RBA holds interest rates steady at 1.50% for spring
The Reserve Bank announced at its September board meeting that interest rates would remain on hold at a low of 1.50%.
Although this month is a reprieve in the downward slide of the official cash rate, which has been hitting record lows recently, and in May 2016 dropped below 2.00% for the first time ever, experts are predicting another cut later in the year, with expectations that interest rates may reach as low as 1% next year.
In a statement, RBA Governor Glenn Stevens said “Low interest rates have been supporting domestic demand and the lower exchange rate since 2013 is helping the traded sector. Financial institutions are in a position to lend for worthwhile purposes."
"These factors are all assisting the economy to make the necessary economic adjustments, though an appreciating exchange rate could complicate this.”
Stevens will step down as Governor on September 17 after 10 years leading the Reserve Bank board. His deputy, Philip Lowe, will take over the position.
A perfect time for home loan hopefuls?
With rates on hold at a low 1.50% for the coming month, it’s the perfect time for new homebuyers to pick up a low rate home loan offer.
Our database shows that 70 lenders passed on some or all of the 25 basis point cut from August, bringing the most competitive rates in the market to well under the 4% mark. We’ve rounded up the best offers below:
Best variable rate home loan offers
Product | Variable rate | Comparison rate |
---|---|---|
Reduce Home Loans Rate Buster Variable | 3.35% | 3.42% |
Homestar Owner Occupier Loan | 3.44% | 3.49% |
Reduce Home Loans Rate Buster Offset Variable | 3.44% | 3.51% |
Homestar Variable Rate Loan | 3.48% | 3.53% |
*All home loans rates based on owner occupiers with an LVR of 80%
Best fixed rate home loan offers
- 1 year fixed rate: 3.59% Greater Bank (Comparison rate 4.42%)
- 2 year fixed rate: 3.69% Bankwest (Comparison rate 4.29%), Newcastle Permanent (Comparison rate 4.75%), Mystate (Comparison rate 4.91%)
- 3 year fixed rate: 3.59% Police Credit Union (Comparison rate 4.81%), Bank of Queensland (Comparison rate 4.98%).
- 4 year fixed rate: 3.74% Greater Bank (Comparison rate 4.34%)
- 5 year fixed rate: 3.74% Greater Bank (Comparison rate 4.32%)
You can find all the other great home loan offers available in our home loan comparison table.
Savers are feeling the pinch
It’s been another rough month for savers, as heaps of lenders, including all four big banks, as well as other major players like Bankwest, ING Direct, UBank and ME dropped rates on their savings products by 25 basis points.
This is bad news for beleaguered savers, although there are still some providers offering a decent return, for those who know where to look. Take a look at some of the best options below:
Best savings accounts
Product | Interest rate | Special conditions |
---|---|---|
Australian Unity Easy Saver | 3.20% | Introductory rate for the first 4 months |
RAMS Saver Account | 3.15% | Ongoing bonus rate when you make no withdrawals and deposit at least $200 each month. |
ME Online Savings Account | 3.10% | Ongoing bonus rate if you make a weekly Tap & Go purchase with the debit card attached to your ME Everyday Transaction Account |
Citibank Online Saver | 3.05% | Introductory rate for the first 4 months |
Bank Australia Bonus Saver | 3.00% | Ongoing bonus rate when you make no withdrawals and deposit at least $100 each month. |
Visit our savings hub to check out all the other great places to stash your cash and compare savings accounts side-by-side.
The real news for savers was in term deposits, where the major banks actually increased rates over the last month. Terms shorter than 1 year still suffered from rate drops, but for savers willing to lock their cash away for terms longer than a year, rate rises outweighed cuts across the board.
Best term deposits
Term | Provider | Rate |
---|---|---|
3 months | Arab Bank | 3.10% |
6 months | ME | 3.00% |
7 months | Newcastle Permanent,Maitland Mutual Building Society | 3.00% |
1 year | Gateway Credit Union | 3.11% |
2 years | ANZ,People's Choice Credit Union | 3.20% |
To see the other term deposits offering Aussies a chance to grow their savings stash, check out our term deposit comparison table.
Read last month's Reserve Bank interest rates update.
-
Promoted
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Unloan Variable Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 20% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.65
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
- RATE CUT NOW LIVE!
- The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
- No application or banking fees
- interest rate
-
5.74% p.a. (5.65% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
Rate automatically discounted by 0.01% p.a. every year up to a maximum discount of 0.30% p.a..
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Unloan home loans
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Promoted
Basic Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 40% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.89
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.91
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,962
- No ongoing fees
- Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online
- No account management fees
- interest rate
-
5.89% p.a. (5.91% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Promoted
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- First Home Buyer Loan - 2025
Variable Home Loan 90
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 10% min deposit
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.79
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.83
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,931
- RATE CUT NOW LIVE!
- No monthly or ongoing fees
- Option to add an offset for 0.10% p.a.
- interest rate
-
5.79% p.a. (5.83% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$530
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
90.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$50,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$2,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$0.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Offset sub-account available for additional +0.10%. $300 discharge fee and $250 discharge documentation fee applicable if loan doesnt go to full term.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about loans.com.au home loans
Go to site
-
Switch & Save One Year Fixed Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.54
%
p.a.
Fixed 1 year
- Comparison rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,852
- No penalty for early payout
- No penalty for making additional payments
- 100% Savings Offset facility
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.54% p.a. (5.74% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.64% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$1,555
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$300.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
-
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$900,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$100.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Transport Mutual Credit Union home loans
Go to site -
Basic Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 30% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
5.85
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
- No ongoing fees
- Free redraw from your loan using Macquarie Online.
- No application or account management fees
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (5.89% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (5.85% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (5.82% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.84% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.83% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.89% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Offset Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 30% min deposit
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.55
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.08
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,855
- Open up to 10 offset accounts
- No fee to redraw or split into multiple loan accounts
- Variable and fixed rates available
- interest rate
-
1 year - 5.69% p.a. (6.12% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.08% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.55% p.a. (6.05% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.07% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.06% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.89% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$350
- Ongoing fees
-
$248.00 yearly
- Discharge Fee
-
$400.00
- Package
-
Package
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
70.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - up to $10,000 p.a.
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Macquarie home loans
Go to site -
Switch and Save Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- Offset available
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.64
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.75
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,883
- No penalty for early payout
- No penalty for making additional payments
- 100% Savings Offset facility
- interest rate
-
5.64% p.a. (5.75% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$1,555
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$300.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
-
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$100,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$900,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$100.00
- Offset account
-
yes
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Transport Mutual Credit Union home loans
Go to site -
Fixed Home Loan
- Fixed rate
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 5% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Cashback
- Interest rate
-
5.69
%
p.a.
Fixed 2 years
- Comparison rate
-
6.00
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,899
- Get up to $4,000 cashback (T&Cs apply)
- Up to 12 months repayments in advance without penalties
- Split loan available
- interest rate
-
1 year - 6.19% p.a. (6.08% p.a. comparison rate)
2 years - 5.69% p.a. (6.00% p.a. comparison rate)
3 years - 5.69% p.a. (5.98% p.a. comparison rate)
4 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.03% p.a. comparison rate)
5 years - 5.89% p.a. (6.03% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
5.99% p.a.
- Upfront fees
-
$799
- Ongoing fees
-
$6.00 monthly
- Discharge Fee
-
$350.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
95.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$5,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Fixed
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free up to 1 year in advance
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$500.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Monthly fee only applies to fixed period of loan.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
$4,000 cashback for loans $750,000 and above with a maximum LVR of 80%, settled within 90 days of application for refinancers or 180 for purchase loans. $3,000 for loans between $500k and $749k, $2,000 for loans between $250k and $499k.
Read reviews and learn more about IMB Bank home loans
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Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Unloan Variable Home Loan
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 20% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.65
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
- RATE CUT NOW LIVE!
- The first home loan with an increasing discount (conditions apply)
- No application or banking fees
- interest rate
-
5.74% p.a. (5.65% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$0.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
80.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$10,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$10,000,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
-
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
no
- Other restrictions
-
-
- Other benefits
-
Rate automatically discounted by 0.01% p.a. every year up to a maximum discount of 0.30% p.a..
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about Unloan home loans
Go to site -
Mozo experts choice awards won:
- Low Cost Home Loan - 2025
Simple Home Loan Variable
- Owner occupier
- Principal & Interest
- 40% min deposit
- Redraw available
- Interest rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
Variable
- Comparison rate
-
5.74
%
p.a.
- Initial monthly repayment
-
$2,915
- No application, ongoing or monthly fees
- Make additional repayments at any time
- Access your money via internet banking at any time
- interest rate
-
5.74% p.a. (5.74% p.a. comparison rate)
- Fixed loan revert rate
-
n/a
- Upfront fees
-
$0
- Ongoing fees
-
$0.00
- Discharge Fee
-
$175.00
- Package
-
-
- Maximum loan to value ratio
-
60.00%
- minimum borrowing amount
-
$150,000
- maximum borrowing amount
-
$3,500,000
- type of mortgage
-
Variable
- Repayment types
-
Principal & Interest
- Availability
-
Owner Occupier
- Repayment options
-
Weekly, Fortnightly, Monthly
- Extra repayments
-
yes - free
- Redraw facility
-
yes - free
- Minimum redraw amount
-
$0.00
- Offset account
-
no
- Split account
-
yes
- Other restrictions
-
Valuation and legal fees covered up to $1,000. Anything above this charged at cost.
- Other benefits
-
-
- Special Offers
-
-
Read reviews and learn more about First Option Bank home loans
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Your selected reserve bank interest rates
* 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.
Mozo provides general product information. We don't consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs and we aren't recommending any specific product to you. You should make your own decision after reading the PDS or offer documentation, or seeking independent advice.
While we pride ourselves on covering a wide range of products, we don't cover every product in the market. If you decide to apply for a product through our website, you will be dealing directly with the provider of that product and not with Mozo.