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TSB opens the low-rate competition to the two-year fixed term with a rate sharply lower than just about everyone else

TSB opens the low-rate competition to the two-year fixed term with a rate sharply lower than just about everyone else

After a week of surprisingly active trimming of fixed mortgage rates - led by some of the mortgage majors - around the fixed one year offer, it is ending with renewed activity on the two year fixed front.

TSB has launched a 4.39% fixed two year home loan rate, one that beats all its rivals bar HSBC Premier, and claiming between 26 and 30 bps advantage. It is sure to be noticed by borrowers in the market.

Now there is only a 9 bps difference between ASB's leading one year rate at 4.30% and TSB's 4.39% two year rate as 'specials'.

The new TSB rate is only available until March 29, 2018.

Update: TSB has advised they have changed their conditions slightly meaning existing customers now qualify, and these are now:

The 'special' requirements from TSB are: "Loan must be contracted during the campaign period. Minimum new lending or refinance of $100,000 required. Promotion is available for the purchase, building or refinance from another bank of residential properties."

The last time there was a two year fixed rate offer this low (other than HSBC Premier) was in late January 2017 when SBS Bank had an offer at 4.39%.

TSB's change today involves a rate cut of -25 bps to the new level, but a similar cut does not apply to its standard two year rate which remains at 5.15%.

And sneaking in under the headline change is a rate increase for their three year rate 'special' which rises +10 bps to 4.89%, a level now matched by ASB and HSBC Premier and all three now have that offer as a market-leading one.

Wholesale rate changes for terms 1, 2 or three years have been very minor recently. This new round of carded rate cuts will be margin-threatening for banks. Like ASB before it, TSB has not changed its term deposit offers as ANZ did earlier in the week.

On a house purchase at the January national median price of $520,000 and a 20% deposit of $104,000, that would involve a loan of $416,000. The new TSB two year rate will require a monthly table mortgage repayment of $2,081 (P&I) whereas a similar loan at the carded rate for most other banks would require $2,145 per month (30 yr term assumed). Kiwibank's $2,000 cash-back offer equalises after 31 months on that basis. (But if you don't stay with Kiwibank for three years, they have the right to claw back some of their upfront cash.)

And sales of homes in the real estate market are stalled at volumes about the same level as a year ago - and prices are lower.

If you are in the market for a mortgage, or a rollover, now could be a good time to negotiate.

If you have completed a recent transaction, especially one where you ended up with a below-rate-card deal, we would love to hear about it in the comment section below.

See all banks' carded, or advertised, home loan interest rates here.

Here is the full snapshot of the fixed-term rates on offer from the key retail banks.

below 80% LVR 6 mths  1 yr  18 mth  2 yrs   3 yrs  4 yrs  5 yrs 
as at February 16, 2018 % % % % % % %
               
4.99 4.35 5.15 4.65 4.99 5.89 6.09
ASB 4.95 4.30 4.39 4.65 4.89 5.39 5.59
5.35 4.39 5.05 4.65 4.99 5.89 6.09
Kiwibank 4.99 4.35   4.65 4.99 5.65 5.69
Westpac 5.25 4.39 5.15 4.65 4.94 5.89 5.59
               
4.80 4.39 4.69 4.69 4.99 5.39 5.59
HSBC 4.85 4.19 4.19 4.29 4.89 5.29 5.59
HSBC 4.99 4.44 4.69 4.69 4.99 5.49 5.69
4.85 4.49 4.65 4.39
4.89
5.55 5.69

In addition to the above table, BNZ has a fixed seven year rate which is 6.15%.

And TSB still has a ten year fixed rate of 6.20%.

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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.

1 Comments

3.89% by August?
After all the banking/mortgage/housing/consumer system needs to be kept going.
Better for the banks to lose margin, than for them to lose large chunks of equity in housing.

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