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Following Kiwibank, ASB cuts its two year home loan rate to 3.99% and TSB also follows under its extended price-match policy

Personal Finance
Following Kiwibank, ASB cuts its two year home loan rate to 3.99% and TSB also follows under its extended price-match policy

ASB's website now shows a new low two year mortgage rate.

They have matched Kiwibank at 3.99% for this fixed term.

And that also means that TSB will match the rate, under their extended price-match program.

The ASB reduction is a -30 bps drop from their prior rate.

ASB has also reduced its standard rate, but only by -20 bps.

In November 2018 ASB offered 3.95% for a fixed one year mortgage. Today's sub-4% two year rate is the lowest they have ever offered for a two year term

Yesterday, Kiwibank has reprised its 3.99% home loan rate for a two year fixed term.

None of these recent changes go anywhere near to challenging the new low rates being offered by HSBC Premier. But HSBC Premier rates come with some relatively high qualification requirements.

Since the beginning of February, wholesale swap rates have moved little at the short end of one and two year durations. The one year swap rate is down only -6 bps and a similar fall has occurred for two years. Since the beginning of 2019 the fall is -12 bps. Since the beginning of March there has been no change.

And the main cost driver for banks is their cost of deposit funds. While these have slipped minorly at a handful of banks (about -5 bps) for most, these haven't moved at all. Given that more than 70% of bank funding is based on retail deposits, this doesn't support lower costs and therefore lower mortgage rates.

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

Here is the full snapshot of the advertised 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 March 19, 2019 % % % % % % %
               
ANZ 4.99 4.05 4.19 4.29 4.49 5.55 5.69
ASB 4.95 4.05 4.19 3.99
4.49 4.95 5.09
4.99 4.05 4.79 4.29 4.49 5.19 5.39
Kiwibank 4.99 4.05   3.99 4.49 4.99 5.09
Westpac 4.99 4.05 4.09 4.29 4.59 5.29 5.49
               
4.05 4.05 4.29 4.29 4.49 4.89 4.99
HSBC 4.85 3.99 3.99 3.69 4.39 4.89 4.95
HSBC 4.99 4.05 4.25 4.29 4.49 4.99 5.09
4.85 4.05 4.09 3.99
4.49 4.95 4.99

In addition to the above table, BNZ has a fixed seven year rate of 5.95%.

Fixed mortgage rates

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3 Comments

I was wondering how long it would take for these rates to appear since the HSBC change. These rates are really competitive.

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Good news for first home buyers & investors.

TTP

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Anything below the long term average interest rate of 5% is good for borrowers. Banks still need to lend responsibly and home buyers need to consider their finances carefully.

I have seen statistics about many "millenial" home buyers experiencing buyers remorse. People often don't realise there are going to be expenses after the purchase. The realisation of not having much if any furniture and suddenly needing a fridge and washing machine can get expensive.

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