Ryan Knight

Non-bank SME lender Banjo Loans has appointed former National Australia Bank business banking executive Ryan Knight as Head of Sales, as it sharpens its broker strategy and accelerates national growth.

Mr Knight joins Banjo with more than a decade of experience in SME banking and distribution, most recently leading business banking teams across southeast Melbourne at NAB. His appointment signals Banjo’s continued investment in broker relationships and scalable distribution as competition intensifies across the non-bank lending sector.

Starting his career during the Global Financial Crisis, Mr Knight developed early exposure to small business operations and cash flow management before moving into banking, where he built deep expertise across credit, structuring and broker engagement.

In his new role, Mr Knight will focus on deepening engagement with aggregators and brokers, expanding Banjo’s BDM footprint, and ensuring the lender remains front of mind for SME finance solutions.

“Brokers are critical to Banjo’s growth strategy,” Mr Knight said.

“It’s a contact sport – we need to be visible, accessible and consistent in market. My focus is making sure our team is in front of brokers and delivering a seamless experience from application through to funding.”

He says Banjo’s ability to deliver larger, non-property-backed facilities with fast turnaround times is resonating strongly with brokers and their SME clients.

“There’s a clear gap between traditional bank processes and what SMEs need. Banjo sits in that space where we can move quickly, be flexible on structure and still deliver strong outcomes.”

A key differentiator is Banjo’s internal alignment and hands-on credit approach, according to Mr Knight.

“Our credit team is directly engaged. They’ll pick up the phone, work through scenarios and help get deals done. That level of responsiveness makes a real difference for brokers managing client expectations.”

He also adds a unique perspective as both a banker and SME operator, having supported familyrun ventures including a creative agency and beverage business.

Banjo Loans CEO Guy Callaghan says the appointment comes at a time of strong growth, with the lender continuing to invest in product innovation, people and broker distribution.

“Ryan understands the broker channel and the SME customer inside out,” Mr Callaghan said.

His leadership and experience will help us scale our distribution capability while staying true to the service levels brokers expect.”

Looking ahead, Mr Knight says the opportunity to build on Banjo’s existing momentum was a key driver in joining the business.

“The foundations are already there. Banjo is made up of good, highly capable people and it has a clear niche and a growing brand,” he said.

“Now it’s about expanding our reach, investing in talent and continuing to evolve how we support brokers and their clients.”

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