To help ease the financial burden of the Coronavirus outbreak, the RBA pulled the trigger on an emergency rate cut on March 19, the first out-of-cycle reduction since 1997. The cash rate now sits at a record low of 0.25%.
Banks typically use the official cash rate as a guide for setting interest rates on their products, such as home loans and savings accounts. Search for your bank in the lists below:
Lenders that have announced lower home loan rates since March 19 emergency cash rate cut
Effective 26 March, the bank has cut rates on all of its fixed home loans. For example, its 1-year owner occupied principal and interest loan was reduced from 3.29% to 2.59%.
Effective 27 March, Adelaide Bank is cutting rates on all of its owner occupier and investor fixed rate home loans, with reductions of up to 0.70 percentage points.
ANZ said it will cut all variable interest home loans rates by 15 basis points (effective from 27 March), becoming the first of the big four to cut variable rates following the RBA’s emergency decision on 19 March.
On top of this, ANZ said it will introduce a 2-year fixed rate of 2.19% (comparison rate to be advised) for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest, the lowest on record for the bank.
ANZ said customers can also request a deferral of their home loan repayments for up to six months, with a review at three months (interest will continue to build up over this time and be added to the outstanding loan balance).
Australian Military Bank
Effective 26 March, the bank will reduce all variable home loan rates by 0.25 percentage points.
Auswide Bank
The bank has reduced its RBA Rate Tracker variable home loan rate by 0.25 percentage points. It has also cut its fixed home loan interest rates by up to 0.70 percentage points for new loans and for existing customer fix requests.
Bank Australia
Effective 31 March, the bank will reduce fixed rate home loans by up to 1.05 percentage points for 1, 2, and 3-year loans for owner occupiers and investors with Principal and Interest repayment terms.
Bank of Melbourne
Effective 27 March, some of its fixed home loan rates will be reduced by 0.65 percentage points. This reduction will be offered to owner occupiers on principal and interest repayments with an Advantage Package:
- 1-year fixed rate home loan decreasing by 0.65% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.58%)
- 2-year fixed rate home loan decreasing by 0.65% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.50%)
- 3-year fixed rate home loan decreasing by 0.65% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.43%)
The bank will also cut fixed 4 and 5-year owner occupier loans with principal and interest repayments, as well as reduce rates on its investment home loans.
BankSA
Effective 27 March, some of the banks’ fixed home loan rates will be reduced by 0.60 percentage points. This reduction will be offered to owner occupiers on principal and interest repayments with an Advantage Package:
- 1-year fixed rate home loan reduced by 0.60% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.58%)
- 2-year fixed rate home loan reduced by 0.60% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.50%)
- 3-year fixed rate home loan reduced by 0.60% to 2.29% (comparison rate 3.43%)
The bank will also cut fixed 4 and 5-year owner occupier loans with principal and interest repayments, as well as reduce rates on its investment home loans.
BankVic
Effective 25 March, the interest rates on 1 and 2-year fixed rate owner occupied home loans will be reduced to the following:
- 1 year Fixed Rate: 2.19% (Comparison rate: 3.76%)
- 2 year Fixed Rate: 2.19% (Comparison rate: 3.62%)
Bankwest
Effective 27 March, the bank will apply a 0.60 percentage point reduction to its Complete Fixed Home Loan Package for owner occupiers paying principal and interest. The reduced three-year fixed rate will be 2.33% (comparison rate 3.51%) and is available to new applications or for existing variable rate customers who want to switch to a fixed rate.
Effective 30 March, Bendigo Bank will reduce its one, two and three-year fixed rates for all owner occupier and investor home loans by up to 0.70 percentage points. This decision brings the Bank’s Bendigo Express product to 2.29% for one, two and three-year fixed terms.
Variable home loan rates have not changed.
Effective 3 April, BOQ are reducing some of its fixed rate home loans. The new rates are as follows:
- 2-year fixed interest rate of 2.29% for Owner Occupiers (P&I)
- 3-year fixed interest rate of 2.35% for Owner Occupiers (P&I)
Effective 30 March, the bank will reduce variable home loans for owner occupiers by 0.10 percentage points. For example, Citi’s Basic Variable rate of 2.81% will drop to 2.71%.
Commonwealth Bank will cut its 1, 2 and 3-year fixed home loans by 70 basis points to an “all-time low” of 2.29% from 30 March, but at this stage is not moving on variable rates.
The bank will also reduce home loan direct debit repayments down to the minimum payment required from 1 May.
CUA
Effective 1 April, CUA has announced it will offer 2 and 3-year fixed home loans at a rate of 2.29% (comparison rates of 4.11% and 3.94%) for owner occupiers paying principal and interest. This is a reduction of at least 0.55 percentage points for these loans and will be available for new customers and those looking to switch loans.
Heritage Bank
Effective 1 April, Heritage Bank will cut interest rates across most fixed rate home loans, up to 0.30 percentage points for a one-year owner occupier and 0.29 percentage points for a one-year investor loan. Variable rates remain unchanged.
HSBC
Effective 30 March, the bank will reduce 1, 2 and 3-year fixed rate home loans by 0.50 percentage points to 2.25% for owner occupiers paying principal and interest. HSBC will also waive its standard fees for existing home loan customers who wish to switch from a standard variable rate to a fixed rate product. Variable rates will remain the same.
Hunter United
Effective March 27, Hunter United will reduce all variable interest rate home loans by 0.15 percentage points (the bank’s second 15% variable rate cut in March).
ING
Effective 26 March, the bank will offer new owner occupier fixed home loan rates, including a two-year fixed rate of 2.09% (comparison rate of 3.77%) for new and existing customers paying principal and interest on an Orange Advantage home loan.
Variable rates are unchanged.
Macquarie Bank
Effective 27 March, Macquarie Bank will reduce 1, 2, and 3-year fixed rates by 0.25% on Owner Occupied loans with Principal and Interest repayments.
ME
Effective 26 March, ME Bank will offer new fixed rate home loan products including 1-, 2- and 3-year terms, starting as low as 2.19% for 2 years. The bank will also offer customers the option to pause home loan repayments for up to six months, with a review at three months.
Variable rates are unchanged.
Mortgage House
Effective 27 March, the bank will reduce some of its fixed rate home loans. For example its Advantage 1-year fixed loan for owner occupiers will be cut from 3.49% to 2.39%.
NAB will be cutting its fixed rate home loans by up to 60 basis points, without changing its variable rates.
Effective from 25 March, reductions for NAB’s owner-occupier fixed rate loans will be as follows:
- 1-year fixed: 2.39% (reduction of 60 basis points, comparison rate to be advised by NAB)
- 2-and 3-year fixed: 2.29% (reduction of 60 basis points, comparison rate to be advised by NAB)
- 4-and 5-year fixed: 2.79% (reduction of 20 basis points, comparison rate to be advised by NAB)
- First home buyers 2-year fixed: 2.19% (reduction of 60 basis points, comparison rate to be advised by NAB).
NAB will also allow some of its variable home loan customers to pause their home loan repayments for up to six months, including a checkpoint (or review) after three months.
Newcastle Permanent
Effective 27 March, the bank will be reducing some of its fixed rate home loans. For example, its 1-year Premium Plus Package fixed rate home loan will be cut from 2.99% to 2.29%, a reduction of 0.70 percentage points.
Pacific Mortgage Group
The bank has reduced their fixed rates to the following:
Owner Occupied
- 1 year fixed – 2.15% (2.51% comparison rate)
- 2 year fixed – 2.15% (2.48% comparison rate)
- 3 year fixed – 2.15% (2.45% comparison rate)
- 4 year fixed – 2.79% (2.83% comparison rate)
Investment
- 1 year fixed – 2.45% (2.81% comparison rate)
- 2 year fixed – 2.45% (2.78% comparison rate)
- 3 year fixed – 2.45% (2.75% comparison rate)
- 4 year fixed – 3.11% (2.93% comparison rate)
People’s Choice Credit Union
Effective 26 March, People’s Choice will cut fixed rate home loan packages by between 0.60 and 0.70 percentage points. Existing customers can access a rate of 2.29% for a one-year fixed home loan – down from 2.89% – or a rate of only 2.19% for a two-year fixed loan.
These same cuts will flow on to its interest-only fixed-term loans, and its fixed-term investor loans for both principal and interest and interest-only.
No changes to variable home loan rates.
P&N Bank
Effective 27 March, 2 and 3-year fixed rate home loans will be reduced by 0.10 percentage points:
- Fixed rate 2 year <80% LVR – 2.34% (previous rate 2.44%)
- Fixed rate 3 year <80% LVR – 2.29% (previous rate 2.39%)
QBANK
Effective 27 March, QBANK will reduce its variable home loans by 0.18 percentage points, and its fixed home loans by 0.50 percentage points.
Reduce Home Loans
The bank announced it has cut variable rates for existing customers by 0.10 percentage points and has lowered its 1, 2 and 3-year Home Owner’s Dream fixed rates to 2.09%.
Reduce Home Loans rates, at the time of writing, are as follows:
- Home Owners Dream 1, 2 and 3-year fixed 2.09% (comparison rate up to 2.72%)
- Low Rider Variable Home Loan 2.44% (comparison rate 2.47%)
- Rate Lovers Variable Home Loan 2.52% (comparison rate 2.52%)
- Investor Rate Slasher Variable 2.79% (comparison rate 2.83%)
- Investor Rate Lovers Variable 2.84% (comparison rate 2.84%)
St. George Bank
Effective 27 March, the bank will reduce fixed rate home loan for 1, 2 and 3-years to 2.29% for owner occupied customers on principal and interest repayments with an Advantage Package. St. George are also making reductions to its standard fixed 4 and 5-year loans, as well as fixed investment home loans.
Suncorp
Effective 3 April, Suncorp will drop its fixed rate home loans to 2.29% on two-year products and to 2.49% on three-year products.
The Capricornian
Effective 27 March, the bank will decrease its 2 and 3-year fixed interest rates by up to 0.61 percentage points.
TicToc Home Loans
TicToc announced they would offer a lower one to three year fixed rate of 2.22% for owner occupier principal and interest loans, effective 27 March.
Variable rates will not be changed.
Virgin Money
Effective 3 April, Virgin Money are reducing some of its fixed and variable rate home loans. The new rates are as follows:
- 2-year fixed interest rate of 2.29% for Owner Occupiers (P&I)
- 3-year fixed interest rate of 2.35% for Owner Occupiers (P&I)
- Special Owner Occupier Interest Only rate of 2.79% for 1 and 2-year terms
- Special variable rates starting from 2.74% for Owner Occupiers (P&I), and 3.09% for investors
Effective 27 March, Westpac will apply a reduced rate of 2.29% for 1, 2 and 3 year fixed loans for owner-occupied customers on principal and interest repayments with a Premier Advantage Package.
The bank will also reduce 4 and 5-year fixed loans by 0.70 basis points, and will make cuts across the board for its investment home loan products and portfolio fixed loans. There will be no change to variable rates at this stage.
In a statement, Westpac said customers who have “lost their job or suffered loss of income as a result of COVID-19 should contact [the bank] for three months deferral on their home loan mortgage repayments, with extension for a further three months available after review”.
How does your loan stack up? Compare all fixed and variable home loans with Canstar.
*Note: New rates will only appear on the Canstar database from the date they are effective.
Lenders that have announced lower home loan rates since March 3 cash rate cut
Effective 4 March, new and existing variable rate loans for owner-occupiers and investors reduced by 0.25 percentage points. For example, owner occupier principal and interest home loan – 2.84% (comparison rate 3.12%).
Effective 27 March, all new and existing variable home loan rates reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
AMP Bank is reducing some home loans by up to 0.64 percentage points. Effective 30 March, AMP Bank variable rates reduced by 0.25 percentage points. Effective 13 March, some three-year fixed rate loans will be reduced, including three-year Professional Package Owner Occupier Principal and Interest fixed rate loan – 2.49% (comparison rate 4.02%).
Effective 13 March, variable rate cuts by between 0.25 and 0.35 percentage points –
- Owner occupier principal and interest variable rate: 4.54% (comparison rate 4.64%)
- Investor principal and interest variable rate: 5.14% (comparison rate 5.24%)
- Owner occupier interest-only variable rate: 5.09% (comparison rate 4.85%)
- Investor interest-only variable rate: 5.39% (comparison rate 5.33%)
(The rates for package loans could differ to the base rates mentioned above.)
More detail here: Big four banks pass on RBA cut.
Effective 17 March, Investment and Residential 12 Month HeadStart Home Loan, Essentials Home Loan, The Basics, Line of Credit and The Basics Home Loan – Lowest Rate Offer rates reduced by 0.10 percentage points.
Effective 3 March, variable rate for owner occupiers paying principal and interest – 2.59% (comparison rate 2.55%).
Effective 24 March, all Aussie Select Variable home loans will be reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 24 March, all home loan products will be reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 5 March, the bank’s RBA Rate Tracker Home Loan was reduced by 0.25 percentage points – 2.99% (comparison rate 3.01%).
Effective 24 March, all new and existing variable rate home loans reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 25 March, all owner-occupied and investor fixed and variable home loans reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 17 March, new and existing variable loans reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
- Owner occupier principal & interest home loan variable rate – 4.54% (comparison rate 4.71%)
- Owner occupier interest only home loan variable rate – 5.13% (comparison rate 5.30%)
- Residential investment principal & interest home loan variable rate – 5.12% (comparison rate 5.29%)
- Residential investment interest only home loan variable rate – 5.41% (comparison rate 5.58%)
- Line of Credit Loan (Portfolio Loan) – 5.98% (comparison rate to be advised)
- Rate reductions also apply to Basic Loans and grandfathered variable rate products.
- Rates do not include any discounts offered for Advantage Package or LVR
Effective 17 March, new and existing variable loans decreased by 0.25 percentage points.
- Owner occupier principal and interest home loan variable rate – 4.55% (comparison rate 4.72%)
- Owner occupier interest only home loan variable rate – 5.14% (comparison rate 5.31%)
- Residential investment principal and interest home loan variable rate – 5.12% (comparison rate 5.29%)
- Residential investment interest only home loan variable rate – 5.41% (comparison rate 5.58%)
- Line of Credit Loans (Portfolio Loan) – 5.98% (comparison rate to be advised)
- Rate reductions also apply to Basic Loans and grandfathered variable rate products.
- Rates do not include any discounts offered under the Advantage Package.
Effective 5 March for new customers and 16 March for existing, reductions of up to 0.25 percentage points off home loan rates. For example, standard variable rate – 3.60% (comparison rate 3.62%); owner-occupier three-year fixed rate – 2.60% (comparison rate 3.62%).
Effective 18 March, all owner-occupier and investment variable loans reduced by 0.25 percentage points. For example their owner occupier principle and interest variable home loan of <80% LVR – 2.80% (comparison rate 3.25%)
Effective 1 April, all new and existing owner-occupier and investor home loan rates reduced by 0.25 percentage points. For example, the bank’s OMG <80% LVR rate – 2.94% (comparison rate to be advised).
Effective 27 March, all new and existing variable home loan rates reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 3 April, some loans will be reduced by up to 0.25 percentage points.
- Standard variable rate for owner-occupier principal and interest and owner-occupier interest-only loans – decrease by 0.17 percentage points
- Standard variable rate investor principal and interest and investor interest-only loans – decrease by 0.25 percentage points
Effective 24 March, new variable home loan rates reduced by 0.25 percentage points.
Effective 24 March new and existing variable loans decreased by 0.25 percentage points.
- Owner-occupier principal and interest standard variable rate: 4.55% p.a. (comparison rate 4.70%)
- Investor principal and interest standard variable rate: 5.13% p.a. (comparison rate 5.28%)
- Owner-occupier interest only standard variable rate: 5.04% p.a. (comparison rate 4.88%)
- Investor interest only standard variable rate: 5.39% p.a. (comparison rate 5.37%)
(The rates for package loans could differ to the base rates mentioned above.)
More detail here: