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- NAB hikes lowest variable rate for new customers again
NAB hikes lowest variable rate for new customers again
NAB has today increased the rate of its basic variable mortgage by 0.15 percentage points for new customers with big deposits.
This is the second time the bank has lifted this rate in just over a month, after it went up by 0.10 percentage points on Friday 28 July.
This means the new customer rate for those with big deposits has risen by 0.25 percentage points in this time. Existing customers are not impacted.
Today’s change to NAB’s Base Variable Rate
| Deposit size | Old rate | New rate | Change %-pts |
| 20 per cent | 6.34% | 6.49% | +0.15 |
| Less than 20 per cent | 7.19% | 7.19% | 0.00 |
Source: RateCity.com.au. Rates are for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest.
As a result of today’s increase, NAB now has the highest basic variable rate out of the big four, even when considering Westpac’s introductory rate of 5.99 per cent for two years only.
Big four banks’ advertised basic variable rates
| Rate type | CBA | Westpac | NAB | ANZ |
| Basic variable | 6.34% | 5.99% for 2yrs
then +0.40% | 6.49% | 6.19% |
Source: RateCity.com.au. Rates are for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest. LVR requirements apply.
The big four banks collectively have now increased at least one advertised new customer variable rate on 21 occasions since 1 March 2023, in addition to the standard RBA hikes.
As a result, someone taking out NAB’s lowest rate loan today will pay 0.50 percentage points more than an existing customer who took the same loan out at the start of the year. This assumes the existing customer has not negotiated the loan in this time period.
Variable rate hikes from the big four banks since 1 March 2023
Note: these hikes are in addition to RBA increases
| Date | Bank | Loan | Change (in addition to RBA hikes) %-pts |
| 1 March 23 | CBA | Basic variable | up to 0.10 |
| 1 Mar + 10Mar 23 | NAB | Basic variable | up to 0.20 |
| 25 March 23 | CBA | Basic variable | up to 0.70 |
| 28 March 23 | ANZ | Basic variable | up to 0.21 |
| 31 March 23 | CBA | Package loan | up to 0.20 |
| 13 April 23 | Westpac | Basic variable | 0.10 |
| 14 April 23 | CBA | Package loan | up to 0.12 |
| 21 April 23 | ANZ | Basic variable | up to 0.10 |
| 28 April 23 | NAB | Basic variable | up to 0.05 |
| 12 May 23 | CBA | Basic + package | up to 0.10 |
| 23 May 23 | NAB | Basic variable | up to 0.10 |
| 24 May 23 | CBA | Package loan | up to 0.10 |
| 16 June 23 | CBA | Basic variable | up to 0.10 |
| 23 June 23 | CBA | Package loan | up to 0.10 |
| 23 June 23 | Westpac | Basic variable | 0.15 |
| 14 July 23 | CBA | Basic variable | up to 0.07 |
| 27 July 23 | ANZ | Basic variable | up to 0.15 |
| 28 July 23 | NAB | Basic variable | up to 0.10 |
| 11 August 23 | CBA | Basic variable | up to 0.05 |
| 30 August 23 | NAB | Basic variable | up to 0.15 |
Source: RateCity.com.au
Research from RateCity.com.au shows that over the last month more lenders have increased variable rates than those that have cut for owner occupiers paying principal and interest.
Cuts vs hikes for owner occupiers paying P&I over the last month
| Rate type | Lenders that have cut | Lenders that have hiked |
| Variable | 13 | 24 |
Source: RateCity.com.au
RateCity.com.au research director, Sally Tindall, said: “Another increase from NAB in just over a month might have some new customers thinking twice about who they want to borrow from.
“As a result of this hike, NAB has the least competitive lowest variable rate out of the big four, in a sign it’s all but walking from the fight for new customers,” she said.
“That said, NAB isn’t the only bank increasing new customer variable rates. Over the last month we’ve seen 26 lenders increase at least one rate for owner occupiers paying down their P&I debt.
“The rising cost of funding has become a thorn in many banks’ sides, however there are still a decent handful of lenders willing to post competitive rates in order to win new business.
“Customers looking for a new home loan should do their research to find the most competitive rate for them,” she said.
Lowest ongoing variable rates available on RateCity.com.au database
| Lender | Rate |
| Fire Service Credit Union | 5.39% |
| Arab Bank | 5.45% |
| First Option Bank | 5.49% |
| G&C Mutual | 5.49% |
| Pacific Mortgage Group | 5.54% |
Source: RateCity.com.au. Rates are for owner-occupiers paying principal and interest. LVR requirements apply. Note: Fire Services Credit Union loan limited to emergency services professionals and their families in South Australia only.
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Product database updated 15 May, 2024
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