NEWS & VIEWS

How capping credit card interest rates could save Australians $1.53 billion a year

Australia’s credit card debt has risen to a total of $20.03 billion dollars, according to new RBA statistics out today. It comes as there are growing calls for the federal government to regulate credit card interest rates so there’s a maximum margin with the RBA cash rate, which is 0.10 per cent.

Can I get a personal loan for a holiday?

Following the recent announcement of the New Zealand-Australia travel bubble, and with more destinations set to potentially open up in the future, many Australians may be planning their next holiday… and how they’ll pay for it.

Over 1 million homeowners have never experienced an RBA hike

While the Reserve Bank has left the cash rate unchanged at 0.10 per cent today, a rate hike is on the horizon in 2024 – the same time many homeowners will be coming off a 3-year fixed rate.

COVID-19 amnesty over: Banks to resume reporting bad credit

New research from RateCity shows one in six Australians are worried about their credit scores in light of COVID-19, as banks resume credit reporting.

RBA keeps cash rate on hold – so why are home loan rates still changing?

While lenders have made a flurry of cuts to 2- and 3-year fixed rates in the last month, there has been an increase in the number of lenders hiking 4-year fixed rates.

AMP increases savings rate: which savings account type is the most competitive?

Savers across Australia may feel as if earning a decent interest rate on your savings account nest egg feels next to impossible. But a new offer from AMP is a timely reminder that it pays to shop around and compare your savings account options.

Aussie property prices skyrocket: fastest increase since 1988

Housing prices across the country surged at the fastest increase in 32 years to a new record high. And the current low-rate environment is fuelling the property market fire.

No records broken as home lending makes an unexpected drop in February

The value of new owner-occupier loans dropped almost 2 per cent from the record high reached in January. Compared to the same time last year, however, new lending was up 55 per cent, according to the seasonally adjusted ABS data.

D-Day for JobKeeper: what Australians can do to help survive a drop in income

It’s D-day for the million Australians receiving JobKeeper with COVID relief payments finishing. As a result, Treasury estimates up to 150,000 people could find themselves unemployed.

New superannuation campaign shines light on widening gender gap

Research shows Australian women already retire with significantly less super than men, and Industry Super Australia’s (ISA) new campaign video warns that proposed cuts to super will push women even further behind.

How fast can you fix a credit score, and how do you do it?

Having bad credit may make applying for loans and credit cards feel impossible. But it is possible to recover from a bad credit score, though the length of time it will take may vary. Checking your credit report is often a good start, as is demonstrating your financial responsibility.

How a cashback deal may help cut the cost of refinancing

Research from RateCity shows that a borrower taking advantage of cashback deals may break even before they’ve made their first new mortgage repayment and be $1,398 better off from refinancing.

Some of the best kids savings accounts for March 2021

So, how can Aussie parents hoping to teach children about money and actually find a competitive interest rate to help grow their balances? This is where RateCity’s leaderboards come in.