space for additional comments and supporting attachments.
Why the attestation matters
Note: ASIC and panel lenders increasingly ask Connective for written confirmation that members are meeting their obligations. Your completed attestation helps us respond to those requests and gives you valuable feedback to protect your business.
The regulatory landscape has changed significantly. Regulators and lenders now expect more from ACL holders and from Connective as your aggregator.
The expectations of our lender partners continue to increase when it comes to Connective's oversight of brokers who operate under their own ACL rather than Connective's. We expect this position to harden over time - potentially to the point where maintaining your accreditation with these lenders depends on our ability to demonstrate appropriate oversight of your broking activities.
Completing the attestation is a key way we can evidence that oversight on your behalf, and it ensures you have documented policies and procedures in place across governance, complaints management, breaches, privacy, IT security, and third-party relationships.
Who must complete it
You'll receive the attestation if you:
Hold an ACL in your individual name, or
Are a director of a company that holds an ACL
If there are multiple directors, we'll issue the attestation to all of them – however, it only needs to be completed once.
Tip: Contact Compliance if you’d like to designate another suitably authorised person within your business to complete it on your behalf – for example, your Responsible Manager or Compliance Manager.
When you'll receive it
The attestation is issued annually around the anniversary of your ACL commencement date, typically aligned with your ACL annual compliance certificate. This timing means your ASIC CL50 details should be fresh, making completion easier.
Tip: Retain a copy of your CL50 for your records. Before submitting your annual compliance certificate, press print form (on the left-hand menu). If you miss this step, you'll need to contact ASIC to request a copy of your completed renewal.
What to prepare before completing
When you complete the attestation, you'll need to upload:
CL50 – Your most recent licence renewal document
Complaints register – Your register of complaints received
Declaration and signature – Signed by a Director or Responsible Manager
Important: Before submitting, you'll confirm: "I confirm the responses in the attestation are correct and that Connective may seek additional information to verify these responses."
How long it takes
The attestation is more detailed than the previous survey, but most questions confirm processes you should already have in place. If your governance documents and registers are up to date, it should be straightforward to complete – typically taking less than 15 minutes.
What happens after you submit
We'll review your responses and may follow up with additional questions. We also sample-check some responses received.
Note: If you're selected for verification, one of our Compliance Support Managers will contact you for a conversation where you'll evidence your responses. This typically takes no more than an hour.
Need help?
If you have questions about the attestation or need support completing it, contact the compliance team at [email protected].