The First Home Super Saver scheme enables first home buyers to withdraw some of their extra superannuation contributions to use as some or all of [...]
The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa credit card might well be Australia’s favourite credit card, or at least one of the most desired credit cards. [...]
Are you happy with your savings account? In a low interest rate economy, savers need to take control and find a savings account that suits [...]
Advertisement
Commissions and incentives, including holidays, cruises and trips to the Playboy mansion, paid by lenders and mortgage aggregators to mortgage brokers are under investigation by [...]
There are dozens of home loan providers offering a wide range of products, all with different interest rates, features and fees. The sheer depth of [...]
If you want to save money and earn interest, savings accounts and term deposits are both worth looking into. We’ve examined the differences and similarities between [...]
Whether you’re looking for an income now, growth for the future, or a combination of both, you need to select the shares that are going [...]
Taking out a margin loan could be an effective way to grow your investment portfolio. But borrowing to invest is a high-risk strategy that’s designed [...]
Lack of access to funds can be a major problem for investors, and many turn to margin loans to increase their investment capacity. While these [...]
Term deposits offer a guaranteed return, making them particularly popular among more cautious investors or as a low-risk component of a diversified investment portfolio. However, [...]
Offering higher interest rates than transaction accounts, and with some throwing in bonuses for making regular deposits, savings accounts are designed to help you grow [...]
A personal loan can be a great option for financing a big purchase, whether it’s a car, a new kitchen, or a much-needed holiday. But with [...]
Comparing credit cards is easier when you fully understand the different terms and features on offer. At first it might seem like providers are speaking [...]
Investing in the right term deposit could be a secure way to build your savings. However, all term deposits require you to lock your money [...]
Putting your money into a term deposit means locking it away for a pre-determined period at a fixed rate of interest. That way, you’re guaranteed [...]
With a little preparation, applying for a personal loan could be a quick and easy way to access funds. The interest rates for this type [...]
There’s a lot to consider when comparing home loans. Should you choose a fixed interest loan or opt for a variable rate? Do you qualify [...]
Owning your own home is the great Australian dream, but signing up for a home loan is a long-term financial commitment. That’s why it’s so [...]
Credit cards are a convenient way to pay bills and shop online. But when it comes to applying for a credit card, it can be [...]
Surprising new data reveals that fewer Australians are choosing to open joint bank accounts, savings accounts and credit cards with their loved ones. Traditionally a [...]
When it comes to personal loans, there’s no one-size-fits-all option. Different loans will suit different situations, and the right loan for you will vary according [...]
Do you know what banks and other lenders look for in a personal loan application? Personal loans are often the first loan that a persona [...]
Mortgage refinancing is switching your home loan to another lender. You do this by applying for and taking out a new loan on the same [...]
For credit cardholders with more than one credit card debt, making the monthly repayments can be difficult. Right now, Aussies collectively owe $51.3 billion on [...]
Respected demographer and social commentator Bernard Salt questioned whether “hipsters” should be spending money on “smashed avocado” brunches instead of saving for a home deposit. [...]
There are more than 280 savings accounts now on offer from Australia’s banks and credit unions. InfoChoice lets you compare accounts according to the features [...]
Fierce competition amongst Australian lenders has led to a raft of rate cuts. Following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s August rate cut, home loan rates [...]
The big switch Would you switch your everyday transaction account or credit card from the bank you have used for years, just so you can [...]
With so many different options out there, choosing a credit card that best suits your unique lifestyle and spending habits can be confusing.But taking the [...]
Term deposit rates, like savings account rates, are low at the moment and unlikely to rise substantially in the near future. Most of the big [...]
The Australian home loan market is changing. From years of skyrocketing growth in new loan sales, lenders are now discounting heavily to win new business. [...]
National Australia Bank customers have suffered through three system outages in a week. Thousands of NAB customers have taken to social media to vent their [...]
Almost one in every three home loan borrowers lie to potential lenders about their finances in order to secure a loan according to a new [...]
Switching to a new transaction banking account with another bank or credit union may seem like a lot of hassle. Many Aussies put up with [...]
The Reserve Bank has decided to keep official interest rates unchanged in October at 1.5 per cent. That leaves the average standard variable home loan [...]
Most Australian home buyers are paying too much for their home loan. While average mortgage rates are low, many lenders have not passed on all [...]
Just two months after boasting about raising interest rates for savers, the big banks have begun quietly cutting the returns they pay to term deposit [...]
Are you shopping for a new credit card? Do you know what you want? Perhaps, like many Aussies you are looking for a great balance [...]
Are you shopping for a new credit card? Do you know what you want? Knowing what you want in a credit card is the first [...]
More than fourteen million Australian banking customers went online to do their banking in August 2016 according to Nielsen Digital Ratings. The number of Aussies [...]
The customer satisfaction ratings of the big four banks are being dragged down by their home loan customers. Home buyers with mortgages from a big [...]
Average credit card interest rates have not fallen along with the official RBA cash rate, home loan mortgage rates and many other personal loan rates. [...]
Aussies are asking - Is my bank relevant to me anymore? Australians are significantly more prepared, when compared with more than 50,000 people in 31 [...]
Balance transfer credit cards are booming in popularity as banks and credit unions try to poach each other’s customers. There are now 105 balance transfer [...]
You need cash and you need it fast right? A personal loan is a tried and trusted way to finance a big purchase, like a [...]
Australians prefer to save, invest and grow their money with bank deposits. Bank deposits, including savings accounts and term deposits, are, by far, our favourite [...]
Despite record low interest rates, many Australians are reporting they are struggling to keep up with home loan repayments. Cutting back on other essential expenses, [...]
Apple Pay is now available in Australia, through one bank’s credit card and transaction accounts only. ANZ Bank is offering Apple Pay on ANZ Visa [...]
In the last week, the big four banks have all reported their profits and the results have been underwhelming. Bank profits are moderating as a [...]
Australian consumers are paying off their credit cards according to the latest Reserve Bank payment data. The average balance accruing interest on credit and charge [...]
A new innovation in the credit card market is low interest deals for big purchases. The credit card holder nominates a big purchase, or a [...]
It is possible to get a good rate on your savings, even though the Reserve Bank of Australia has cut official interest rates to a [...]
The big four banks have angered many Australian home loan borrowers in the last week. Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, National Australia Bank and ANZ Bank have [...]
The Reserve Bank of Australia has cut the official cash interest rate to a new historic low of 1.5 per cent for August 2016, leading [...]
Some of Australia’s biggest mortgage lenders are not passing on all of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) historic rate cut for August 2016. The [...]
Interest-only mortgages require the borrower to repay only the interest on the loan. The original loan amount - the principal - is not repaid until [...]
Aussies love credit cards. There are more than 15 million credit cards on issue in Australia. There are far fewer personal loans. Yet personal loans [...]
Strange things are happening in the investment home loan market New, stricter rules for banks and credit unions have changed the home loan market for [...]
A class action representing hundreds of thousands of Australian credit card users who objected to high late payment and other ‘penalty’ fees has been rejected [...]
Do you want a credit card that gives you points for free airline flights, other rewards and even cash back? Sounds great right? Yes, well [...]
Term deposit investors, as well as savings account holders, are set to reap the benefits of higher interest rates as banks and credit unions embark [...]
Customer satisfaction ratings for home loan borrowers has dived. Customer satisfaction scores for Australia’s big four banks has plummeted to their lowest levels since 2013 [...]
The personal loan market is changing - for the better and borrowers are enjoying better products, lower interest rates and more choice than ever before. [...]
In a major step forward for banking and payments in Australia, Google has launched Android Pay with 28 banks and credit unions now offering the service. [...]
Fixed repayment credit cards are a new innovation in the Australian credit card market. Fixed repayment credit cards are worth considering for people who want [...]
Rate cuts are flooding the home loan market. The Reserve Bank of Australia has left official interest rates on hold recently but some lenders are [...]
Australians are getting smarter with their credit cards. Aussies are now less likely to be racking up big debts on big purchases and paying big [...]
Nobody likes being hit by fees on their transaction banking account. These are fees that banks and credit unions charge us when we want to [...]
This is serious - you need an emergency fund Financial counsellors are employed by charities and community groups, funded by government, to provide free, confidential [...]
More Aussies struggling with credit card debt There are more than 15 million credit cards on issue in Australia and more and more Australians seem [...]
New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals that investors are returning the property market in force. After 12 months of subdued activity [...]
A balance transfer credit card deal offers a low or zero rate of interest for a set period of time - typically between four and [...]
What is the immediate outlook for interest rates in Australia? The Reserve Bank of Australia has left official interest rates unchanged for July 2016 at [...]
A personal loan is a tried and trusted way to finance a large purchase or consolidate and pay-off debts. Popular reasons for taking out a [...]
Choosing between a personal loan and a credit card means weighing up a few key factors. These include fees, rates and flexibility. What is a [...]
Bonus rate of interest - What is it? Many high interest online savings accounts feature a ‘bonus rate’ of interest. A savings account bonus rate [...]
Samsung has launched the Samsung Pay mobile digital wallet and contactless payment system in Australia. Citibank and American Express credit card users will be the [...]
Westpac has announced that new parents will now have their paid parental leave and return to work income recognised when they apply for a mortgage. [...]
Personal finance advisor David Bach says if you skip coffee every morning and invest that money instead, you’ll be a millionaire by retirement. Another personal [...]
According to the latest Housing Affordability Report by Adelaide Bank and The Real Estate Institute of Australia, residential property is becoming more affordable. The proportion [...]
Teachers Mutual Bank’s three-year fixed rate has been reduced by 0.25 percentage points to 3.74 per cent (4.88 per cent comparison rate). Teachers Mutual Bank’s [...]
The Reserve Bank of Australia cut interest rates in May by 0.25 percentage points. Some lenders didn’t pass on the rate cut in full, however [...]
Here’s how the process of getting a car loan works. Step One: You may like to check your credit file or make sure you have [...]
HSBC Australia chief economist Paul Bloxham is predicting another Reserve Bank rate cut in August 2016. Mr Bloxham said the RBA’s minutes from the May [...]
A variable rate personal loan rate can be changed at any time during your loan term. However personal loan rates change less frequently than home [...]
When interest rates are low, Australians often respond by piling on more debt and bidding up house prices. However, now economists expect the market won't [...]
ANZ Bank has cut approximately 200 jobs due to low lending growth and the need to boost productivity. An ANZ spokesperson said: “All affected staff [...]
The big banks have an image problem and are featuring in the federal election campaign because Labor has promised a banking royal commission.That’s surely one [...]
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was asked at Friday night’s leaders’ debate about Labor’s plan to set up a banking royal commission.Mr Turnbull said he had [...]
Right now, in May 2016, the best (the lowest) standard variable home loan interest rate in the market is around 3.73 per cent, down from [...]
The Government is calling on all credit card issuers to provide consumers with alternative payment tools.The Treasurer, Scott Morrison, has proposed tighter responsible lending obligations [...]
The government plans to tighten credit card rules. Lenders will be required to assess suitability based on a consumer's ability to repay the entire credit [...]
One year (12 month) term deposits are one of the most popular investment vehicles for Australian savers. Even though official interest rates are falling, now [...]
More Aussies are expected to fall behind on mortgage repayments in the next three months, says big ratings agency Fitch, because rising interest rates are [...]
Firstfolio’s eChoice Home Loans is now selling 30 per cent of its loans, about $100 million a month, completely online. eChoice offers a combination of [...]
Now is a good time for first home buyers to jump on the property ladder, according to Mortgage Choice spokesperson Kristy Sheppard who said house [...]
Lenders continue to chase more business with aggressive fixed rate pricing. The latest to offer a sharp fixed rate deal is CUA, which announced yesterday [...]
Westpac's 90-day term deposit is now offering a rate of just 2.55 per cent, down from 5.25 per cent last month. ANZ has cut the [...]
The futures market now says the most likely outcome is for the cash rate to be at 4.75 per cent in mid-2011. The cash rate [...]
Auction results improved this week in Sydney where 341 residential properties were listed for auction, with 70 per cent selling on the day. Last week [...]