NAB loan scammer to repay 'commissions'

A Melbourne man who received almost $800,000 in commissions from the National Australia Bank for loans he never referred, has avoided jail.

Nicola D'Agostino, 35, will instead have to repay NAB the $67,329.34 he kept as part of a loan scam he was part of between 2012 and 2016.

He'll also have to pay a $1000 fine and complete 125 hours of community work after pleading guilty to two charges of recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime.

On a recommendation from a family friend, D'Agostino became an introducer for NAB in 2011, a role that allowed him to receive a commission for home loans he referred to the bank, when customers signed a referral confirmation form.

But over four years the photocopier technician received almost $800,000 in commissions for more than 300 loans he had nothing to do with.

He kept between five and 10 per cent of the money and transferred the rest to his family friend.

It's alleged the friend, who worked at the bank, included the referral paperwork along with other loan documents for customers to sign and they did so not realising what it was.

That man is due to face court next month.

NAB uncovered the alleged wrongdoing during an audit when it was discovered a disproportionate number of that employee's loans were referred by D'Agostino.

In sentencing, Judge Claire Quin said D'Agostino had told police he didn't know what he was doing was wrong and noted he had paid income tax on the money.

She said while D'Agostino had only kept a portion of the money it was still a substantial amount and he was an essential part of the fraud.

But she accepted that he was remorseful and that he had agreed to repay the bank.