sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

Westpac joins ASB in pushing through higher fixed mortgage rates, as rising inflation expectations push up wholesale rates, and all eyes turn to how the RBNZ will react

Personal Finance / analysis
Westpac joins ASB in pushing through higher fixed mortgage rates, as rising inflation expectations push up wholesale rates, and all eyes turn to how the RBNZ will react
red up arrow

Westpac is the next to raise home loan rates, raising most by about 20 basis points.

As a result, it has the highest or equal highest rates for all fixed rates to three years.

It follows the lead of ASB which raised rates to these new levels on Tuesday.

For a home owner with a $500,000 mortgage, the two-year rate of 4.35% will require repayments of $2,489 per month. Twenty weeks ago at the beginning of July that rate was 2.53% and required monthly repayments of $1983. That difference is now $506 per month. Even in these inflationary times $500 out of most household budgets is a lot. It is not going to be spent elsewhere in the wider economy. And we can't really say it is being recycled into savers accounts in higher interest rates.

Both the Cooperative Bank, and China Construction Bank also raised rates today (Thursday) but not to the levels of ASB or Westpac.

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) business survey of inflation expectations rose more than expected, underpinning the rising trends in wholesale markets, especially at the short end.

The RBNZ is to review the Official Cash Rate next Wednesday, and Thursday's moves in both wholesale and retail markets are in response to expected RBNZ reactions to rising inflation, and rising inflation expectations.

With both ASB and Westpac having moved up, all others will now follow, probably in short order.

One useful way to make sense of these changed home loan rates is to use our full-function mortgage calculator which is also below. (Term deposit rates can be assessed using this calculator).

And if you already have a fixed term mortgage that is not up for renewal at this time, our break fee calculator may help you assess your options. But break fees should be minimal in a rising market.

Here is the updated snapshot of the lowest advertised fixed-term mortgage rates on offer from the key retail banks at the moment.

Fixed, below 80% LVR 6 mths   1 yr   18 mth  2 yrs   3 yrs  4 yrs  5 yrs 
as at November 16, 2021 % % % % % % %
               
ANZ 4.00 3.45 3.85 4.15 4.45 5.24 5.54
ASB 4.19 3.65 4.09 4.35 4.69 4.95 5.19
3.89 3.49 3.89 4.15 4.39 4.79 4.79
Kiwibank 3.99 3.49   4.15 4.49 4.69 4.85
Westpac 4.19
+0.20
3.65
+0.11
4.05
+0.16
4.35
+0.16
4.69
+0.20
4.79
+0.20
4.95
+0.20
               
Bank of China  3.49 3.29 3.49 3.79 4.09 4.39 4.69
China Construction Bank 3.45
+0.20
3.45
+0.20
3.65
+0.07
4.15
+0.16
4.45
+0.20
4.95
+0.40
5.05
+0.36
Co-operative Bank [*=FHB] 3.49
+0.15
3.29*
+0.15
3.89
+0.20
4.15
+0.16
4.49
+0.25
4.69 4.85
Heartland Bank   2.90   3.45 3.60    
HSBC 3.69 3.29 3.59 3.84 4.19 4.49 4.69
ICBC  3.59 3.19 3.59 3.85 4.19 4.39 4.69
  SBS Bank 3.79 3.15 3.45 3.69 3.75 4.29 4.49
  3.29 3.29 3.64 3.94 4.19 4.54 4.70

Comprehensive Mortgage Calculator

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.

85 Comments

Getting tough for those deep in debt…..

A silver lining for others.

TTP

Up
18

Not a silver lining for consumer spending. Less share of wallet allocated. Death by 1,000 cuts. And that's not even accounting for inflation. 

Up
14

That's the point, consumer spending down therefore inflation down. RBNZ targeting CPI as per job. 

Up
3

Who benefits? Wholesale lenders / bond holders? Can't say that's the benefit I'd like to see. 

Up
2

Savers.

Up
2

Might be more of a silver lining for you if savings rates were increasing to match, but they're not. So unless you own shares in these banks, you are also losing out on the deal.

Up
1

Lol RBNZ fked up by moving the rate up to control something they have absolutely no control over, and the banks know it hence higher mortgage rates but no corresponding higher savings rates.  Jacking the OCR to 5% is going to do jack except fk the country into the ground as it's a world-wide issue not just NZ.  It's like killing yourself to fix global warming :)

Up
3

Driving rates to zero (and removing LVRs etc) is where central banks %^*+% up…not the opposite.

Up
4

So unless you own shares in these banks, you are also losing out on the deal.

Any idea why CBA's share price has fallen 10%+ in the past 2 days? Bit odd isn't it. 

Up
0

The announcements yesterday included flat operating performance which could provide an explanation.  Yet a simple price and volume comparison makes it look like someone has entered some big trades in the 7-10 m share volume range.  The latest drop looks like they exited a very profitable position but with a lack of orders to hold the price up.

Not odd but shows bit of a weak market for buying the shares.

Up
3

No I'm not sure why, I haven't been following that one sorry.  I do note that ANZ's share price on the NZX has risen more than 20% over the last 12 months so I think the banks will be fine.

Up
0

People are not worried, they are buying tiny houses for multi million dollars in auctions. The pressure is relentless. No one is stopping.

The population doesn't care about the interest rates.they just see that their house will be 30% up in price every year. In 10 years it will be 300%. So why not put all the money into buying the house. 

Up
0

Tis the nature of lemmings to follow the one in front sadly 

Up
10

Who is to be blamed. Jacinda Arden gave personal  guarantee that will not allow the house price to fall and her knights Robertson and Orr are leaving no stone unturnedto ensure that ponzi continues.

Up
8

more like Key promoting greed and advantaging the rich in every policy decision,  as you would expect from a servant of the 1 percent. Ardern's caught in that vortex but at least she doesn't buy and sell money...

Up
3

That’s because she is economically illiterate 

Up
1

..she can be excused for being financially illiterate.  Key can't be...he knew exactly what he was doing.

Up
4

1400% if it compounds

Up
0

You obviously don't have a large mortgage. I have a $1m mortgage floating in January and it looks like my interest payments will increase by $400 per week. Higher interest rates makes it harder on borrowers to pay the bills while also slowing house price growth (and potentially resulting in house price drops). 

Up
2

= AWESOME
Finally might see some sanity prevail

Up
1

So for the heavily in debt, a swing to negative leverage...

Up
1

Every body except the experts at the reserve bank knew when interest rates were near zero and when  quantitative  easing was introduced,  then inflation  was sure to follow!

Up
0

ANZ and BNZ will probably go tomorrow and then they'll draw straws on who gets to go first next week

Up
5

The growth of the 2-year swap rate looks almost exponential. The greatly overdue Interest rates normalization is finally starting to eventuate.

Up
11

Last time it was this high, retail rates were 4.8%, so still some pain to go it seems. 

Up
2

The term "more than expected" has become synonymous with the term "RBNZ forecast"

Up
4

Amazing.

Mortgages rates increasing.

Savings rates flat.

Looks like more record profits next reporting period.

Up
14

Saving rates likely to increase after RBNZ's Nov announcement. This is just a pre-show.

Up
1

Have you been watching TD rates? They've also increased. 

Up
1

Giddy up horsey! This is going to be fun 

Up
4

Yep it's off to the races. TD rates will follow as well. No idea what the RBNZ are going to do now the banks are already moving without their directive. 

Up
2

TD rates will not  follow..fiat game is up

Up
1

They already have and are... Just not enough vs. lending rates.

Up
2

Add inflation to the mix and they are going backwards

Up
3

Yep. Interest rates comprise three basic components. Inflation, risk, and then a return. Inflation is at 5+ percent. A risk and return component must be added on top, which what the banks are doing. They are going to end up 7-12% easy.

Up
2

It's incorrect to add a risk premium to inflation to figure out interest rates.

Inflation + risk premium  is not how banks price interest rates

Up
6

I suspect this is a semantic wormhole, but please expand. How do banks price interest rates?

Up
0

Banks price interest rates based mostly on swap rates + their margin, the OCR also has an influence on the retail bank interest rates but mostly for the shorter terms, generally up to 2 years.  

PS: It's not semantics, it's economics

Up
2

You clearly don’t work at a central bank! Interest rates have to be less than inflation or the debt bubble and economy explode. 

Up
1

So on the figures they provided in article, a person paying off a $500k mortgage at today's rates vs the rates 20 weeks ago would have seen a 25% increase in mortgage repayments. How is this reflective of the current inflation rate of a tad under 5%???

Up
0

Its not but its very much inline with how much that"said person" overpaid on that house last year

Up
13

Nobody overpaid on a house last year it was a bargain 12 months ago.

Up
7

Very true!

Up
2

It's a bargain today...

Up
2

At this point you are correct but give it 4-5 months you would have over paid get out quick to be a winner 

Up
6

Many have been saying this for the last 30 years, they are now bitter and poor...

Up
5

Not rocket science sell high a top which is where we are now buy back in once slump is over. If you sit some where for 30 you will make money but a lot less. 

Up
2

That's also what a lot have been saying over the last 30 years "we're at the top now"… they have been unable to re-enter the market as it took off… yet again

Up
1

Anyone that bought a house 12 months ago via mortgage doesn't own that house. The bank does.

What you do have is a contract to makes you the banks profit slave via mortgage. Payments include an interest component. A component that is rising quickly. Also worth noting that at the artificially lows rates of 2020, an increase of 1-2% from a 3% base is a big difference to what you actually pay. This difference is less as noticeable as a 1-2% increase from 7% base. Interestingly a 6-7% base is looking more and more likely every day.

Up
0

Your point is correct that there is a large interest component to a mortgage over the total term but can you really hand-on-heart say you'd rather pay someone else's mortgage for your entire life (at NZ rents)? You can't deny the security and stability that owning your home in retirement provides. Over-paying for a piece of crap at high DTI ratio is another matter and is risky though.

Up
2

The " influential" survey of 35 professional forecasters and business leaders, who also throw in the housing forecasts, seeing through their teal leaves  the HPI rising by 5.06 percent over the coming year and on average 3.72 percent over the coming two years. Slightly below their previous, although the 35 forecasts span a fall of -10 percent a nd a rise of 20 percent year on year. 

Up
0

"That difference is now $506 per month " after tax.....Orrsome, is all I can say.

Up
7

As long as the banks did the stress testing at 6% its not a problem. Of course the punters didn't really think at the time that although you can survive the fun money left over takes a big dive.

Up
10

Their stress is about to be tested alright! 

Up
12

That's a bit bite for a few people.  500 weekly for an average family?

Still, lots of mixed housing sections will still be selling for mid-1s regardless.

Jan/Feb will be interesting.

Up
0

Monthly, not weekly.

Up
2

"No problem" sure bro just the total collapse of discretionary spend and any businesses that rely on it. "No problem" at all. 

Up
4

We've had the asset inflation, now its the turn for  the consumer goods. 

We wont get wage inflation, so  watch the value drawn from assets to fund the necessities.  

Up
8

"Heartland says it's the first time the (Reverse Mortgage) limits have been increased since 2004."

The time for borrowing against asset value was....yesterday. And today is probably going to be better than tomorrow.

"Better 3 hours too early than a minute too late"

Up
0

what a horrible world would that be but i think you might be right 

Up
0

We are getting wage inflation, just not everywhere.  Its the poor/low income that are getting crushed.

Up
1

Wage inflation below 2.5%

Up
1

“While there was low unemployment and most people would be able to adjust, and banks had been testing affordability at 6 or 7 per cent, he questioned whether borrowers had really thought about what it meant to their budgets.”

most have been focused on their gains.... classic!

 

Up
7

Exactly they are now asset rich and cash poor.

Up
3

I think banks should pay their customers for breaking a mortgage for a lower rate to re-fix on a higher one.

As always, only the banks can make money when you deal with them.

If I'm in the market right now for financing, I'll be looking at non banks and alternative financiers.

Up
0

Breaking low to go higher generally only costs an admin fee. In my case, it was $20 through ASB. Given I was moving to 3.19% for 5 years, and the original end date was late last month, I was more than happy to pay it.

Up
2

Yes $20 fee, the house always wins. Don't 2nd tier/alternative financiers all charge higher rates to reflect the higher risk?

Up
0

Will Orr help to give it a nudge next week?

Up
2

Whooh the bank profit margins are going to be even higher - great business to be in 

Up
2

can't wait for the 6+

Up
2

Agreed.

Up
0

I guess Banks hike their rates quickly on the way up - and slower on the way down, just like Petrol Stations when price of oil changes.

Since some people may not have even experienced an OCR increase I guess many will have thought it would be same speed on way up as down and are going to be very suprised when they come to refix

Up
3

This is about swap rates - which have increased much faster than retail rates - and not the OCR. Might pay to understand how fixed rate loans are hedged. 

Up
0

It’s going to be tuff for people with million dollar mortgage.if you have made money get out quick before negative equity kicks in and your there for years paying huge debt.

Up
16

Get out quick?

Up
3

Seems to be a risk now of the classic “reserve bank arrives at the party too late and stays too long”. Obviously the market is pricing the OCR to go up a lot, I’m not sure that would be so good. 

Up
1

David Chaston, why banks or anyone is worried about inflation. Trust Mr Orr who has asserted that inflation is transitory and is saying this since last July so definitely after four quarters - transitory will kick in and next quarter will be normal as was suppose to be transitory unless RBNZ was lying. 

Up
1

The great resignation....average property in NZ has 'earned' around 180,000 in the past 12 months....median employment remuneration previous 12 months 56,000 (less tax)....sustainable??

Up
9

So we can expect to see another round of panic buying again..lol.

Up
0

Reminds me of the 80s when you would buy something at a low price (similar to cheap money) then every week put the prices up until it sold (make a loan) and make massive profits

Up
2

And so our watch begins....with popcorn.

Up
2

Should I be shocked that now the pandemic is effectively over, although government seem intent on trying to squeeze another six months out of it, rates and economic performance are returning to pre-pandemic levels?

 

The inability to suppress wages by importing low cost labour is accelerating inflation but I have no doubt that once borders reopen tens of thousands will book flights.

Up
1

This is rear of missing out on the low interest rates that is causing this rapid spike.

People will be trying to fix in droves causing a demand spike this causing a rapid increase in wholesale prices.

With prices of essentials also going up, demand for certainty on mortgages rates will accelerate the drive to fix as it's one thing consumers can control with a shrinking budget.

 

 

 

Up
2

Does anything matters to people in power...be it inflation.....housing ponzi, as is now not is a problem for FHB but even those who want to rent as rent in Auckland has gone up from 10% to 25% ( A colleagues who was renting for $620 moved house and the same house was re rented for $785).

Government and RBNZ has created a situation in which many average families will struggle for the rest of their lives ( giving dole is not a solution but a tool used by Jacinda Arden - giving $20 extra is to silence ....possible ....)

RBNZ for once should think rationally and take bold move, may be stock market or housing market may react for a short term but if Mr Orr misses this opportunity for........

Below is happening even now, how long will they keep lying that is softening or.......

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/127026678/profits-…

Up
1

Agreed. Business in Auckland are going to have to fight tooth and nail for staff, or pay them massively more just to support the ponzi rent and mortgagaes. Smart businesses will be growing staff in other locations and teleworking their Awkland workloads.

Up
4