Credit Score

In Australia, only a very specific list of businesses and lenders can access your credit report - and they must only do so for specific reasons.

Eden Radford -

15 Mar, 2024 -

2 min read

Credit Score

Banks and lenders use your credit scores when deciding whether or not to approve your loan application. Learning your credit score may be the simplest way to identify fraudulent activity and may also encourage you to improve your rating in order to become a more viable candidate for financing.

Peter Terlato -

13 Oct, 2023 -

3 min read

Home Loans

NAB, Australia’s third largest lender, has dropped the advertised rates on its discounted variable home loan, in a strategic move by the bank on how it markets its prices.

Eden Radford -

15 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Whether you’re buying a property or refinancing a mortgage, if you want to get a better interest rate, you may need to actively go hunting rather than waiting for a deal to fall into your lap. Comparing some of the top-rated home loans on RateCity’s database can help make your search a little simpler, as you can see which loans are offering more value and may better suit your needs.

Mark Bristow -

19 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Loans

The value of refinanced home loans staged a small comeback in February, with ABS Lending Indicator data recording a $478 million bump.

Eden Radford -

09 Apr, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

Australians lost over $55 million to scams in the first two months of 2024 alone, according to data from ACCC ScamWatch, with investment scams accounting for the overwhelming majority of the money lost by victims.

Eden Radford -

13 Apr, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

Navigating a tough financial situation can be tricky - so to help provide some guidance, RateCity spoke to Joanne Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Wisr, a neo-lender and fintech that is focused on improving the financial wellness of all Australians and helping them make smart decisions.

Eden Radford -

24 Apr, 2024 -

6 min read

Credit Cards

Credit card debt attracting interest charges has risen for the third month in a row in a sign an increasing number of households are struggling to get on top of their debt in 2024.

Eden Radford -

09 Apr, 2024 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

Australians are reportedly moving away from personal loans, in a partial reversal of an earlier uptick in lending activity earlier in the year. While new data shows a decline in personal lending overall, there are still competitive personal loans available for borrowers who know where to look.

Mark Bristow -

09 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Personal Loans

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the time of year when a lot of money gets spent on everything from grand romantic gestures to elaborate weddings. While a personal loan could offer the financial support you need to splurge on your loved ones when the cost of living is high, it’s important to consider your budget and your credit score, and to carefully compare personal loan options before you apply.

Mark Bristow -

08 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Bank Accounts

Do you know that lipstick sales are considered a way to know if we’re in a recession? It’s called the lipstick effect, or the lipstick index, and it’s regarded by some as a helpful way to understand how consumers are responding to an economic downturn.

Eden Radford -

25 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Term Deposits

Has your term deposit been effectively losing you money in the past? With Australia’s inflation falling faster than expected, it may be getting easier to find term deposits that can keep your money from going backwards. But it’s important to compare the available options and choose a term deposit that will suit your needs and help you reach your savings goals.

Mark Bristow -

12 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

bnpl

BNPL companies will soon be forced to perform hard credit checks on customers. If your credit application is subsequently denied, this could negatively impact your credit score and your potential to access credit in the future.

Peter Terlato -

26 May, 2023 -

4 min read

bnpl

Not all Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) companies run a credit check when you sign up for memberships, and these checks may not always affect your credit score. However, your BNPL activity could still make an impact on your credit history, which could affect your chances of seeing future credit applications approved. 

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

Savings Accounts

Whether you’re saving up your hard-earned cash for a holiday, car, house deposit or just for a rainy day, you might consider stashing it in a savings account to help it grow. But what if this savings strategy is actually sending your money backwards?

Paul Marshall -

31 Aug, 2023 -

5 min read

Savings Accounts

As inflation and the cost of living put the squeeze on more Australian budgets, one generation is actively taking steps to save money and stay ahead of the curve. But how effective could these strategies be for reaching your savings goals?

Mark Bristow -

22 Jan, 2024 -

3 min read

Superannuation

Employees don’t need to do anything with regards to the increase in super contributions. Your employer has the responsibility of making the necessary adjustments. However, it's sensible to regularly review your super payments.

Peter Terlato -

30 Jun, 2023 -

5 min read

Car Insurance

ASIC commenced civil penalty proceedings in the Federal Court last week, claiming some insurers used an algorithm to determine whether or not a customer might renew their policy at different premium levels.

Peter Terlato -

05 Sep, 2023 -

4 min read

Nbn

Learn the difference between a modem and a router for home internet and find out which one is right for you in our RateCity guide.

Mark Bristow -

28 Feb, 2024 -

2 min read

Credit Score

Shoppers find the buy now, pay later services quite attractive but before you jump in, you should know how these services work and if they impact your credit score.

Vidhu Bajaj -

15 Mar, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Score

Being mindful of your financial habits can make a big difference to how easy or hard it is to keep your credit score at the top end of the band. Here are four of the top ways to maintain or grow a good credit score:

Mark Bristow -

15 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Score

The frequency at which your credit score changes will depend on how often a bank, lender or service provider offers this information to credit bureaus, and how often a credit bureau assesses your individual credit history and payment behaviour. 

Eden Radford -

30 Jan, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Leaving your home unoccupied beyond a certain length of time can have consequences for your home and contents insurance coverage. If you are planning on spending an extended period away from home, or know in advance that your house will be empty, then unoccupied home insurance may be worth considering.

Mark Bristow -

09 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Contents insurance is a form of insurance that covers your personal possessions in the event of loss, damage or theft. Many insurance providers sell contents insurance as part of a package deal with home insurance, offering discounts if you purchase both together, but it is generally also available to purchase separately. 

Mark Bristow -

13 Feb, 2024 -

5 min read

Home Insurance

Renting out a room in your home can be beneficial in a number of ways - it can help you earn extra income to put towards household bills or mortgage payments, and it can even be a way to make use of a space that’s sitting dormant. That said, if you are considering becoming a landlord, even on a small scale, then it’s important to understand the legal requirements and the workings of the rental market, as well as how renting out a room could potentially affect your home and contents insurance. 

Mark Bristow -

09 Feb, 2024 -

5 min read

Car Insurance

While you can buy car insurance the same day you purchase a vehicle, the coverage may not always take effect immediately. It’s important to know whether any waiting periods may apply, so you aren’t unknowingly driving around without an active car insurance policy.

Mark Bristow -

10 Oct, 2023 -

2 min read

Car Insurance

Even if you buy comprehensive car insurance, some incidents may not be covered, such as breakdowns. Consider checking all exclusions when purchasing the policy.

Alex Ritchie -

14 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

What is a property actually worth? The answer may depend on if you were to ask a real estate agent or a valuer working for a mortgage lender.

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Loans

Mortgage brokers are finance professionals who help borrowers organise home loans with mortgage lenders.

Peter Terlato -

26 Jun, 2023 -

5 min read

Home Loans

A mortgage broker is an individual or company that acts as a middleman between the borrower and the lender.

Nick Bendel -

28 Nov, 2017 -

3 min read

Bank Accounts

You don’t need a bank account to send or receive money through PayPal. However, you do need a bank account if you want to withdraw money from your PayPal account.

Alex Ritchie -

17 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Bank Accounts

If you’ve ever opened more than one bank account in the past, could you have forgotten about some money that you’ve left behind, which is still waiting to be claimed? And if you think you might have, or if you’re not quite sure, how can you go about finding these outstanding accounts and claiming this unclaimed money?

Mark Bristow -

29 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

Energy

ActewAGL, partly owned by the ACT government, is among the few retailers offering both electricity and gas plans in Canberra.

Jodie Humphries -

27 Jun, 2022 -

7 min read

Credit Cards

If you’ve built up a sizeable amount of rewards points or frequent flyer points through your credit card spending, you may be curious as to how you actually redeem these points. 

Vidhu Bajaj -

31 May, 2023 -

6 min read

Credit Cards

Balance transfer credit cards can be an invaluable tool for cardholders hoping to work off their existing card debt. But just how long does it actually take to transfer your existing balance over to your new credit card?

Alex Ritchie -

08 Aug, 2023 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

Your credit card number is the 15- or 16-digit card number printed on the front or back of the card, along with your name and the card expiry date.

Alex Ritchie -

23 May, 2023 -

4 min read

bnpl

Deferit is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform with a difference. Instead of facilitating retail purchases, it pays your bills on time while allowing you to pay them off in four equal fortnightly instalments without any interest. The service is available for a monthly subscription fee for months when there is an active bill.

Vidhu Bajaj -

03 Jul, 2023 -

6 min read

Savings Accounts

Savings can provide a safety net for individuals and households during periods of financial difficulty or stress. But how much does the average Australian actually have stashed away in their savings account?

Peter Terlato -

15 Nov, 2023 -

3 min read

Savings Accounts

When saving money actually costs you more

Laine Gordon -

09 Dec, 2010 -

3 min read

Investment Funds

An exchange-traded fund or ETF is like a managed fund that's traded on an exchange, such as the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) or Cboe Australia (CXA).

Vidhu Bajaj -

06 Sep, 2023 -

5 min read

Superannuation

The trustees of a super fund must ensure that they comply with the SIS Act of 1993. Members can also be helped by understanding how the Act protects their interests.

Vidhu Bajaj -

09 Jan, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Find home loans in Canberra at RateCity and compare over 6659 home loans. View all product details, interest rates and fees to find the home loan that suits your needs at RateCity

Mark Bristow -

24 Jul, 2020 -

3 min read

Home Loans

Need help finding the right home loan? Check out one of the 3 mortgage brokers servicing Canberra who can offer helpful advice and walk you through your loan application.

Mark Bristow -

23 Jun, 2020 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Explore Canberra car loans at RateCity and compare a wide selection of local loans from 90+ lenders. View product details, interest rates and fees.

Peter Terlato -

22 Mar, 2018 -

7 min read