Which banks have cut savings rates following the March RBA decision?

The first RBA rate cut of the year is behind us, and already we’ve seen plenty of activity on the home loan front. But while reductions to official interest rates come as good news for mortgage holders, they’re less likely to be appreciated by the nation’s savers.

That’s because when banks make cuts to home loan rates, cuts to savings accounts usually follow. And with so many banks opting to reduce home loan rates by 0.25% this month, anyone who relies on interest on their savings for income has little to be optimistic about. 

How have the big banks responded?

Among the major banks, Commonwealth Bank was the first to budge. Less than a week after we received word it will be slashing home loan rates by 0.25%, the big bank announced it will be cutting savings rates in kind.

Ongoing interest rates for the CommBank GoalSaver Account will now sit at 0.65% p.a. for balances less than $50,000, and 1.00% p.a. for balances between $50,000 and $249,000.

UBank, ING and ME also make cuts

A few days after the RBA’s decision, UBank announced it will be making cuts to its range of deposits. On 9 March, base rates for the Personal USaver, USaver SMSF and USaver Reach dropped by 0.25%.

That means the maximum rate customers will receive when pairing the USaver with the Ultra Transaction Account now sits at 1.85% p.a., assuming account holders meet the monthly bonus rate criteria.

According to UBank, the decision aims to “strike the right balance between delivering great value to our customers, responding to changing marketing conditions and managing our business sustainably.”

Elsewhere, ING has moved to cut rates for its Savings Accelerator and Business Optimiser by 0.25%. The Savings Accelerator will now offer rates of 0.75% on balances between $50,000 and $150,000, and 1.25% p.a. on balances above $150,000.

Citi was also among the first wave of banks to cut rates, slashing ongoing rates for its Online Saver account by 0.25%. As of 6 March, it will come with a 2.05% p.a. introductory rate, which lasts for four months before reverting to 0.60% p.a.

Rounding out the list are RaboBank and ME. RaboBank’s High Interest Savings Account will drop 0.25%, while its SMSF accounts will see larger reductions of 0.35%.

Meanwhile, base rates for the ME Online Savings Account will drop from 0.35% to 0.10% p.a. That brings the maximum rate savers can earn (by making at least four tap and go payments each month) down to 1.80% p.a.

Xinja keeps rates unchanged, halts customer inflow

Neobank Xinja raised a few eyebrows when it announced it won’t be dropping rates for its Stash savings account, but will be halting onboarding of all new customers for the time being. 

CEO Eric Wilson said the decision to pause new accounts was the bank’s way of prioritising existing customers, who will continue to receive market leading rates of 2.25% p.a.

“When faced with higher than expected deposit flows, and an RBA rate cut, most banks would just drop deposit interest rates, hurting existing customers while chasing new ones. That’s not what Xinja is about,” he said.

Who offers the highest savings account rates?

While we’re still waiting on decisions from most banks to come through, it’s worth taking a look at where rates currently sit. Below are the top five best value savings accounts in our database at the time of writing.

BankMaximum rateAccountConditions
86 4002.25% p.a.Save AccountDeposit $1,000+ per month
Up2.25% p.a.Saver AccountMake 5+ card purchases per month using a linked Up debit card
Volt2.15% p.a.Savings AccountNone
BoQ2.00% p.a.Fast Track Saver AccountDeposit $1,000+ and make 5+ eligible transactions with linked account
Australian Unity2.00% p.a.Active SaverDeposit $250+ and make no withdrawals in the month

If your bank has made cuts and you’re wondering how the new rates stack up against other accounts on the market, be sure to visit our savings account comparison page for an overview.

Savings account comparisons on Mozo - last updated 29 March 2024

Search promoted savings accounts below or do a full Mozo database search. Advertiser disclosure
  • Savings Account

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    4.75% p.a.(for $0 to $1,000,000)

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    Bonus variable rate is available for the first four months.

    Competitive introductory variable rate for first 4 months (on deposits up to $250,000). No account keeping fees to pay. Multiple 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.

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    High Interest Savings Account

    5.75% p.a. (for $0 to $250,001)

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    Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening

    Reward yourself with a higher rate for your good savings habits with the Rabobank High Interest Savings Account . Receive the maximum rate when you grow your balance by at least $200 each month. No Account keeping fees. No minimum balance.

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    5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $1,000,000)

    0% p.a.(for $0 and over)

    Yes up to $250,000

    Intro bonus rate of 5.25% for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months, reverting to 3.25%. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals.

    Introductory bonus rate for balances up to $1,000,000 for the first 4 months. Minimum deposit of $50 and no withdrawals. Start your account online in under 10 minutes and earn interest on balances up to $1,000,000 (T&Cs apply). No monthly account fees, helping you save smarter and faster.

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  • Reward Saver

    5.25% p.a. (for $0 to $100,000)

    0.30% p.a.(for $0 and over)

    Yes up to $250,000

    Earn a high interest bonus rate if you hold an eligible transaction account and meet the bonus rate conditions (T&Cs apply). Only requires $1 to open. Free e-banking transactions. No monthly service fees to pay. Access your account via e-banking or the Bendigo Bank app. Not applicable to business customers.

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    AMP Saver Account

    5.40% p.a. (for $0 to $250,000)

    1.20% p.a.(for $0 to $5,000,000)

    Yes up to $250,000

    Enjoy a bonus rate when you deposit at least $1000 per month with the AMP Saver Account.

    No account fees. Unlimited transactions when linked to an AMP Bank transaction account. Easy online access to your money. Option to link your savings account to an everyday transaction account. 2024 Mozo Experts Choice Award winner.

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^See information about the Mozo Experts Choice Savings Account Awards

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