New year, new home loan: How to refinance your mortgage in 2022

December is a great time to reset and create goals for your next year, and for many Australians, refinancing their mortgage may be at the top of their new year’s resolution lists. Let’s explore how you can avoid the common traps and pitfalls of switching home loans and find your best new mortgage option.

ANZ hikes fixed rates 3 times in 7 weeks

Australia’s fourth largest bank, ANZ, has today increased fixed rates for the third time in less than two months for owner-occupiers and investors.

Credit card debt drops by $9.9 billion since the start of COVID

The national credit card debt accruing interest has dropped by over half a billion dollars in just one month, down to the lowest level since May 2003.

Over half of buy now pay later customers struggle to pay living expenses

It’s a timely reminder to be careful with your finances as we enter the silly season, with a new report revealing that 61% of financial counsellor respondents saw most or all their clients using BNPL platforms struggle to meet living expenses.

How to fund your home improvements with equity

Are you considering making home improvements and renovating your property? You may want to consider how you can make use of your home’s equity to finance these plans.

Westpac and subsidiaries cut credit card rates in time for Christmas

Good news for credit card customers with Westpac and its subsidiaries, St. George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA, reducing their credit card purchase rates by between 0.25% and 0.50%.

Spend wisely to avoid debt in the Black Friday & Cyber Monday sales

The upcoming Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales are set to attract a high number of Aussie shoppers looking to snap up a bargain for Christmastime. But buyer beware: it’s still easier than ever to accumulate debt through your credit card if you’re not careful.

Federal Government commits to increased funding to electric vehicle infrastructure

Australians considering making the move to purchasing an electric vehicle have been provided with even more support, with the Morrison Government revealing a significant financial boost to its investment in charging infrastructure.

ABA shakes up hardship rules, introduces savings buffer

The Australian Banking Association has announced a revamp of its hardship support guidelines, as the rate of customers seeking hardship assistance falls across the nation.

Branches and ATMs on the decline as Aussies move away from cash

Access to face-to-face points of contact, such as bank branches and ATMs, fell in the last financial year, as COVID-19 strikes another nail in the coffin of cash. ANZ ditched nearly half of its ATMs and closed 1 in 5 branches.