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
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Apply By 1 Jul 2025
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points1 when you apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.
Purchase rate
23.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
No current offerAnnual fee
$450Rewards program
Qantas Frequent FlyerCompareCompareQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points1 when you apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Ultimate Card within the first 3 months of your approval date. T&Cs apply. Available for new American Express Card Members only.
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Annual fee
- $450
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- Up to 44
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $450
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, min $2.50
Read reviews and learn more about American Express credit cards
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NAB Low Rate Card - Cash Back Offer
Score $400 Cashback when you spend $5,000 on purchases within 150 days from account opening (T&Cs apply). 0% p.a. on balance transfers (BT) for 12 months. A 3% balance transfer fee applies. Unpaid balance transfer reverts to variable cash advance rate. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases when you pay your account in full by the monthly due date.
Purchase rate
13.49% p.a.Balance transfer rate
0% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.74% p.a. (3.00% balance transfer fee)Annual fee
$59Rewards program
-CompareCompareLow Rate Card - Cash Back Offer
Score $400 Cashback when you spend $5,000 on purchases within 150 days from account opening (T&Cs apply). 0% p.a. on balance transfers (BT) for 12 months. A 3% balance transfer fee applies. Unpaid balance transfer reverts to variable cash advance rate. Up to 55 days interest free on purchases when you pay your account in full by the monthly due date.
- Purchase rate
- 13.49% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.74% p.a. (3.00% balance transfer fee)
- Annual fee
- $59
- Rewards program
- -
- Purchase rate
- 13.49% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.74% p.a. (3.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- Up to 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.50%
- Annual card fee
- $59
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 3%, Min $3 whichever is greater
Read reviews and learn more about NAB credit cards
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American Express Velocity Escape Plus Card
Receive 30,000 bonus Velocity Points1 when you apply online by 30 April 2025, are approved, and spend $1,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Velocity Escape Plus Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
Purchase rate
23.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
No current offerAnnual fee
$95Rewards program
Velocity Frequent FlyerCompareCompareVelocity Escape Plus Card
Receive 30,000 bonus Velocity Points1 when you apply online by 30 April 2025, are approved, and spend $1,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Velocity Escape Plus Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Annual fee
- $95
- Rewards program
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- Up to 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $95
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- -
Read reviews and learn more about American Express credit cards
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Apply By 1 Jul 2025
American Express Explorer® Credit Card
Receive 75,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Explorer® Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
Purchase rate
23.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
No current offerAnnual fee
$395Rewards program
Membership RewardsCompareCompareExplorer® Credit Card
Receive 75,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved, and spend $4,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Explorer® Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Annual fee
- $395
- Rewards program
- Membership Rewards
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- Up to 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $395
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, min $2.50
Read reviews and learn more about American Express credit cards
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Apply By 6 May 2025
American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card
Receive 60,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online by 6 May 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
Purchase rate
23.99% p.a.Balance transfer rate
No current offerAnnual fee
$108Rewards program
Membership RewardsCompareCompareEssential® Rewards Credit Card
Receive 60,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points when you apply online by 6 May 2025, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new American Express Essential® Rewards Credit Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Annual fee
- $108
- Rewards program
- Membership Rewards
- Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- Up to 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $108
- Late payment fee
- $30.00
- Cash advance fee
- not available
Read reviews and learn more about American Express credit cards
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