AUSTRALIA: Major bank slashes fixed term rates

PHOTO: Sydney, Australia. BLOOMBERG

One of Australia’s major banks is slashing its fixed-term loan deals despite predictions the RBA will lift the cash rate on Tuesday.

ING will decrease most of its fixed interest rates for both owner-occupiers and investors after tomorrow.

Fixed-rate loans of just one year won‘t have rates reduced, however, those who want to fix their rate for two or three years will be offered a rate that’s 0.2 per cent lower.

Those who want to fix their rates for four to five years will see a 0.3 per cent drop.

ING have lowered most fixed rate loans by 0.20 or 0.30 per cent. Source: ING

Some of the lower fixed-term interest rates offered by ING are competitive according to RateCity.com.au research director Sally Tindall, however, that‘s not the case with all of the loans offered.

“Even after these rate cuts on fixed rates from ING, they‘re are still significantly higher than others, but in some, they’re quite competitive,” Ms Tindall said.

Ms Tindall noted that the one-year fixed-term loans at 5.39 per cent would not be reduced, and are a “far cry higher” than what‘s being offered by Bank Australia at 4.64 per cent.

ING is still being outperformed on fixed rate loans by market leaders according to RateCity.com.au. Source: RateCity.com.au

“They get more competitive in the two-year category and the four-year category.

“They‘re stepping up the competition in this case, but it’s still worth shopping around.”

ING’s two-year fixed rate will be slashed by 0.2 to sit at 5.49 per cent after tomorrow, which is still higher than the 5.19 per cent offered by Police Bank.

For its four-year fixed rate, ING will now offer 5.59 per cent after lowering it by 0.3 per cent, which is higher than the 5.39 per cent offered by IMB.

Craig McDonald, owner of CBM Mortgages, said: “We are finding most new clients are opting for variable rates right now when you present to them variable and fixed options because of the much higher fixed rates being offered.

“As for existing mortgage holders, it’s paying to shop around. Clients falling off a fixed rate will find significant differences between existing and new lenders.

“Some of the differences in the variable rates offered can be 0.4% or more, which on any size loan is going to make a big difference to the repayment and the household budget.”

RBA Governor Phil Lowe is expected to announce another 0.25 per cent rise to the cash rate tomorrow, after months of consecutive rate rises. Britta Campion / The Australian

The Reserve Bank is expected to raise the cash rate by another 25 basis points after its December meeting on Tuesday.

That would take it to 3.10 per cent, the highest rate in over a decade.

Ms Tindall noted that the number of Australians opting to fix their mortgages has plummeted since its peak over the Covid-19 pandemic.

“They‘re just not opting for fixed rates at this moment because it’s a gamble, if someone is wedded to the idea of paying as little interest as possible, I can understand their nervousness for locking in their interest rates at this time,” she said.