Laine Gordon

Home loan rates hit new record low of 1.99%

Fixed home loan rates continue to tumble, with Bank of Us the first lender to offer the average Australian a fixed home loan rate under 2 per cent.

Bank fees fall, but Australians still fork out $3.92 billion

Australians forked out $3.92 billion in bank fees last year, new figures from the RBA show. This equates to around $406 per household in bank fees a year.

Aussies hunker down on debt in lockdown

Australians wiped a record $1.55 billion off debt accruing interest on their credit cards – the highest drop on record.

Hidden costs of ScoMo’s first home loan deposit scheme

The Australian Government’s First Home Loan Deposit Scheme has been fully reserved, but for those who missed out, a further 10,000 places will be made available from 1 July.

Home loan cash backs heat up, but are they worth it?

More than a dozen lenders are offering cash incentives for home owners willing to move their business to a new lender, with Suncorp Bank, Reduce Home Loans and 86 400 the latest to put cash offers on the table.

Credit cards still on the nose, however people with cards start reaching for them more

New figures out today from the RBA show the number of personal credit card accounts has dropped to the lowest point in almost a decade.

Home lending falls in February: a sign of what’s to come

New ABS figures out today show the value of new loans settled in February fell 1.71 per cent month-on-month in seasonally-adjusted terms.

Home loan rates continue to tumble for new customers

While the RBA left the cash rate at 0.25 per cent today, lenders are still slashing home loan rates for new customers, particularly owner occupiers who have equity in their home.

CBA savings rates changes a reminder to give your savings a health check

Australia’s biggest bank, CBA, has cut the bonus rates on its Goal Saver account today by up to 0.35 per cent while increasing the base rate on this account by 0.09 per cent.

The real cost of a repayment pause, and how to minimise the fallout

CBA’s announcement today that customers who take a six-month repayment pause will be refunded interest-on-interest charges during this time will help families struggling to make ends meet.