The pros and cons of going with a broker

Brokers can be a fantastic resource. Brokers can provide tailored advice on your home loan options, based on your personal circumstances and your priorities which can vary from customer to customer.

Will taking a loan repayment pause during COVID-19 affect my credit score?

The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has today announced that customers’ credit scores won’t be affected if they need to defer their loan repayments for up to six months due to COVID-19, provided they were up to date with their repayments beforehand.

Savings Slump: Westpac cuts up to 0.10% off savings account interest rates

Westpac group has today cut savings rates by up to 0.10 per cent even though the RBA left rates on hold last month. Australia’s second largest bank now has a max savings rate of 1.91 per cent, for just five months.

Is it time to fix your home loan?

It’s the age-old question people love to ask: is now the best time to fix? With cash rate at a historic low of 1 per cent, the question of whether to fix or not has become more prevalent than ever.

Banks rake in $4.19 billion in fees from households

Banks charged customers an eye-watering $4.19 billion dollars in bank fees last year, according to the latest figures released from the Reserve Bank of Australia today.

Banks back away from risky business

Banks continue to turn their backs on riskier home loans, as the value of new interest-only and low doc loans hit record lows, according to APRA data released today.

What to do with unwanted Christmas gifts

We've all received Christmas gifts that we didn't want. Indeed, one survey found that a quarter of people couldn't name a single enjoyable gift they'd ever gotten.

Can the new Code of Practice restore the reputation of the Banks?

Aussies everywhere, unless they are in the minority of mattress money hoarders, will likely be happy to know about the initiation of a new banking Code of Practice, approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on Tuesday this week.

What is the Pension Loans Scheme?

The Pension Loans Scheme allows people who are at the age pension age to apply for a loan from the government to supplement their retirement, effectively functioning as a reverse mortgage.

ING scraps international fees: now the pressure is on the Big 4 to follow suit

ING has today scrapped all international ATM, credit and debit card charges for their customers. This includes ATM withdrawal fees, ATM currency conversion fees, international purchase fees on debit cards and a refund of any overseas third party ATM fees.