This week in banking news - interest rates, travel insurance, liar home loans and saving for Christmas
- The outcome of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s December meeting
- Why Aussies are saving all year long to pay for Christmas
- Liar home loans on the rise
- Find out which Aussie fintech company just launched travel insurance
- How to choose the right travel insurance for your Christmas holiday
- Discover how ANZ is helping Aussies this silly season
All in this week's banking recap.
The Reserve Bank of Australia meet for the last time in 2019
After making cuts to the official cash rate in June, July and October this year, the RBA decided not to make any further cuts in its December meeting on Tuesday. This means that the official cash rate will remain at 0.75% for now.
As Mozo Banking Expert, Peter Marshall suggested, the RBA may have been reluctant to make any hasty decisions this time around, which would move the official cash rate closer to zero. Depending on how the economy fares over Christmas, however, experts predict that there may yet be another cut in February 2020.
Aussies scrimping and saving all year long to pay for Christmas
In other news, a report by Airbnb this week found that one in five Aussies find Christmas to be the most financially stressful time of the year. In fact, 36% even claimed that they have to save money all year round, just to be able to pay for it.
On top of that, 17% said they would spend a huge amount on presents and entertainment this year.
Survey reveals Aussies guilty of lying on home loan applications
A recent survey conducted by investment bank UBS revealed that a large number of Aussies are guilty of fibbing on their home loan applications. The survey found that borrowers were guilty of telling lies about their income and their expenses and debts to try and increase their chances of being approved.
But of course, lying on your application could reap more problems than rewards, as the survey found. Telling what seems like a little white lie on your application, could end up causing more problems for you and your home loan in the future.
Fintech Pelikin launches travel insurance product
Just in time for Christmas, Aussie fintech Pelikin, this week launched its very own travel insurance product. Pelikin describe this new travel insurance product as perfect for younger travellers looking to have a great time.
The travel insurance policy can also be tailored to suit the needs of the individual traveller, with three different levels of cover on offer.
How to choose the right travel insurance for your Christmas holiday
Speaking of vacations, with Christmas holidays just around the corner, we took a look at how to pick the best travel insurance for your festive getaway.
So if you’re one of the two million Aussies planning a trip abroad this summer, you might want to note down some of these great travel insurance tips. Some of the things you might want to think about when choosing a travel insurance policy include, what pre-existing conditions are covered, whether you’ll need extra cover and how to avoid a medical disaster.
ANZ offers brand new bonus points on rewards credit cards
And in more Christmas news, ANZ are starting off the silly season with new bonus points offers of up to 150,000 points on a whole lot of its rewards credit cards.
So if you were torn between two different rewards credit cards for your seasonal purchases, why not check out what ANZ has to offer. Or take a look at the credit cards below to see if there’s another piece of plastic that might better suit your wallet.
Compare credit cards - last updated February 27, 2021
- Apply By May 31, 2021
Bendigo Bank Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
11.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)$45-CompareCompareLow Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 13.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $45
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 0.50%, Min $3.25
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
Bankwest Zero Mastercard
No annual fee and up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Get a notification before your minimum payment is due by setting up Easy Alerts in the Bankwest app.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
17.99% p.a.2.99% p.a. for 9 months and then 17.99% p.a.$0-CompareCompareZero Mastercard
No annual fee and up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Get a notification before your minimum payment is due by setting up Easy Alerts in the Bankwest app.
- Purchase rate
- 17.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 2.99% p.a. for 9 months and then 17.99% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 2.95%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $25.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $4.00
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Zero Mastercard
- Hot DealLimited time cashback offer
Westpac Low Rate
Enjoy 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for the first 24 months. Get $200 cashback with $1k minimum spend on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval. 55 interest free days and low on-going rate of 13.74% on all purchases.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
13.74% p.a.0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)$59-CompareCompareLow Rate
Enjoy 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for the first 24 months. Get $200 cashback with $1k minimum spend on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval. 55 interest free days and low on-going rate of 13.74% on all purchases.
- Purchase rate
- 13.74% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $59
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $2.50, Max $150
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate
ME frank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
11.99% p.a.No current offer$0-CompareComparefrank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- 11.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 2.30%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $10.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $4.00
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the frank Credit Card
- Apply By February 28, 2021
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
19.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)$395 $295 in the first yearQantas Frequent FlyerCompareCompareQantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 130,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
- Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Intro fee
- 295.0
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $395 $295 in the first year
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $2.50
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Credit Cards Awards
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