What is a mortgage broker, and why would I need one?

A credit intermediary is an entity authorised by Banco de Portugal that acts as a link between the client and several financial institutions, helping to find and compare credit offers.

In practice, instead of contacting several banks individually, the intermediary analyses different solutions at the same time, compares conditions on a like-for-like basis and helps interpret the real impact of each offer.

For example, two banks may show similar monthly payments but still have meaningful differences in total cost because of insurance, fees or linked conditions. A comparative analysis helps identify the most balanced proposal.

This means a credit intermediary helps reduce effort, avoid incorrect comparisons and support more informed decisions throughout the process.