RBA December decision: Christmas cheer as cash rate remains at 2.50%

By Mozo Editorial · · 2 min read
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The RBA board decided not to play Christmas grinch today at its December board meeting, leaving the official cash rate on hold at 2.50%.

Governor Glenn Stevens said "recent information is consistent with global growth running a bit below average this year, with reasonable prospects of a pick-up next year...the Board will continue to assess the outlook and adjust policy as needed."

Will the banks be naughty or nice?

While the RBA has left rates untouched for another two months, that doesn’t mean that Australia’s banks and credit unions are going to do the same. While there has been little movement on variable rates, last month we saw long term fixed rates jump, with the average 5 year fixed rate 6 basis points higher.

The cheapest five year fixed rate on the market is now 5.44% with Mortgage House or Intouch Finance, while the cheapest one year fixed rate is 3.99% (5.35% comparison) with IMB (for loans of more than $300,00 with an LVR of less than 90%.

Just because the RBA didn’t move on rates it doesn’t mean that its a time for complacency. Even small cuts in interest rates can make a big difference to your holiday shopping budget. For instance, say you have a $300,000 home loan with an interest rate of 5.12%. By switching to a loan just .50% points lower at 4.62%, you could save an extra $87 a month, or enough to pay for Christmas next year with an annual savings of $1044. Why not see how much you could save with our home loan comparison calculator?

Switching is easier than ever with Mozo’s Home Loan Negotiator service. We have pre-negotiated rates starting from 6.64% (4.66% comparison) so let our expert hagglers wrangle the best possible deal for you and your money.

Cheers to savers

It’s been a tough year for savers this year as we watched the record low rates wipe away our interest earnings. Cheers to your persistent efforts and cheers goes to the banks which are still offering great rates. Here are our top picks:

Read last month's Reserve Bank interest rates update.

Top home loans - last updated 25 April 2024

Search promoted home loans below or do a full Mozo database search. Advertiser disclosure
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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.

^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Home Loan Awards

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