Westpac follows ANZ’s lead with interest-only home loan rate increases

By Kelly Emmerton · · 2 min read
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Westpac has increased rates on interest-only mortgages by 0.34%, following changes from fellow big bank ANZ which hiked interest-only rates by up to 0.30% earlier this month, in what is becoming a growing trend among home loan lenders.

Westpac’s rate increase applies to both investors and owner-occupiers, bringing the standard variable rate on interest-only lending up to 6.30% and 5.83% respectively, as of June 30.

On a $600,000 loan over a 25 year term, this 0.34% increase to 5.83% p.a. could cost a home buyer an extra $36,827 in interest, according to Mozo’s home loan repayment calculator.

On the other hand, rates on owner-occupier loans with principal and interest repayments were decreased by 0.08%, bringing the standard variable rate down to 5.24%. Given the same loan conditions as above - a $600,000 loan amount over 25 years - this represents a saving of $8,508.

The move was aimed at least in part to nudging customers toward making principal and interest repayments on their home loans instead of just paying down the interest, in response to APRA’s tightened regulations around “risky” lending, introduced earlier this year.

George Frazis, Chief Executive of Westpac Consumer Bank, said, “We hope the rate reduction will encourage owner occupier customers with interest only home loans to switch to principal and interest repayments, helping them to pay down their home loan in this low interest rate environment.” 

He also said there would be no switching fee for interest-only home loan customers to make the change to principal and interest repayments.

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The changes are part of a growing trend that has taken hold since APRA announced regulations which limit the flow of new interest-only lending to 30% of a bank’s total new residential lending and also placed restrictions on the volume of low-deposit lending.

Earlier this month, CommBank subsidiary Bankwest and big bank ANZ both made similar adjustments to their home loan interest rates, increasing rates on interest-only borrowing, while making cuts on principal and interest loans.

Before that, in May, a number of lenders made moves that followed the same pattern of cuts for principal and interest borrowing combined with rate hikes for interest-only loans, including big bank NAB, which also quadrupled deposit requirements for interest only loans.

With so many shifts in the market, borrowers will need to do their research to ensure they’re getting the best deal around. If you’re looking for a mortgage to fund the purchase of your dream home, make sure you compare home loans using our handy tool, or check out some of the top offers below.

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Last updated 30 October 2024 Important disclosures and comparison rate warning*

Home loan comparisons on Mozo

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  • Fixed Home Loan

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    Competitive fixed rate on up to a 30 year loan term. No application fees to pay. Additional repayments up to $20,000 per year without penalty. Free online redraw. Optional 100% offset feature ($10/month) 10% minimum deposit. Fees & charges apply, Australian Credit Licence 237879 is held by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, the credit provider.

  • Fixed Express Home Loan

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    Initial monthly repayment
    $2,852
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  • Fixed Rate Home Loan

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  • Fixed Rate

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    Enjoy up to $3000 cashback for eligible first home buyers and $2000 cashback for refinancers on eligible home loans with the ANZ Fixed Rate Home Loan. Get the security of repayment certainty with a competitive locked in rate. No ongoing fees to pay. Offset account on 1-year fixed loans ($10/month fee applies). Interest-only payments allowed.

  • Variable Home Loan

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  • Express Home Loan

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* 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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