rdelavictoria, Author at Metro Finance

Career Growth & Wellbeing: A Day in the Life of Hannah from Metro Finance

Posted on 3 April 202528 May 2025 by rdelavictoria

At Metro Finance, we believe in fostering a culture that supports both professional success and personal well-being.

Our team members bring their own unique approaches to maintaining a balanced lifestyle, and today, we’re stepping into the daily routine of Hannah from Finance. Having recently transitioned from Credit to Finance, Hannah embraces a growth mindset—both in her career and in the habits, she’s built outside of work, which help her stay focused and productive in the office.

Early Mornings and Setting the Tone for Success

For Hannah, mornings are sacred. “I love waking up early to exercise; it is my own uninterrupted time,” she shares. “Once I’ve done some training and had a coffee, my brain is switched on for a productive morning.” Whether it’s an intense workout or a mindful start to the day, establishing a routine that energises her is key to her success.

Staying Active Throughout the Day

Hannah has built movement into her daily routine, ensuring she never goes too long without some form of physical activity. “I usually train early in the morning before work. If I haven’t had the opportunity to, it isn’t too difficult to find something close by.” Fortunately, Metro Finance’s culture makes it easy to stay active. “I’m lucky to work within a team that is quite health-conscious – so I’ll convince someone to join me for a run during lunch. Metro has a weekly run club and a mixed netball team. In addition, our building offers free Pilates classes, and there are some great gyms nearby.”

The Joy of Movement

Over time, Hannah’s exercise preferences have evolved. “I used to really love CrossFit and weightlifting, but over the last few months, I’ve become a fan of running. It’s nice to enjoy the sunrise and be outside before getting into work, and you can work it into your own schedule.” No matter the activity, the key is enjoying the movement and the benefits it brings.

Unwinding and Recharging

After a busy workday, Hannah values simple pleasures. “Eating good food and hanging out with my dog is my way to unwind.” Finding time to relax and recharge is just as important as staying active.

Fitness Challenges and Team Activities

Metro Finance encourages participation in health-focused events, and Hannah is always up for the challenge. “There are a couple of events each year at Metro that are fun to work towards. There’s the JP Morgan Corporate Challenge in October, which becomes quite competitive. My favourite to date was the Bloomberg Square Mile Relay, where we competed as a team of 10. It’s great to have team-building activities that are wholesome based.”

Work-Life Balance: A Key to Wellbeing

For Hannah, maintaining balance isn’t just about scheduling workouts—it’s about setting meaningful goals in and outside of work. “I think it’s important to have goals both in and outside of work to give purpose to your day and contribute to your overall mental health. It’s good to have a mix of fun and achievement.”

Advice for a Balanced Lifestyle

Hannah’s best advice for anyone looking to improve their fitness routine while juggling a busy schedule? “Find something you enjoy and stick to it. People will always have opinions on what the best exercise and wellness routine is – but at the end of the day, if you find something you enjoy, you’ll keep making time for it.”

At Metro Finance, we celebrate the many ways our employees prioritise health and well-being in their daily lives. Whether it’s running, weightlifting, team sports, or simply stepping away for a walk, we’re committed to fostering an environment where our people can thrive—both inside and outside the office.

Stay tuned for more Day in the Life stories from the Metro Finance team!

Putting the human touch in AI

Posted on 2 January 20255 March 2025 by rdelavictoria

Metro’s new Head of Operations, Bernadette Leyva-Vorn, is utilising new technologies to streamline operations, enabling the Metro team to spend more time with customers

As one of Australia’s most innovative non-bank lenders, Metro Finance continues to be at the forefront of utilising new technologies, processes and systems, as part of its mission to deliver high-quality customer services and solutions; many of which have already been recognised by the finance industry with awards and accolades for both the Metro business and its amazing people.

Leading Metro on its journey as a continued innovator in its customer-led approach is Head of Operations, Bernadette Leyva-Vorn, who recently joined the Metro team.

Bernadette, or Bernie, as she is known by her colleagues, sees a world of opportunity for the Metro business and its customers when it comes to technology.

“Since joining Metro my key focus has been to gain a deeper understanding of the operations of the business, with the purpose to drive, support and deliver initiatives that will optimise efficiency levels helping our people and ultimately providing an optimum experience for our customers,” Bernie says.

One area that Bernie and her team are focused on is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to streamline tasks and processes – ultimately leading to faster turnarounds for customer enquiries, and allowing the Metro team, and its network of brokers, to provide better service across the board.

It’s not just customers taking note, either: recently Metro was named ‘AI Rookie of the Year’ in the Talkdesk CX innovator of the Year Awards – an accolade that shines a light on the efforts of the Metro team, as it continues to integrate smart technologies to drive better customer outcomes.

Tiago Paiva, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Talkdesk, spoke recently on the Awards, and pointed towards Metro’s Rookie of the Year recognition as a sign of big things to come.

“The CX market has undergone tremendous transformation in the last year, driven by increasing consumer expectations and rapid pace of innovation. No one understands the impact of that change more than this year’s CX Innovators Award winners. The successes and outcomes of their CX journeys are inspirational; these companies are, in many ways, role models for their industry peers. It is an honour to recognise Metro Finance as AI Rookie of the Year, and a privilege to have Talkdesk be an integral part of its customer experience,” they commented.

From a Metro perspective, Bernie believes awards such as this provide a platform for the industry to celebrate its combined achievements, as well as learn from one another.

“It’s a fantastic recognition of efforts by the team, and means that we are on the pathway to become better equipped to optimise the customer experience,” Bernie says.

“Talkdesk features such as Copilot helps our people enhance the customer experience by providing assistance on calls and after-call work, by transcribing and summarising conversations. Over time, as the modelling builds out, the assistance will only get smarter around each customer journey which will in turn enhance the assistance for our people and our customers,” Bernie continues.

And as for AI in general? Bernie believes there is great potential for the technology, when used to support human interactions.

“AI is clearly a very advanced technology, and will get more sophisticated over time. It will expand opportunities for innovation that will transform the industry amplifying efficiency levels across the entire value chain.”

While the temptation for some businesses when using AI is to over-utilise: automating seemingly every process and removing human interaction from customer experiences; Metro is focused on retaining its personal touch, using AI instead to enhance person-to-person interactions, rather than reducing or removing them. Bernie believes that Metro’s customer-centric approach is the lender’s superpower, and one that she and her team strive to ensure it remains at the forefront of everything the Metro business does.

“AI provides a lot of opportunities to gain efficiencies, and at Metro it is a means to help and support our people, enabling them to spend more time with customers and providing a better experience.”

To experience the Metro difference for your yourself (and to have a conversation with a real person!), talk to your Metro broker about a financial solution that is right for you.

Green financing for business

Posted on 21 October 20245 March 2025 by rdelavictoria

Top five myths surrounding green finance for SMEs

The momentum on green loans is growing as the local market’s willingness to engage with green financing expands. Sustainability linked loan transactions have expanded across Australia over the past 12 months.

Green financing is a way for businesses and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint without breaking the bank. Research indicates that Australia’s roughly 2.4 million SMEs emit about 146.5 million tonnes annually, with transport identified as one of the key drivers of the carbon footprint of SMEs.
Increasingly, financial institutions are offering customers competitive green finance products.

Supporting the government’s net-zero initiatives, Metro recently launched its MetroEco product for small-to-medium sized businesses, developed in partnership with the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) to provide discounted finance solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, batteries and more efficient farm and building machinery.

While Australians are increasingly wanting to contribute to more sustainable business practices, there are quite a few myths and misinformation circulating about how green finance works, especially for EVs and equipment. So, we’d like to debunk a few of these.

Myth number one:

Green finance attracts higher interest rates than traditional finance.

Green loans can have lower interest rates than conventional loans.

Buying an EV could earn you a better deal on your car or van loan than through a traditional loan – with reduced fees and up to a 1% discount on interest rates. It can also provide competitive rates for energy efficient tractors, earth movers and cranes.

For example, a MetroEco loan of $60,000 for an EV could save some $1700 in interest expenses over five years. Metro strives to make owning an electric vehicle and installing a solar system not only a sustainable choice but also an affordable one. Our competitive rates and flexible terms ensure that you receive the best possible options for your EV, plug in hybrid car loan or next eco-friendly purchase.

Myth number two:

Green finance involves more hurdles for applicants.

With the extra momentum and motivation from lending institutions and government to support reduced emissions, red tape is minimised for businesses who are being encouraged to support Australia’s sustainability goals. Metro aims to make the green loan repayment process as convenient and stress-free as possible.

Metro’s streamlined green loan application process for EVs and equipment ensures that clients receive a prompt response, allowing them to secure an EV for their commercial fleet, faster and easier.

Myth number three:

It’s just the same finance but with a different name.

Green loans operate in the same way as traditional loans in general, but there are important distinctions. The process is the same in that the borrower applies for finance from a lender and the lender assesses their application before deciding whether to loan a sum of money or not. However, this is where the similarity ends. The main difference between the two types of loans is where the finance is generated from and its purpose.

Different purpose: Traditional finance can be applied for a variety of purposes and products and can originate from, while green loans may only be used for the purchase of approved environmentally friendly products that have the dual purpose of reducing carbon emissions and supporting net-zero goals.

Lower interest rates: Lenders can apply a lower interest rate to green loans, helping to incentivise the purchase of environmentally-friendly products.

Access to benefits: Using a green loan allows you to purchase environmentally friendly products and start enjoying their benefits sooner while paying off the balance over several months or years Much like standard finance, the terms of green lending do vary between lenders.

Myth number four:

Only established businesses can successfully apply.

MetroEco offers green loans for commercial EVs and equipment to all kinds of businesses, provided they meet the usual criteria and credit approval checks. We do not restrict our green loan products to established business entities. (minimum of 2 years trading history required).

Myth number five:

Green finance can only cover a short period because EVs and hybrid vehicles don’t last as long as traditional vehicles.

This is not the case. At Metro, for example, you can choose an electric vehicle loan term of up to five years to suit your business’s financial situation and preferences. Whether you prefer a shorter term to pay off your electric vehicle loan quickly or a longer term with lower monthly payments, we have options that cater to these individual and business needs.

Loan terms do vary across lenders.

For more information about MetroEco finance please visit: https://metrofin.com.au/metro-eco-electric-vehicles/

Choosing the right EV for your company’s fleet 

Posted on 20 October 20245 March 2025 by rdelavictoria

Whether you have a local fleet of vehicles that run short distances or a delivery cargo van that covers a fair number of kilometres a day, or even if your distance range is beyond this, commercial electric vehicles could be a good fit.

You may have heard that electric vehicle (EV) adoption is steadily growing in Australia in support of the country’s net-zero emissions goals, while investment in charging station points has also been turbocharged; but how are we travelling when it comes to the bigger contributor to carbon emissions: commercial transport fleets?

Australia still has a way to go with fleet decarbonization, but we are forging ahead.

A Report by AMFA found that more fleets are now using Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) with 45 per cent of fleets now having at least one BEV, up from 25 per cent in 2020. Government fleets are at the forefront of EV adoption.

As a comparison, the United States is also taking action. McKinsey Sustainability Insights projects that commercial and passenger fleets in the US could include as many as eight million EVs by 2030 (up from less than 5000 in 2018), which would amount to 10-15 per cent of all fleet vehicles.

New models available

According to a reputable EV news site in Australia: The Driven, these are some new models you might want to consider for your commercial fleet: Arrival mid-late 2024

01 /

Ford

Has announced that its smaller light commercial E-Transit Custom van will be arriving in Australia in the latter half of 2024.

02 /

Peugeot Australia

Has confirmed the arrival of the larger light commercial e-Expert van in late 2024. This model provides more space and a longer driving range compared to the smaller e-Partner van.

03 /

Renault’s Master E-Tech

The largest in their light commercial van lineup, is set to debut in Australia in 2024. Positioned between the smaller Kangoo E-Tech and the larger Master E-Tech, the Renault Trafic E-Tech light commercial van offers enhanced efficiency and can travel up to 297 km on a full charge. Renault plans to introduce the Trafic E-Tech in Australia in late 2024.

04 /

Zeekr

AChinese brand under the Geely umbrella—which also owns Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus—will be launching its luxury electric people mover, the Zeekr 009, in Australia during the second half of 2024. The Zeekr 009 utilizes the same Sustainable Experience Architecture (SEA) platform as the Volvo EX30 and Polestar.

Carsguide also put together a list of ‘top 10 commercial vehicles to keep an eye on in Australia’. Among its favourites are the Renault Kangoo Z.E van, BYD T3 van, Skywell EC11 cargo van, Tesla Cybertruck and the Mercedes-Benz eVito panel van.

Future looks bright

There’s more good news and green shoots on the horizon in transport decarbonisation in Australia. Car reviewers are tipping that Australians will soon see an EV version of the very popular Toyota HiLux Ute after the company confirmed it will begin making it by the end of 2025. As a nation, we are also starting to flex our innovation muscle in commercial EV technology development. Homegrown EV start-up SEA-Electric has created an Australian software and component system to be fitted into light commercial vehicles including delivery and distribution vans. They recently signed up to a groundbreaking exclusive supply deal with two global manufacturers – Japanese truck giant Hino (a Toyota subsidiary) and Volvo’s Mack – to deliver thousands of its ‘drivetrain’ system units to electrify this segment of the commercial vehicle sector. So, watch this space! For more information you can also check out the Governments guide to green vehicles: https://www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au/

The rise (and fall?) of electric vehicles

Posted on 20 October 20245 March 2025 by rdelavictoria

News of an EV downturn is not all doom and gloom

It’s virtually impossible to have missed the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) and what they mean for the future of mobility.

First pitched as a utopian technological saviour, then widely derided as an expensive, compromised replacement for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and now an increasingly viable mainstream option, EVs still have their fair share of fans and detractors, but one thing remains certain: they’re here to stay.

Where the topic of EV market penetration gets tricky is predicting how much of the market share they will come to occupy in the years to come. The answer seemingly differs depending on who you ask.

From a manufacturing perspective, the world’s top auto brands are taking a bit of a breather on some of their lofty EV predictions. BMW and Mercedes-Benz have previously revised its EV sales predictions, while ‘The Big 3’ US carmakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis (previously Fiat Chrysler), have successfully persuaded the US Government to walk-back its own targets, with the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) revising its expectation that EVs would make up around 67 per cent of the US new car market by 2032, down to between 35 to 56 per cent.

So, does this mean that electric vehicles are in decline?

Yes and no. While it’s true the number of electric vehicles sold every month in both Australia and the other parts of the world have declined, it should be noted that EVs account for around 8% market share in Oz mid-year, up from 7.4% the same time last year. Industry analysts are predicting it is more a case of market appetite for EVs slowing, rather than an about-face.

So why the slow-down? There are likely to be a number of reasons: first of all, as EVs become more common place, tech-savvy early-adopters drop-off the sales bell-curve and are replaced by more risk-adverse and technology agnostic mainstream buyers – meaning they are harder to entice into a relatively unknown technology. Secondly, concerns remain over a lack of public charging infrastructure, and thirdly (and perhaps most significantly), there’s the cost. As Australia grapples with a cost-of-living crisis, consumers are holding onto their cars longer and will look to more affordable options (both in terms of purchase price and up-front running costs) when purchasing a vehicle for their household.

Government incentives played a part in pushing early EV sales up in Australia, however now that they have concluded (at least from a purchase price perspective) many EVs are once again significantly more expensive than a comparable ICE vehicle.

Where Australia is concerned, geography also plays a part.

As a continent with huge distances between major capital cities and townships, range remains a common source of anxiety for would-be EV buyers. While the driving range of EVs continues to increase, availability of charging infrastructure, both in terms of physical access to a charger and one that it is functional, is a lingering concern.

The continued uptake of plug-in hybrid vehicles in Australia points would suggest a market need for more reliable refuelling on long journeys – in time, further charging infrastructure will remedy this, as will the addition of other uber-efficient technologies, like hydrogen, on our roads.

There is a good case for taking current EV sales trajectories with a grain of salt. EV sales doubled and tripled each month in 2022 and 2023, and while there is a noticeable plateau in the middle of 2024, the first sixth months of the year has seen EV sales outperform the market by almost double – as noted by the CEO of Australian Automotive Dealers Association (AADA) in a recent interview. (https://www.drive.com.au/news/electric-car-sales-fall-in-australia-june-2024/)

Regardless of current market trends, electric vehicles represent a viable mobility option for many Australians in both urban and rural areas. Metro Finance, through its MetroEco product, offers a range of savings for customers looking to purchase sustainable technologies such as solar panels, battery chargers and electric vehicles. To find out more, talk to your Metro Finance broker.

People Profile: Meet Amanda Mowbray

Posted on 17 October 20243 April 2025 by rdelavictoria

We sit down with our award-winner BDM and discuss her career and working with Metro

Metro is beyond thrilled and proud to announce that our own Amanda Mowbray has been named BDM Of The Year NSW – Asset Finance in the recent Commercial and Asset Finance Brokers Association of Australia (CAFBA) Awards!

As a passionate member of the Metro team since 2022, Amanda has a wealth of experience in asset finance that she regularly shares with the team and Metro’s amazing introducers.

“I’ve found Metro to be a truly special company where everyone’s opinions are valued, contributing to the best outcomes for both brokers and clients. The company fosters an environment where everyone is treated equally, creating a safe space for new ideas, which helps the business thrive,” Amanda says.

“We get to work with some of the best asset finance brokers in the country. I believe they also enjoy being a part of the wider Metro team and feel just as valued as the internal staff,” she continues.

When it comes to working with Metro’s brokers, Amanda stresses the importance of collaboration and values the personal approach

Not just in terms of putting together the right finance package for a customer, but taking a vested interest in shared success and growth with every introducer.

“The most important element is being able to put yourself in the broker’s shoes. It’s crucial to give brokers the time they need, whether it’s workshopping a deal or ensuring they get the right outcome. If the deal doesn’t fit our policy, knowing your competitors’ products well enough to suggest alternatives, like referring them to another BDM, is key to building trust,” Amanda explains.

“Being transparent is important. If a deal isn’t right for us at Metro, it’s important to explain why. We’re all constantly learning.”

As for her win, which makes Amanda the first woman in NSW to win the prestigious award, the ever-unflappable and much-loved BDM is taking things all in her stride.

“I am absolutely blown away. I never imagined that I would be nominated for such an award, let alone win it. Every day, I simply focus on delivering the best outcomes for our brokers and their clients. Being in a room with some of the best in the industry was already a privilege, but winning the award shows that hard work and staying true to yourself and your core values really pays off,” Amanda tells us.

When asked to share any advice for those looking to start a career in finance, Amanda’s response was unequivocal.

“Do it! Never in my life did I expect my career to take this path. I used to work in the music and entertainment industry in various roles, but then I applied for a job with an asset finance company doing marketing and events, and that was the start of an incredible journey. Since then, I’ve run a charitable trust for an international banking group, worked as a Finance and Insurance Manager in dealerships, been an asset broker, and, for the past five years, a Business Development Manager. Each role has taught me so much and opened doors to new opportunities,” she says.

“This industry can take you wherever you want to go – it doesn’t matter if you’re male or female. It’s up to you to take those chances, believe in yourself, and seize the opportunities in front of you. You’ll meet some amazing people who will support you along the way, just always make sure that you follow through on your promises.”