Trust Account Information

Effective date: 16 March 2026 · Last updated: 16 March 2026

Sabeam is being built to hold construction project funds in a segregated Australian trust structure, operated through a licensed Australian payments partner. This page explains how that structure is intended to operate and how the payment process works.

Status: Sabeam is currently in pre-launch. The licensed payments partnership that operates the trust structure is being finalised ahead of public launch. This page describes the intended operational model rather than the live state of the platform today.

1. How Your Funds Are Intended to Be Protected

When the platform is operating live, funds you deposit into a construction project will be held in a segregated trust structure operated by Sabeam’s licensed Australian payments partner. The intended properties of that arrangement are:

  • Held separately from Sabeam’s operating accounts
  • Not available to Sabeam’s creditors in the event of insolvency
  • Denominated in AUD at all times
  • Released only when milestone conditions are verified and satisfied

2. How the Payment Process Works

  1. Project setup: The builder and homeowner agree on milestones and payment amounts through the platform.
  2. Funding: The homeowner authorises funding from their bank account. Funds are deposited into the trust account.
  3. Milestone completion: The builder submits a milestone as complete and provides any required evidence.
  4. Verification: The milestone is verified according to the agreed conditions (e.g., homeowner approval, independent inspection).
  5. Payment release: Once verified, funds are released from the trust account and transferred directly to the builder’s bank account via real-time bank transfer.

3. Trust Account Structure

Sabeam’s trust account structure is designed to be operated by a licensed Australian payments partner — i.e. an entity that holds (or is an authorised representative of an entity that holds) an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL). That partnership is being finalised; the specific provider will be named when the relationship is executed and the platform is live. The intended trust account arrangement is designed so that:

  • Funds are held on trust for the benefit of project participants
  • The trust account provider is subject to regulatory oversight
  • All transactions are recorded and auditable
  • Funds cannot be used by Sabeam for its own business purposes

4. What You Can See

Through the Sabeam platform, you can view:

  • Total funds held in escrow for your project
  • Milestone status and associated payment amounts
  • Payment release confirmations and receipts
  • A complete audit trail of all approvals and changes

5. Disputes

If there is a disagreement about whether a milestone has been completed, either party may raise a dispute. During the dispute resolution period, the associated funds remain securely held in the trust account. For details on how disputes are handled, see our Complaints & Disputes page.

6. Queensland Project Trust Accounts

For construction projects in Queensland above the applicable threshold, the Building Industry Fairness (Security of Payment) Act 2017 requires that project funds be held in trust. Sabeam’s trust account structure is designed to support compliance with these requirements, and we provide reporting to assist builders in meeting their trustee obligations.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Where is my money held?

When the platform is live, your funds will be held in a segregated trust structure denominated in Australian dollars (AUD), operated by Sabeam’s licensed Australian payments partner. Sabeam is currently in pre-launch and not yet processing live homeowner deposits.

Can anyone withdraw my funds early?

No. Funds are released only when the relevant milestone conditions are satisfied. All release actions are logged in the audit trail.

What happens if Sabeam ceases operations?

Because your funds are held in a trust account separate from Sabeam’s operating accounts, they are not available to Sabeam’s creditors. In the unlikely event that Sabeam ceases operations, the trust account provider would work with the relevant parties to return or distribute funds in accordance with the applicable trust arrangements.

Are there any fees deducted from the trust account?

Sabeam’s service fees are charged separately and are not deducted from the escrow funds. The full milestone amount is released to the builder upon verification.

8. Contact

For questions about trust account arrangements, contact us at support@sabeam.com.au.