Have the 2019 RBA interest rate cuts flowed on to business loans?

Now that the dust has settled after the latest Reserve Bank cash rate cut, a clearer picture has emerged of the impact the June, July and October cuts have had on business loans issued by Australian banks.
For Aussie businesses looking for additional financing that picture is a pretty one, because all of the major and challenger banks being tracked in the Mozo database have reduced their rates since June 2019.
In fact, with the exception of a handful of lenders, almost every bank has passed on a portion of each of the three 0.25% RBA cuts so far this year.
“Though the reaction has typically been slower in reducing business loan rates than rates for deposit accounts or home loans, there has been a noticeable downward trend since the Reserve Bank started cutting rates earlier this year,” said Mozo Banking Expert, Peter Marshall.
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So just how far have business loan rates fallen and where are they sitting now?
Well according to our figures, the average residentially secured, variable rate business loan in the Mozo database has dropped from 5.52% to 5.12% in the five months since June - a 0.40% reduction.
To put that cut into perspective, the Reserve Bank reduced the official cash rate by 0.75% over that same period.
Further narrowing in on the figures reveals that the big banks are still charging a premium on their business loans compared to challenger lenders though, with the average rate among the Big Four currently^ at 5.46%.
Though as you can see in the table below, there is also a marked difference between the different rates on offer from ANZ, CommBank, NAB and Westpac.

According to the latest figures, challenger banks and big bank subsidiaries generally continue to provide more competitive rates for their business customers.
The latest average rate for a residentially secured, variable rate business loan among these players currently sits at 4.90% - a 0.31% drop since June.
At present the lowest rates on offer among this cohort are Suncorp’s Business Essentials Loan at 4.19% and IMB Bank’s Fully Drawn Business Loan at 4.24%. Here’s a more comprehensive list though:

According to Marshall, it’s not just as simple as business just looking at the interest rate alone though.
“It’s encouraging to see that bank lenders have been reducing their business loan rates, but businesses should bear in mind that these advertised rates are simply a jumping off point,” he said.
“Businesses are often assessed individually based on a number of factors including their capacity to pay back the loan and whether or not they conduct any other business with the bank, which means the rate offered may be different to the advertised rate.”
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Ready to compare business loans for yourself? Take a look at some of the great offers in the table below, or head over to the Mozo business loans comparison hub to compare 40 different business loans bank and non-bank lenders.
^Rates correct as of November 15, 2019.
Compare business loans
Boost Business Loan
Whether you’re looking for a quick cash boost for your business or are ready to invest in growth, ScotPac offers a range of unsecured and secured loans from $10,000 up to $500,000. For loan terms of 6 months to 3 years. No application or account keeping fees to pay. Funds available in 24 hours or less once approved. Repayment options available.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On applicationDetails on applicationFrom 24 hoursBoost Business Loan
Whether you’re looking for a quick cash boost for your business or are ready to invest in growth, ScotPac offers a range of unsecured and secured loans from $10,000 up to $500,000. For loan terms of 6 months to 3 years. No application or account keeping fees to pay. Funds available in 24 hours or less once approved. Repayment options available.
- Interest Rate
- On application
- Upfront Fee
- Details on application
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- -
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- -
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Secured or Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $10,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 6 months
- Maximum loan term
- 3 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly
- Repayment types
- -
- Minimum trading period
- 1 year
- Minimum annual turnover
- $120,000
- Application speed
- From 24 hours
- Approval speed
- From 24 hours
- Funding speed
- From 24 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- -
- Redraw allowed
- -
- Other benefits
- All industries supported.
- Other restrictions
- Loans up to $100K: No upfront collateral required Loans between $100K to $200K: Borrower must be a property owner Loans over $200K: Borrower must be a property owner, and the loan will be secured
Prospa Plus Business Loan
Prospa uses risk-based pricing to determine your interest rate. They look at factors including your industry, years in business, cash flow, creditworthiness and the overall financial health of your business.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
Interest rates vary based on risk.3.5%from 24 hoursProspa Plus Business Loan
Prospa uses risk-based pricing to determine your interest rate. They look at factors including your industry, years in business, cash flow, creditworthiness and the overall financial health of your business.
- Interest Rate
- Interest rates vary based on risk.
- Upfront Fee
- 3.5%
- Ongoing Fees
- $0.00
- Late payment fee
- $0.00
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- $0.00
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $150,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $500,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 3 years
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 3 years
- Minimum annual turnover
- $1,000,000
- Application speed
- 10 Minutes
- Approval speed
- Same-day approval
- Funding speed
- from 24 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- no
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- -
Unsecured Business Loan
Business Loans from $5,000 to $5,000,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds on loans up to $500,000 in as little as 3 hours. Cash flow friendly repayments and open minded offers.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On Application3%, starting at $399from 3 hoursUnsecured Business Loan
Business Loans from $5,000 to $5,000,000 with high approval rates. Access to funds on loans up to $500,000 in as little as 3 hours. Cash flow friendly repayments and open minded offers.
- Interest Rate
- On Application
- Upfront Fee
- 3%, starting at $399
- Ongoing Fees
- no
- Late payment fee
- $50.00
- Transaction fee
- -
- Early repayment penalty
- no
- Other fees
- -
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Unsecured
- Minimum loan amount
- $5,000
- Maximum loan amount
- $5,000,000
- Minimum loan term
- 3 months
- Maximum loan term
- 1 year
- Repayment frequency
- Weekly, flexible
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Minimum trading period
- 4 months
- Minimum annual turnover
- $144,000
- Application speed
- 10 Minutes
- Approval speed
- within 1 hour
- Funding speed
- from 3 hours
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes
- Redraw allowed
- no
- Other benefits
- Daily repayments available.
- Other restrictions
- Fast Business Loans for amounts up to $500,000 are funded in 3 hours, Small Business Loans can take 24 hours.
Mortgage Secured Commercial Loan
Use your property as collateral to meet your business needs. Offers repayment terms up to 30 years for residential security and 15 years for commercial/rural security. Provides interest rates that are tailored to your business needs. Choose from Principal & Interest, Interest Only, or Interest in Advance repayment options.
Interest Rate
Upfront Fee
Funding speed
On applicationOn applicationVariesMortgage Secured Commercial Loan
Use your property as collateral to meet your business needs. Offers repayment terms up to 30 years for residential security and 15 years for commercial/rural security. Provides interest rates that are tailored to your business needs. Choose from Principal & Interest, Interest Only, or Interest in Advance repayment options.
- Interest Rate
- On application
- Upfront Fee
- On application
- Ongoing Fees
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $20.00
- Transaction fee
- $0
- Early repayment penalty
- $0 for variable loans, break cost may apply for fixed loans.
- Other fees
- On application
- Loan type
- Loan
- Security type
- Property Secured
- Minimum loan amount
- $500
- Maximum loan amount
- -
- Minimum loan term
- -
- Maximum loan term
- 30 months
- Repayment frequency
- Monthly, Quarterly, Half-yearly, Annually
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest, Interest Only
- Minimum trading period
- Varies
- Minimum annual turnover
- Varies
- Application speed
- Varies
- Approval speed
- Varies
- Funding speed
- Varies
- Extra repayments allowed
- yes - variable loans only
- Redraw allowed
- yes - minimum $500 (variable loans only)
- Other benefits
- -
- Other restrictions
- Minimum Deposit of 20% is required for mortgages secured by residential property, 35% for commercial property and 40% for rural property. Loan term limited to 15 years for commercial or rural security.
Read reviews and learn more about Regional Australia Bank business loans
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