Online lenders hit home loans with massive 0.30% - 0.50% rate hikes

By Evlin DuBose · · 2 min read
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Collage of someone copping online lending mortgage rate hikes.

The Reserve Bank of Australia surprised the market in May with another 0.25% rate hike, but the market astonishes even more. In the last two days, many online lenders funded by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank have made sweeping changes to their variable offers for new customers, most at or over 0.30% p.a.

Smaller lenders running ahead of the RBA

Collage of homeowners paying off a mortgage.

While it’s not uncommon for lenders to pass along the full RBA rate hike, it is uncommon for them to exceed it, especially from small online mortgage lenders who often rely on sharp rates to remain competitive with the bigger banks. 

Here’s a summary of affected variable home loan offers. Existing customers may have different changes applied to their mortgages. 

Massive loan hikes from Adelaide Bank group lenders (OO, P&I, 19 May 2023)

LenderHome loanIncreaseNew rate
Adelaide Bank
SmartFit, LVR > 90%
0.30%
7.08% p.a. (7.28% p.a. comparison rate*)
Mortgage HouseAdvantage Standard Home Loan, LVR < 95%0.50%6.89% p.a. (7.00% p.a. comparison rate*)
Reduce Home LoansRate Slasher Variable Home Loan, LVR < 90%0.30%6.39% p.a. (6.47% p.a. comparison rate*)
Tic:TocVariable Home Loan0.35%5.39% p.a. (5.40% p.a. comparison rate*)
YardVariable Home Loan, LVR 80-90%0.30%6.49% p.a. (6.53% p.a. comparison rate*)
Qantas MoneyVariable Home Loan, LVR < 90%0.30%5.54% p.a. (5.60% p.a. comparison rate*)

Variable interest rates are sensitive to cash rate changes, lifting to absorb the rise in a lender’s funding costs while keeping in line with the market. But would a lender push rates well ahead of the RBA’s target?

In short: money. In long: how a bank wants to hold onto their money. With inflation still running amok and uncertainty surrounding the RBA’s future moves, these changes might be anticipatory, not just reactionary. Almost no one expected the RBA to move in May, and experts remain divided over whether we’ll see another rate hike this winter. These small lenders may be jumping ahead of the RBA’s next decision.

It could also be these lenders have copped pricier funding costs because they’re smaller subsidiaries of Bendigo and Adelaide Bank. Normally these small lenders sell at retail what the big bank sells wholesale, but inflation may finally have caught up with them. 

Much of their additional pandemic-era funding (through the RBA’s Term Funding Facility ) will draw to a close this September, as well. The banks may be hiking while they can before they lose their support. 

It’s also important to note that existing customers may only face a 0.25% rise in line with the RBA, not the steep rates advertised to new customers. Tic:Toc and Qantas Money’s offers in the table are still below the average variable interest rate in Mozo’s database, 6.28% p.a. 

With everything in flux, it’s a well-timed reminder for customers to make sure their mortgage rate remains competitive. 

Compare low-interest rates in the table below.

Last updated 26 March 2025 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*
What are your home loan needs?
Loan purpose
Buying or Refinancing
  • Promoted

    Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.65 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,915
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees
  • Promoted

    Basic Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 30% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.39 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.82 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,805
    Go to site
    • No ongoing fees
    • Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
    • No application or account management fees
  • Promoted

    Variable Home Loan 90

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 10% min deposit
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.79 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.83 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,931
    Go to site
    • No monthly or ongoing fees
    • Option to add an offset for 0.10% p.a.

  • Basic Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 30% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.39 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    5.82 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,805
    Go to site
    • No ongoing fees
    • Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
    • No application or account management fees

  • Switch & Save One Year Fixed Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.54 % p.a.
    Fixed 1 year
    Comparison rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
    Go to site
    • No penalty for early payout
    • No penalty for making additional payments
    • 100% Savings Offset facility

  • Switch and Save Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • Offset available
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.64 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.75 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,883
    Go to site
    • No penalty for early payout
    • No penalty for making additional payments
    • 100% Savings Offset facility

  • Fixed Home Loan

    • Fixed rate
    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 5% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    • Cashback
    Interest rate
    5.69 % p.a.
    Fixed 2 years
    Comparison rate
    6.00 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,899
    Go to site
    • Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply)
    • Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties
    • Split loan available

  • Unloan Variable Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 20% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.65 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,915
    Go to site
    • The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
    • No application or banking fees

  • Simple Home Loan Variable

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,915
    Go to site
    • No application, ongoing or monthly fees
    • Make additional repayments at any time
    • Access your money via internet banking at any time

  • OMG Home Loan

    • Owner occupier
    • Principal & Interest
    • 40% min deposit
    • Redraw available
    Interest rate
    5.74 % p.a.
    Variable
    Comparison rate
    5.77 % p.a.
    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,915
    Go to site
    • No ongoing annual fees
    • Pre-approval valid for 3 months
Showing 8 results from 417 home loans. Use the filters to see more

* 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.

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