AFCA welcomes passing of legislation extending consumer protections to BNPL
The passing of legislation extending the protection of national credit laws to consumers using buy now pay later (BNPL) services has been welcomed by the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). “We welcome the passing of this important legislation, regulating BNPL as credit...
LoanOptions.ai and Occubuy partner to help Australian renters manage personal debt
LoanOptions.ai, Australia’s leading loan matching technology provider and broker, has teamed up with Occubuy, the country’s pioneering reward platform for renters, to empower Australians in tackling personal debt. Australian renters can use Occubuy to earn credits toward buying their fir…
Rent-to-income ratios revealed in Australia's capitals
Amid a landscape of rising rents (35% rise since 2020), low vacancy rates, inadequate housing supply, and a projected shortfall of 257,000 new homes in the next five years - Australia's housing crisis is placing increasing pressure on both renters and homebuyers.1 Mortgage experts at Mo…
Rate Money enters the Queensland home-loan market
Rate Money, Australia’s home for the self-employed, is excited to announce its expansion into the $156 billion[1] Queensland home loan market with the opening of three branches in Aspley, Fortitude Valley and Logan, marking its entry into the Sunshine State. Rate Money, CEO, Ryan Gair said, …
Australians use their credit cards 23 times per month on average
The latest data published by the RBA reveals a significant shift in Australian credit card habits. On average, Aussies are now swiping their credit cards 23.2 times per month — more than double the frequency observed just a decade ago. “This surge in credit card usage shows how de...
Westpac and CEFC unite for Australian first loan
Westpac is launching Sustainable Upgrades home and investor loans for customers to make energy-efficient upgrades to their home, supported by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). From Monday, 26 August, Westpac home loan customers can access a competitive variable interest ra...
Australian businesses will pull back on borrowing and investing in 2024
As economic growth continues to lag, a survey indicates the majority of Australian business owners will be more conservative about borrowing and investing in their businesses next year. A startling 90 per cent of businesses will be more cautious about borrowing money, while 69 per cent...
Australians are uncertain about their financial options for retirement
New research from leading Australian life insurer, TAL, and Investment Trends shows nearly two in three Australian non-retirees[1] are unsure about their financial options in retirement and feel they need more information to make choices that will meet their needs at every stage of lif...
Mortgage broker warns against locking in long term fixed interest rates
To fix or not to fix – that is the question Aussie homeowners have been all been watching the housing market with increasing anxiety this year as experts expect mortgage rates to remain elevated amid ongoing economic uncertainty. …
People forced to skip meals as cost of living bites
Almost three quarters of people receiving income support are eating less or skipping meals due to the low rate of payments and rising cost of living, according to a new report by ACOSS. The research - which surveyed 270 people living…
September RBA Rate Hikes Commentary
Hike: “Australians have been hit with another rate hike today and will be feeling more financial pain. Our analysis suggests that the average homeowner will be paying an additional $92 a month on their mortgage. For the average homeown…
Three Next-Level Money Savers for Tough Financial Times
The Reserve Bank (RBA) lifted interest rates twelve times in just over a year leaving many homeowners feeling the pinch of increased mortgage repayments. Since the RBA began lifting rates in May 2022, those with an average $600,000 mor…