Variable Rate Personal Loans

Looking for a personal loan with a variable interest rate (that can change over the life of the loan)? The table below shows a range of variable rate personal loans from our Online Partners, sorted by Star Rating (highest to lowest), lowest comparison rate, and then alphabetically by provider.

GM, Research
Senior Finance Content Producer
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If you want to keep comparing, here are products from other providers based on your search.

Queensland Country Bank | Green Reno Loan
Queensland Country Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $0
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 1 year to 10 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
6.24% Glossary
Variable Glossary
6.24% Glossary
$388.89 Glossary
Police Credit Union | Solar Eco Loan
Police Credit Union logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $0
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 1 year to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
6.48% Glossary
Variable Glossary
6.48% Glossary
$391.14 Glossary
RACQ Bank | Green Personal Loan
RACQ Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $0
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 10 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
6.99% Glossary
Variable Glossary
6.99% Glossary
$395.93 Glossary
Australian Mutual Bank | Green Loan
Australian Mutual Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $0
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
7.10% Glossary
Variable Glossary
7.10% Glossary
$396.97 Glossary
Horizon Bank | Green Personal Loan
Horizon Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $100
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 1 year to 5 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
6.49% Glossary
Variable Glossary
7.17% Glossary
$391.23 Glossary
Summerland Bank | Eco Personal Loan
Summerland Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $130
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
7.09% Glossary
Variable Glossary
7.98% Glossary
$396.87 Glossary
MoneyMe Financial Group | Personal Loan Excellent
MoneyMe Financial Group logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $0
  • icon Annualised fee: $120
  • icon Loan terms available: 3 years to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
5.99% Glossary
Variable Glossary
8.18% Glossary
$386.56 Glossary
Regional Australia Bank | Enviro Loan
Regional Australia Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $195
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 5 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
7.20% Glossary
Variable Glossary
8.54% Glossary
$397.91 Glossary
Unity Bank | Fair Rate Personal Loan Diamond
Unity Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $150
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled star filled
Tooltip icon
7.99% Glossary
Variable Glossary
9.02% Glossary
$405.43 Glossary
G&C Mutual Bank | Fair Rate Personal Loan Diamond
G&C Mutual Bank logo
Features and fees Glossary
  • icon Additional repayments
  • icon Redraw facility
  • icon Top-up facility
  • icon Application fee: $150
  • icon Annualised fee: $0
  • icon Loan terms available: 0 to 7 years
star filled star filled star filled star filled empty star
Tooltip icon
7.99% Glossary
Variable Glossary
9.02% Glossary
$405.43 Glossary

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Unsure of a term in the above table? View glossary

The initial results in the table above are sorted by Star Rating (High-Low) , then Comparison rate^ p.a. (Low-High) , then Provider Name (Alphabetical) . Additional filters may have been applied, which impact the results displayed in the table - filters can be applied or removed at any time.

What is a variable rate personal loan?

A variable rate personal loan is a type of loan where the interest rate can change over time. Your lender might increase or decrease the rate based on things like RBA cash rate decisions or changes in the economy.

If the lender cuts the interest rate, you may be able to make smaller repayments or more easily make extra repayments to get out of debt sooner, potentially saving some money in interest charges. But if the lender raises the interest rate, you may need to revise your household budget to accommodate for the higher repayments.

A variable rate personal loan can sometimes be more flexible than a fixed rate version, with more options for making extra repayments to save on interest, and to redraw these extra repayments if required. However, it may be harder to budget for a variable personal loan’s repayments, as they could shift over the course of the loan term.

It’s important to remember that there’s more to a personal loan than just its interest rate. Before applying for a variable rate personal loan, be sure to also consider any fees and other charges that may apply, as well as if any extra features or benefits are available that could potentially offer you extra value.

What types of personal loans are available in Australia?

In Australia, personal loans typically fall into two main categories: secured and unsecured. Both types can come with variable interest rates, meaning the interest you pay may go up or down over time based on changes in the market.

Secured personal loans

A secured personal loan requires you to offer an asset—known as collateral—to back the loan. This gives the lender a safety net if you can’t repay the loan. Suitable security assets may include cars (variable rate car loans may use the value of the car being purchased as collateral), money saved in a term deposit, equity in a property, or other valuable assets, such as jewellery or fine art.

Because these loans are less risky for lenders, they often come with lower interest rates compared to unsecured options.

Unsecured personal loans

Unsecured personal loans don’t require you to provide security for a loan when you apply—you’re borrowing money based on your credit history and financial situation alone. While they can be faster and simpler to apply for, unsecured loans often come with higher interest rates and higher fees

If you default on an unsecured personal loan, the lender will instead need to enact legal proceedings to reclaim the money owed to them.

There are options to take out aYou may be able to get a variable interest rate on a secured personal loan or an unsecured personal loan.

Advantages of a variable rate personal loan

  • Flexibility: May offer more options to make extra repayments and redraws
  • Repayments may fall: If the lender cuts the interest rate, your loan repayments could cost less, or you could more easily pay off the loan sooner.

Disadvantages of a variable rate personal loan

  • Repayments could increase: If the lender raises the interest rate, your loan repayments could get higher.
  • Harder to budget: As your loan’s interest rate could change over time, adding the repayments to your household budget could be more challenging.

Frequently asked questions about variable rate personal loans

Variable rate personal loans are available from most major Australian and international banks. Additionally, some specialised lenders also offer variable rate personal loans. In some cases, a specialised lender may be able to accommodate borrowers with less typical financial circumstances, such as bad credit borrowers, or self-employed borrowers.

Applying for a variable rate personal loan typically involves contacting a lender and completing an application form, either in person or online. You’ll need to provide some information about yourself and your finances, such as your income and expenses, as well as why you’re applying for the loan.

The lender will conduct a credit check as part of the personal loan application process. Borrowers with a good credit history are more likely to see their application approved, and may be eligible to borrow more money or enjoy a lower interest rate. However, bad credit borrowers could have a harder time getting personal loan applications approved, or may need to pay a higher interest rate. If possible, you could consider taking steps to improve your credit score ahead of applying for a personal loan.

Once the lender has considered your application, you’ll receive confirmation of whether your application was approved or declined. If approved, you should be able to access money from your loan as soon as the lender has processed it, often within a matter of business days. If declined, you could consider contacting the lender to learn why your application was rejected, and what steps you may be able to take to help rectify the situation.

Keep in mind that applying for credit too often over a short period of time could risk damaging your credit score.

Personal loans are available in Australia for a wide variety of different purposes, including but not limited to:

When you apply for a personal loan, your lender will want to know the loan’s purpose, as this could affect their level of financial risk. For example, a lender may treat a loan to buy shares or start a business (which could gain value and/or make returns) differently to a loan to pay for a holiday or a wedding. The exact interest rate you’ll be charged may depend upon the loan’s purpose, your credit score, and a variety of other factors.

About the authors

Mark Bristow, Senior Finance Content Producer

Mark Bristow
Mark Bristow is Canstar's Senior Finance Content Producer, and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. While primarily focused on Australian mortgage and home loan expertise, he has experience across energy, home and travel insurances. Mark has been a journalist and writer in the financial space for over ten years, previously researching and writing commercial real estate at CoreLogic. In the years since, Mark has worked for the Winning Group, Expedia, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider. Mark has also completed RG 146 (Tier 1), making him compliant to provide general advice for general insurance products like car, home, travel and health insurance, as well as giving him knowledge of investment options such as shares, derivatives, futures, managed investments, currencies and commodities. Find Mark on Linkedin.

Joshua Sale, GM, Research

Joshua Sale
Joshua Sale is responsible for developing the methodology and delivering Canstar’s flagship Star Ratings, as part of Canstar’s Research Team. With tertiary qualifications in economics and finance, he enjoys helping Australians find more suitable financial products by transforming complex calculations into a consumer-friendly Star Rating that explains the values and benefits of different financial products. As one of Canstar’s company spokespeople, Joshua is confident participating in print, radio and broadcast journalism interviews. He has participated in interviews with the Australian Financial Review, news.com.au and Money Magazine, along with other leading media outlets, discussing topics such as home loan equity, banking incentive schemes, digital wallets and wider finance trends. You can follow Joshua on LinkedIn. Have a media enquiry, and interested in featuring Joshua as a financial expert and commentator? Contact Canstar’s Media Team today.

Important information

For those that love the detail

This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.

Canstar may earn a fee from its Online Partners for referrals from its website tables, and from sponsorship or promotion of certain products. Fees payable by product providers for referrals and sponsorship or promotion may vary between providers, website position, and revenue model. Sponsorship/promotion fees may be higher than referral fees. If a product is sponsored or promoted, it’s an ad and it is clearly marked as such. An ad might appear in different places on our website, such as in comparison tables and articles. Ads may be displayed in a fixed position in a table, regardless of the product's rating, price or other attributes. The location of an ad doesn’t indicate any ranking or rating by Canstar. Payment of fees for ads does not influence our Star Ratings. See How We Get Paid to find out more. Payment of fees for ads does not influence our Star Ratings or Awards.

The Personal Loan Star Ratings are updated daily. The results don’t include every provider in the market and we may not compare all features relevant to you. Current rates and fees are displayed and may be different to what was rated. You can find a description of the initial sort order below the table. You can use the sort buttons at the top of each column to re-order the display. Learn more about our Personal Loans Star Rating Methodology. The rating shown is only one factor to take into account when considering products.

The products and Star Ratings in the table might not match your exact inputs in the selector. Sometimes the methodology uses profiles with categories or bands (e.g. income, loan amount or monthly spend), but sometimes a single methodology, without any categories or bands, is applied. The results will show the products that most closely match your selection, based on our profiles. If you are unsure about any terms used in the comparison table please refer to the glossary.

What is a Target Market Determination?

A Target Market Determination (‘TMD’) is a document that explains which people particular financial products may be suitable for (the target market) and sets out any conditions around how financial products can be distributed to consumers.

Why do product issuers provide Target Market Determinations?

From 5 October 2021, TMDs are compulsory for most financial products.

Issuers and distributors of financial products must take reasonable steps that are likely to result in financial products reaching consumers in the target market defined by the product issuer.

We recommend that you consider the TMD before making a purchase decision. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the TMD.

Any advice on this page is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this general financial advice is right for your personal circumstances. Canstar provides information about credit products. We’re not suggesting or recommending a particular credit product for you. If you decide to apply for a loan, you will deal directly with the provider, not with Canstar. Consider the Target Market Determination (TMD) before making a purchase decision. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the TMD. It’s important you check rates and product information directly with the provider. For more information, read our Detailed Disclosure. ^Read the Comparison Rate Warning.

Canstar is not providing a recommendation for your individual circumstances. We cannot and do not recommend that any particular product is suitable for you. 

We provide links to our Online Partners. These are brands that may pay Canstar a fee for referring you. Our tables default to display only our Online Partners’ products initially, you can adjust the Online Partner Filter to see all of the products available for comparison on Canstar’s website. We provide these links so that you can click through to the product provider’s website to get more information. The provision of these links does not constitute a recommendation by Canstar.

Representative example total repayment amount: For a personal loan of $20,000 borrowed for 60 months with a minimum interest rate of 9.84% (comparison rate^ of 10.87%), the total amount you would need to repay would be $25,551. This is made up of a $20,000 principal amount, $5,402 interest amount, estimated upfront fees of $149 and total ongoing fees of $0. This example is hypothetical. The total loan repayment amount for any individual personal loan will vary depending on several factors (including making on time repayments). You should confirm with the lender the total amount repayable for your particular circumstances.