This week in banking - How to prepare for a cash rate cut

In this week’s banking recap, we brace ourselves for a potential RBA rate cut, and look at the latest moves from banks and providers that will affect you. 

What to do before a cash rate cut

You might not know it, but the cash rate plays a pretty big part in shaping your finances, not to mention the economy, so any talk of a cut is a big deal. And now that the federal election is out of the way, many are tipping June to be the month the RBA finally makes a move. But what are the sorts of things you should be doing in the lead-up to a cut? We provide some tips on how to prepare. 

Term deposits continue to trend downwards

With the interest rate environment set to drop in the coming months, dedicated savers might be eyeing term deposits as an attractive alternative to savings accounts. But if you were planning on scoring a decent rate, you better move quickly. Just this month, we saw 53 providers slash rates for term deposits.

According to Mozo Director Kirsty Lamont, “It’s vital to compare your options to ensure you lock in the best possible rate. By shopping around you can still lock in up to 2.70% for a 1-year term or up to 3.00% for terms of 3 or more years.”

Are credit card late fees hurting your budget?

Does the sting of credit card late fees seem much more painful nowadays? That’s because late fees on many cards have jumped up by as much as 200% in recent years. Ever since a ruling by the High Court in 2016, in which fees of $35 were found to be reasonable, we’ve seen a flurry of providers raising late fees on their credit cards. In fact, there were plenty of hikes this month alone, ranging between $10 and $30. 

Revamped Pension Loan Scheme to help older Aussies

The Federal government has announced the existing Pension Loan Scheme will be getting a facelift. Starting on July 1, eligible retirees will be able to access additional cash flow on top of their pension to help pay for things like care and support services. Our resident property expert, Steve Jovcevski, is optimistic it will help ease the financial stress of many older Australians.

“It can be a real challenge to get loan approval once you’ve retired, so with a fresh scheme like this, it’s likely they’ll be a number of seniors taking up the offer and able to not only keep their property but have the freedom to stay at home longer,” he said.

Need a refresher course on the NBN?

When it comes to the NBN, do you know your FTTC from FTTB? Whether you’ve made the switch already or are still waiting for rollout to reach your neighbourhood, it pays to be informed. Our NBN guide details everything you need to know about the National Broadband Network and what it has to offer. 

ING joins the rate cut party

On the home loan front, ING has cut rates for its Orange Advantage and Mortgage Simplifier home loans by 17 basis points. Owner occupiers borrowing between $500,000 and $999,999 will now be treated to a low 3.63% p.a. variable rate (3.66% p.a. comparison rate*) if they sign up for the ING Mortgage Simplifier home loan.

If you’re wondering how those rates stack up against offerings from other providers, we’ve assembled some options below for you to peruse. And if you want a more comprehensive overview, be sure to check out our variable rate home loan comparison page.

*WARNING: This comparison rate applies only to the example or examples given. Different amounts and terms will result in different comparison rates. Costs such as redraw fees or early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the comparison rate but may influence the cost of the loan. The comparison rate displayed is for a secured loan with monthly principal and interest repayments for $150,000 over 25 years.