Big banks to feel the pressure with forecasted RBA rate cut

As anticipation continues to grow amongst Aussies awaiting the RBA announcement, speculations of a Melbourne Cup day rate cut are in the air.
According to new Mozo research, should the RBA cut rates on Tuesday it’ll be the big banks who will feel the heat.
Mozo found that the Big Four banks’ tactic of ‘slow and steady’ to pass on interest rate cuts in the past has seen them rake in big bucks. In fact, by delaying the effective dates the big banks profited $109 million this year alone.
That figure then jumps to a staggering $1.2 billion if you consider when the RBA began cutting rates in 2011.
“With so many mortgage customers under pressure, if we see another cut to official interest rates next week we need the banks to end their longstanding practice of profiteering at their customers’ expense,” said Mozo Director, Kirsty Lamont.
“With the progressive winding back of Jobkeeper and Jobseeker support payments and the banks mortgage holidays coming to an end, it’s critical the banks pass on this latest cut without delay.”
However, these big players weren’t alone in their efforts, as Mozo found that 58 banks delayed the effective dates of their rate cuts after the first official RBA cut for the year in March.
A total of 69 lenders passed on the first rate cut in full back in March, while 12 only chose to pass on a partial cut.
Households set to save should the banks provide rate relief
While there's no way of telling how the RBA will choose to move come Tuesday, many experts are predicting the official cash rate will drop by 15 basis points.
The average variable rate home loan in the Mozo database currently sits at 3.34%, bringing the monthly repayments for owner occupiers paying principal and interest to $1,761.
Should lenders pass on this 15 basis points reduction, the new average variable rate will drop to just 3.19%, saving households $33 a month on their mortgage.
And with budgets getting tighter in many households due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Lamont believes that the possibility for a lender to pass on the cut could be make or break for vulnerable Aussies.
“With a number of the banks already indicating some customers won’t make it through the pandemic, their decision on whether or not to pass the rate cut could quite literally be the difference between keeping a roof over your head or being kicked out in the cold,” she said.
Where to find the best variable rates on the market
The good news is, households looking to save on their home loan don’t have to wait for their lender to pass on a rate cut. We took a peek into the Mozo database to source the top three variable rates offered on the market.
Leading Variable Interest Rates
Lender | Home Loan | Interest Rate |
Well Home Loans | Well Balanced | 2.17% (2.20% comp rate*) |
Reduce Home Loans | Economizer Variable | 2.19% (2.23% comp rate*) |
Tic:Toc | Special Variable Home Loan | 2.19% (2.20% comp rate*) |
Source: mozo.com.au as of 26 October 2020. Based on a $400,000 loan at 80% LVR for an Owner Occupier with Principal & Interest repayments.
You can compare more variable rates by visiting our home loan comparison tool or track any home loan rate movements over at our Reserve Bank interest rates page.
Compare variable home loans - last updated 3 December 2023
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Home Variable Rate
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, Refinance Only
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.15% p.a.6.15% p.a.Enjoy a competitive variable interest rate from Up. No application, monthly, annual, redraw, or discharge fees to pay. Up to 50 free offset accounts available. Up home loans are only available to owner-occupiers buying or refinancing in major Australian cities. Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank. New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMEMOZO. (T&Cs apply) Mozo Experts Choice award winner.
CompareCompareHome Variable Rate
Enjoy a competitive variable interest rate from Up. No application, monthly, annual, redraw, or discharge fees to pay. Up to 50 free offset accounts available. Up home loans are only available to owner-occupiers buying or refinancing in major Australian cities. Up is 100% owned by Bendigo Bank. New joiners get $10 by signing up to the app using code UPHOMEMOZO. (T&Cs apply) Mozo Experts Choice award winner.
- variable rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.15% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - up to $30,000
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Up Home Variable Rate
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Featured Product
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2023
Unloan Variable
Owner Occupier, Refinance Only, LVR <80%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment5.74% p.a.5.65% p.a.For refinancers only. Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply in as little as 10 minutes.
CompareCompareUnloan Variable
For refinancers only. Built by CommBank, the Unloan is the first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply) for borrowers. No application or banking fees. No monthly account keeping or early exit fees. Apply in as little as 10 minutes.
- variable rate
- 5.74% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 5.65% p.a.
- variable rate
- 5.74% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 5.65% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $0
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $10,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Unloan Unloan Variable
-
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2023
Variable Home Loan 90
Principal and Interest, LVR <90%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.04% p.a.6.06% p.a.Affordable home loan rate for buyers or refinancers. No monthly or ongoing fees. Option to add an offset for 0.10%. Access to savings with unlimited redraws available. Minimum 10% deposit required. Advertised rates include Nov RBA rate increase. T&Cs apply.
CompareCompareVariable Home Loan 90
Affordable home loan rate for buyers or refinancers. No monthly or ongoing fees. Option to add an offset for 0.10%. Access to savings with unlimited redraws available. Minimum 10% deposit required. Advertised rates include Nov RBA rate increase. T&Cs apply.
- variable rate
- 6.04% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.06% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.04% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.06% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $530
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $0.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the loans.com.au Variable Home Loan 90
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Mortgage Simplifier
LVR<80%, Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.14% p.a.6.43% p.a.Get a competitive variable rate with ING’s Mortgage Simplifier. Free extra repayments, no monthly or annual fees. Freedom to make free extra repayments or redraws. Winner of Australia’s Best Essential Bank in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards.
CompareCompareMortgage Simplifier
Get a competitive variable rate with ING’s Mortgage Simplifier. Free extra repayments, no monthly or annual fees. Freedom to make free extra repayments or redraws. Winner of Australia’s Best Essential Bank in the Mozo Experts Choice Awards.
- variable rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.14% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $299
- Ongoing fees
- $0.00
- Discharge Fee
- $250.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- no
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- $150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
- $2,000,000
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the ING Mortgage Simplifier
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Flex Home Loan
Owner Occupier, Principal & Interest, LVR <80%
variable rate
comparison rate
Initial monthly repayment6.19% p.a.6.43% p.a.Competitive variable rate. Multiple offset accounts available. Borrowers can also make extra repayments. Redraw facility available. Simple online application process.
CompareCompareFlex Home Loan
Competitive variable rate. Multiple offset accounts available. Borrowers can also make extra repayments. Redraw facility available. Simple online application process.
- variable rate
- 6.19% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- variable rate
- 6.19% p.a.
- comparison rate
- 6.43% p.a.
- Upfront fees
- $250
- Ongoing fees
- $250.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
- $300.00
- Extra repayments
- yes - free
- Redraw facility
- yes - free
- Offset account
- yes
- Maximum loan to value ratio
- 80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
- -
- maximum borrowing amount
- -
- type of mortgage
- Variable
- Repayment types
- Principal & Interest
- Availability
- Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
- Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Special Offers
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the ubank Flex Home Loan
* WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.
** Initial monthly repayment figures are estimates only, based on the advertised rate. You can change the loan amount and term in the input boxes at the top of this table. Rates, fees and charges and therefore the total cost of the loan may vary depending on your loan amount, loan term, and credit history. Actual repayments will depend on your individual circumstances and interest rate changes.
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.
While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.