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

Credit Score

With increased awareness of the threat of cyberattacks, it’s easy to feel concerned about the safety of your personal information. Criminals with access to your details could steal your identity, fraudulently run up debts in your name, and ruin your credit score, making accessing money and credit in the future much harder.

Mark Bristow -

21 Oct, 2023 -

5 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

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

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

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

Australia’s biggest bank, CBA, has decreased the number of interest-free days available on its rewards cards in the latest credit card shakeup.

Eden Radford -

01 May, 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

Personal Loans

When it comes to paying for your wedding, not everyone has family who can help them out. Here are a few ways you can help keep costs down and pay for your wedding.

Alex Ritchie -

29 Dec, 2019 -

4 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

Bank Accounts

The government has instructed its consumer watchdog to ��_bust open the books of petrol companies��_ to stop price gouging at the petrol pump.

Nick Bendel -

24 Dec, 2017 -

2 min read

Bank Accounts

The number of ATMs and bank branches has dropped by more than one in 10 in the last financial year, as banks and customers move their transactions online.

Eden Radford -

19 Oct, 2023 -

8 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

Term Deposits

If you’ve been on the hunt for a competitive term deposit rate, you’ll want to pay attention to this. First Option Bank is offering an exclusive high rate term deposit account just for RateCity customers.

Alex Ritchie -

01 Sep, 2023 -

4 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

Savings Accounts

While Australians traditionally go all-out splurging on gifts for Mum each Mother’s Day, this year we’ve had to tighten our belts, according to data from one of Australia’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers.

Mark Bristow -

16 May, 2023 -

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

Car Insurance

Discover the most at-risk times of day, and suburbs for shopping centre car park collisions. It is a timely reminder to take time this silly season to ensure that your car insurance policy is the best fit for you. 

Alex Ritchie -

20 Dec, 2023 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Nick Bendel -

07 Aug, 2017 -

3 min read

Investment Funds

Criminal cartel charges are expected to be laid against ANZ, even though the bank said it ��_acted in accordance with the law��_. The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) announced today that ��_criminal cartel charges are expected to be laid by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) against ANZ, ANZ group treasurer Rick Moscati, two other companies and a number of other individuals��_.

Nick Bendel -

01 Jun, 2018 -

2 min read