Australian Finance Group Ltd’s (AFG) Plant-a-Tree program has reached a milestone of 20,000 trees planted since the initiative began four years ago.

Launched in July 2022, the initiative committed to funding one native tree for every home loan settled by AFG’s lending business operated by wholly owned subsidiary, AFG Securities Pty Ltd (AFG Securities), in partnership with not-for-profit Regenerate Australia (formerly called Carbon Positive Australia).

As a result of the program, native tree species continue to be funded by AFG and planted by Regenerate Australia as part of large-scale restoration projects across the nation, increasing canopy cover, rebuilding habitat and strengthening biodiversity.

The work contributes to the restoration of degraded landscapes and generates climate, health and community wellbeing benefits across multiple States.

AFG Chief Distribution and Marketing Officer Them Lam said reaching the 20,000-tree milestone was a meaningful marker of the program’s impact since it began.

“When we planted our first trees in 2022, we saw it as a first step in a much longer commitment to sustainability and environmental awareness,” he said.

“Reaching 20,000 trees planted shows what’s possible when a simple idea is backed by consistency over time. Every one of those trees is tied to a customer taking out or refinancing a home loan with AFG Securities, and that’s something our team, brokers and individual customers can be proud of.”

Mr Lam said the program would continue as AFG Securities writes new loans, with the tree count and associated benefits set to keep growing.

AFG Securities offers a comprehensive range of home loan products to suit different borrower needs under the AFG Home Loans Retro and Link ranges, giving brokers and their customers flexibility across the mortgage market.