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

The last of the big Aussie banks raises fixed home loan rates in this cycle, and some term deposit rates. But these changes are undistinguished from its main rivals

Personal Finance / analysis
The last of the big Aussie banks raises fixed home loan rates in this cycle, and some term deposit rates. But these changes are undistinguished from its main rivals
ASB sign with up arrow

ASB has raised its fixed home loan rates today (Thursday), basically matching Westpac who moved first on Tuesday July 28.

ASB also moved up some term deposit rates at the same time.

That just leaves Kiwibank as the only major mortgage bank yet to adjust their rates up in this cycle.

ASB's new mortgage rate levels are undistinguished from any of the banks that have already moved. And their new term deposit rates will give no-one reason to consider moving savings funds to them. The range between any of the main banks remains very tight.

As far as ASB is concerned, this is all about recovering wholesale costs. "We’re continuing to see volatility in wholesale interest rates, which have climbed over the past month. This has a direct bearing on the rates we offer on lending and deposits, in line with what is happening in markets around the world," a spokesperson said.

Globally, those benchmark interest rates have settled in at the new higher level, but the rising impulse has vanished in the past few days.

These changes leave Kiwibank with the older, lower carded rate offerings - for now at least. There are good savings if you need to make a deal right now. But don't expect this difference to last much longer.

You can still get lower rates from the challenger banks, especially the Chinese ones. And banks like the SBS Bank and TSB are not so directly affected by swap rate shifts. Their cost of funds are more influenced by what they pay depositors. So for them, the reaction of their deposit base will play a key role in how they set home loan rates.

To compare mortgage rate offers in a way that includes the application and account fees costs, (or break fee costs if you need to do that), and applying the impact of a cashback/legal fee reimbursement, or other incentives, you can use our home loan comparison calculator. You can find it here. Or, for convenience, we have added it to the bottom of this article.

Negotiate, (even with your mortgage broker). How flexible banks may be will depend on the strength of your financials.

One other useful way to make sense of the changed home loan rates is to use our full-function mortgage calculator which is here.

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. Break fees will be minimal in a rising market.

Here is the 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 August 6, 2026 % % % % % % %
               
ASB  4.79 4.99 5.45 5.49 5.59 6.39 6.49
ASB  4.79
+0.10
4.99
+0.24
5.35
+0.26
5.45
+0.20
5.45
+0.16
5.49 5.59
4.79
+0.10
4.99
+0.20
5.29
+0.20
5.45
+0.16
5.45
+0.16
5.45
+0.06
5.49
Kiwibank 4.65 4.75   5.19 5.39 5.59 5.69
Westpac 4.69 4.99 5.35 5.45 5.35 5.39 5.49
               
Bank of China  4.38 4.58 4.68 4.88 5.18 5.48 5.68
China Construction Bank 4.35 4.49 4.49 4.64 4.90 5.10 5.20
Co-operative Bank 4.79
+0.10
4.94
+0.10
5.35
+0.16
5.45
+0.06
5.69 5.89 5.99
ICBC  4.39 4.49 4.75 4.99 5.25 5.45 5.65
  SBS Bank 4.69 4.79 5.09 5.29 5.29 5.39 5.49
  4.69 4.79 5.19 5.25 5.59 5.89 5.99

Fixed mortgage rates

Select chart tabs

Source:
Source:
Source:
Source:
Source:
Source:

Daily swap rates

Select chart tabs

Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA
Source: NZFMA

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.

6 Comments

The higher the rates, the lower the price. 

Up
6

For most people re-fixing today after 2 years are actually seeing a fall in interest rates, so this will help build confidence in the housing market. Demand for rentals has also increased, and supply has dropped, so this will help boost rents for property investors.

Up
1

Love it H,  clutching at false, last straws.....

Pretty thin vineer of icing, spread wafer fine, over a stinking pile of housing market turd.

This housing market about to crash much further, is the actual state of play......this sucka is going down!

Up
5

Yip so far this year, those re-fixing from their very low 5 year fixed rates back in 2021 will see their rates go from circa 3% to circa 6%.

See, like you, I can also cherry pick data to make a one sided (but ultimately floored) opinion on something. 

Up
3

I've re-fixed part of my mortgage in the last couple of days for 12m at 4.59%, the previous rate a year ago was 4.72%. I expect this 12m rate will rise to 4.95% shortly so got in just in time

Up
0

There are a heap of people (several friends of mine included) who fixed 2 years ago in the late 5s, and they will happily be re-fixing a full % lower. You call it cherry picking. I call it the facts.

Up
1