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 February 27, 2021
Bonus Saver Account
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
1.20% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)0.10% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2021 in the Regular Saver category.^ No monthly account fees and no minimum balance requirements.
CompareCompareBonus Saver Account
Winner of a Mozo Experts Choice Award 2021 in the Regular Saver category.^ No monthly account fees and no minimum balance requirements.
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Bonus rate when at least $20 is deposited each month and five Visa Debit transactions are made each month using linked Everyday or Glide transaction accounts.
- Access
- BPay, 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 Bonus Saver Account
Serious Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
0.30% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)0.15% p.a.(for $0 and over)Yes up to $250,000No withdrawals in the month. Bonus rate for first 4 months, reverting to 0.15% rate after*
$0 monthly account fee. Link to any Australian bank account.
CompareCompareSerious Saver
$0 monthly account fee. Link to any Australian bank account.
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- No withdrawals in the month. Bonus rate for first 4 months, reverting to 0.15% rate after*
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Serious Saver
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.
- 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
Flexi Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
0.25% p.a. (for $0 to $5,000,000)0.05% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)Yes up to $250,000Increase balance by at least $300 in the month
No upfront or ongoing fees. Unlimited free transactions. Great for regular contributions.
CompareCompareFlexi Saver
No upfront or ongoing fees. Unlimited free transactions. Great for regular contributions.
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Increase balance by at least $300 in the month (excluding interest)
- Access
- BPay, Branch access, Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Flexi Saver
Hero Saver
Maximum rate
standard interest rate
Govt Deposit Guarantee
0.80% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)0.01% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)Yes up to $250,000Minimum deposit of $200 and no withdrawals in the month.
Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Automatic payment feature. No minimum opening balance needed.
CompareCompareHero Saver
Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Automatic payment feature. No minimum opening balance needed.
- account fee per month
- $0.00
- Maximum rate conditions
- Minimum deposit of $200 and no withdrawals in the month.
- Access
- Phone banking, Internet banking
- Minimum balance
- $0.00
- Other restrictions
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Hero Saver
^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Accounts Awards
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