A flat market: how you can still get a great deal on your summer personal loan

From crafting Christmas carol playlists and putting the finishing touches on Christmas trees, Aussies are officially in the festive mood.

But while the nation hunts for the best deals on Christmas goodies, it’s not clear yet whether personal loan lenders will be getting into the Christmas spirit.

According to the Mozo database, there were few changes recorded for personal loan offers in November and no clear trend.

“November was quite the dull month for personal loans and although it seems settled for now, I wouldn’t be surprised if providers start cutting rates in the lead up to Christmas,” said Mozo Product Data Manager, Peter Marshall.

RELATED: Get Christmas ready with these 4 great personal loan deals

Nice list

One major rate change was HSBC, cutting its fixed Unsecured Personal Loan from 9.50% to 8.50%, making it one of the 10 cheapest fixed rates in the Mozo database.  

St George, Bank of Melbourne and Bank SA are also now waiving the $195 application fee on both fixed and variable Unsecured Personal Loan offers.

“With HSBC cutting their personalised fixed rate to start from 8.50%, it could be just the start for the range of new offers we’ll see this month,” said Marshall.

RELATED: 5 non-bank personal loan lenders you need to know about

Naughty list

However, a not so nice change was Heritage Bank, hiking both its Car Loan fixed rate from 5.99% to 6.99% and its Standard Personal Loan fixed rate (9.99% to 10.99%) in November, while SCU reintroduced its $100 application fee on its Special Offer Unsecured Personal Loan.

Despite the personal loan market looking flat, Marshall has reminded Aussies to exercise patience when it comes to finding a hot deal.

“While it might not seem like it now, December and January are the months where things start to heat up in the market,” he said.

“Whether it’s to help pay for Christmas, getting great end-of-year deal on a new car, a holiday or even a summer renovation, providers know this and will likely start sharpening their rates to get as much business as they can.”

RELATED: How to fund your once in a lifetime trip with a great personal loan

If you’re looking to lock in a great offer now, it still pays to do your research and look beyond the big banks.

“In the past we’ve found that smaller providers often offer customers great value on their financial products,” explained Marshall.

“Our 2018 Mozo Experts Choice Personal Loan Awards are a true testament to that, as we found that majority of our winners were either small players, peer-to-peer lenders or credit unions.”

So if you’re ready to pick up a personal loan this month, start your search by checking out some great offers down below or by heading over to our personal loan comparison tool.

5 summer personal loan options - last updated 29 March 2024

Search promoted personal loans below or do a full Mozo database search. Advertiser disclosure
  • Mozo Expert Choice Badge
    Unsecured Personal Loan

    Fixed

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    6.75% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.
    6.75% p.a.to 26.95% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Borrow up to $50,000 unsecured. Perfect if you earn more than $22,100 p.a. and have good to excellent credit. Multi-year winner of Mozo’s Experts Choice Unsecured Personal Loan Award, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024^'

    Repayment terms from 2 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 6.75% would cost $35,430.23 including fees.

    Compare
    Details
  • Unsecured Personal Loan

    Fixed

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    5.76% p.a.to 24.03% p.a.
    6.55% p.a.to 24.98% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Fast, easy and 100% online, this is a low cost loan with no ongoing fees or extra repayment penalties. It's perfect for savvy borrowers with great credit. If you’re over 18 and earn above $30,000, you could qualify (other eligibility criteria may apply).

    Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 5.76% would cost $35,173.52 including fees.

    Compare
    Details
  • Express Personal Loan

    Secured

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    14.95% p.a.to 27.95% p.a.
    29.30% p.a.to 42.8% p.a.based on $10,000
    over 3 years

    Access fast finance on loans from $5,000 to $25,000 with a Jacaranda Finance Personal Loan. Terms from 24-48 months. Check if you qualify with no impact on your credit score. Enjoy a speedy, online approval.

    Repayment terms from 2 years to 4 years. Representative example: a 3 year $10,000 loan at 14.95% would cost $14,324.71 including fees.

    Compare
    Details
  • Debt Consolidation Loan

    interest rate
    comparison rate
    Monthly repayment
    5.76% p.a.to 24.03% p.a.
    6.57% p.a.to 24.99% p.a.based on $30,000
    over 5 years

    Roll multiple debts into one loan to streamline your finances with one set of repayments and one interest rate. Competitive fixed interest rates with no monthly or early repayment fees and flexible repayment options. Easy online application and funding in as little as 24 hours (subject to approval).

    Repayment terms from 3 years to 7 years. Representative example: a 5 year $30,000 loan at 5.76% would cost $35,173.52 including fees.

    Compare
    Details

* WARNING: The Comparison Rate combines the lender's interest rate, fees and charges into a single rate to show the true cost of a personal loan. The comparison rates displayed are calculated based on a loan of $30,000 for a term of 5 years or a loan of $10,000 for a term of 3 years as indicated, based on monthly principal and interest repayments, on a secured basis for secured loans and an unsecured basis for unsecured loans. 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.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Personal Loan Awards

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