NAB cuts fixed rates by up to -0.55%
NAB has today announced cuts to fixed home loan rates with decreases of up to -0.55% for owner occupied and up to -0.15% for investment loans.
Today’s cuts position NAB’s owner occupier 3-year fixed principal and interest package rate of 1.98% (3.83% comparison rate) ahead of the other major banks’ rates for the same term.
Canstar analysis reveals that moving from the average variable rate of 3.28% to a 3-year fixed rate of 1.98% could see an owner occupier paying principal and interest on a $400,000 home loan slash their repayments by $273 each month or $9,828 over three years. However, moving to the lowest 3-year fixed rate in the market of 1.75% (comparison rate 2.22%) from NAB’s subsidiary bank, Ubank would cut repayments by $318 per month.
Canstar Group Executive, Financial Services, Steve Mickenbecker says the move shows NAB is competing for new business by taking advantage of low cost funding.
“Interest rates continue on their downward path for homeowners and investors. NAB’s 11 basis point cut to its three year fixed rate for homeowners means that it has undercut the rates of competitors to deliver the lowest interest rate of the major banks for this popular fixed term.”
“Low cost funding has made fixed rates the playground for the big banks and while the Reserve Bank term funding facility remains available, the great deals should stay strong. Mid-year could see a small upward adjustment when the term funding is expected to be fully allocated and expire."
“It’s a great time to be thinking about fixing a rate when you can lock in for three or four years with an interest rate below 2%. Today’s move from NAB suggests competition at the low interest rate end of the market will be with us for a little longer,” Mr Mickenbecker concluded.
