Savings rates set to plummet further as October RBA cut looms
The Reserve Bank’s monthly meeting takes place tomorrow, and homebuyers and mortgage holders are waiting with bated breath for another reduction to official interest rates.
Of course, the inverse of all this is that savings rates are also set to drop. Assuming banks reduce their rates by 0.25%, an October cut would bring the average interest rate for savings accounts down to 0.90%.
“With a third, and possibly a fourth cut likely this year, there is significant downward pressure on savings rates,” said Mozo interest rate expert Peter Marshall.
“A 25 basis point cut next week could sound the death knell for some of the most popular standard savings accounts in the country.”
How much have the big banks cut already?
Since June’s cut, we’ve seen reductions to savings accounts from all 77 deposit-takers in our database. Even some of the highest interest savings accounts have lost some of the glimmer they had earlier in the year.
The big banks have certainly been leading the charge. All up, ANZ, CommBank, NAB and Westpac have hacked off between 0.30% and 0.45% from their average savings rates following both June and July’s rate cuts:
- ANZ cut 0.30%
- CommBank cut 0.35%
- NAB cut 0.45%
- Westpac cut 0.35%
It’s safe to say the interest rate environment isn’t going to change course any time soon, so savers are going to have to settle in for the long haul.
Right now, it pays to know what kinds of rates are out there so you can switch if you’re getting subpar returns from your current account. Our savings account comparison page is a good place to start.
“If you are looking for a savings account, currently the leading ongoing bonus rate in our database is 2.50% available through the Bank of Queensland or online banks 86 400 and Up. That’s 1.35% higher than the average,” said Marshall.
“If you don’t need to access your savings on a regular basis you could also consider hedging against a further official rate cut by switching to a fixed term deposit.”
So if you’re eyeing term deposits - which are a good way to guard against falling rates - our term deposit comparison page can help you find the right one.
Savings account comparisons on Mozo - last updated 23 October 2021
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Boost Saver with Go Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.50% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Intro bonus rate of 1.50% for first 3 months, reverting to 1.20% after. Deposit $2,000 each month and make 5 eligible payments from your Go Account. If you are between 18 and 25 deposit $1,000.
Enjoy a savings account bundled with a spending account. No monthly fees. New customers can earn up to 5000 bonus Virgin Money points on purchases (conditions apply). Benefit together with a joint account
CompareCompareBoost Saver with Go Account
Enjoy a savings account bundled with a spending account. No monthly fees. New customers can earn up to 5000 bonus Virgin Money points on purchases (conditions apply). Benefit together with a joint account
- Maximum rate
- 1.50% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Intro bonus rate of 1.50% for first 3 months, reverting to 1.20% after. Bonus interest only applies when you deposit $2,000 into your Go Account and make 5 debit card purchases, direct debit or BPAY payments in the previous month. If you are between 18 and 25 you need to deposit $1,000 and fulfil the other criteria.
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Bank and savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app. Bonus introductory interest rate of 1.50% available for accounts opened by 30 Nov 2021.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Boost Saver with Go Account
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Online Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
No account keeping fees. No minimum balance required. Unlimited phone and internet transactions.
CompareCompareOnline Saver
No account keeping fees. No minimum balance required. Unlimited phone and internet transactions.
- Maximum rate
- 1.10% p.a. (for $0 to $500,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.35% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Must link to a transaction account.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Online Saver
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Grow Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
0.65% p.a. (for $0 and over)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Make at least 1 deposit and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments.
Earn a maximum interest rate of 0.65% per year. Pay no monthly fees. Set up in-app savings goals. Benefit with joint account options.
CompareCompareGrow Saver
Earn a maximum interest rate of 0.65% per year. Pay no monthly fees. Set up in-app savings goals. Benefit with joint account options.
- Maximum rate
- 0.65% p.a. (for $0 and over)
- standard interest rate
- 0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Make at least 1 deposit and no more than 1 withdrawal, including internal transfers or external payments.
- Access
- BPay, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- Savings account only accessible through iOS or Android app.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Grow Saver
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Fast Track Saver Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)Yes up to $250,000Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
Earn 1.05% p.a. Bonus Interest in the following month on your Fast Track Saver Account balance. Earn Bonus Interest on your savings, with no minimum balance required.
CompareCompareFast Track Saver Account
Earn 1.05% p.a. Bonus Interest in the following month on your Fast Track Saver Account balance. Earn Bonus Interest on your savings, with no minimum balance required.
- Maximum rate
- 1.05% p.a. (for $1 to $250,000)
- standard interest rate
- 0.05% p.a.(for $1 and over)
- Govt Deposit Guarantee
- Yes up to $250,000
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Ongoing bonus rate applied if in the previous month $1,000 or more is credited to the linked Day2Day Plus account and 5 eligible transactions are made by the linked account.
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $1.00
- Other restrictions
- Bonus interest rate criteria is effective from 1 February 2020.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Fast Track Saver Account
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