MORTGAGE LOANS – AUSTRALIA

Big four banks lag in home loan customer satisfaction

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Original article by Roy Morgan Research
Market Research Update – Page: Online : 22-Oct-15

A Roy Morgan Single Source survey has found that the overall satisfaction level of home loan customers of Australia’s big four banks was 80 per cent in the six months to September 2015. This compares with 78.2 per cent 12 months ago. The Commonwealth Bank (82 per cent) and Westpac (80.8 per cent) had the highest individual satisfaction ratings among home loan customers of the four major banks. However, ME Bank home loan customers have the highest satisfaction rating (92.8 per cent), closely followed by ING Direct (92.7 per cent). Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Bank increased its lead in overall customer satisfaction (82.5 per cent) among the big four banks.

CORPORATES
ROY MORGAN RESEARCH LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, ME BANK, ING DIRECT, BANK OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA LIMITED, BENDIGO BANK, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED

Bank customers tipped to fix their mortgages

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 21-Oct-15

The fall in the two-year swap rate to just 1.9 per cent has prompted some smaller financial institutions to reduce their fixed mortgage interest rates in recent weeks. ME Bank’s John Caelli says the downturn in the swap rate may be due to renewed speculation about the timing of monetary policy changes in Australia and the US. Jessica Darnbrough of Mortgage Choice says more home loan borrowers may opt for a fixed interest rate in the wake of Westpac’s move to lift its variable rates.

CORPORATES
ME BANK, MORTGAGE CHOICE LIMITED – ASX MOC, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, BANK OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA LIMITED, NEWCASTLE PERMANENT BUILDING SOCIETY LIMITED, HERITAGE BANK LIMITED – ASX HBS, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, UNITED STATES. FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

Westpac shares climb after capital raising, rate increase

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 10 : 20-Oct-15

Shares in Westpac closed three per cent higher at $A31.34 on 19 October 2015, after being in a trading halt for almost a week. Clime Investment Management’s John Abernethy suggests that short selling in the wake of a $A3.5bn capital raising may have been the main driver of Westpac’s share price rise, rather than its move to lift mortgage interest rates by 0.2 per cent. Morningstar’s David Ellis says rival banks are likely to increase their own home loan rates.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, CLIME INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED – ASX CIW, MORNINGSTAR PTY LTD, WATERMARK FUNDS MANAGEMENT PTY LTD, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, ALPHINITY INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

Small lenders likely to follow majors up

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Original article by Shaun Drummond
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 16-Oct-15

Australia’s other three major banks have not yet increased their home loan interest rates in response to Westpac’s move. Bendigo & Adelaide Bank CEO Mike Hirst has indicated that the regional bank may increase its mortgage rates if the other "big three" do so, while Suncorp Bank, CUA and Firstmac may do so as well. Suncorp reduced its interest rates on some home loans on the same day that Westpac announced its rate increase.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, BENDIGO AND ADELAIDE BANK LIMITED – ASX BEN, SUNCORP BANK, SUNCORP GROUP LIMITED – ASX SUN, CREDIT UNION AUSTRALIA LIMITED, FIRSTMAC LIMITED, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA

Inner-city suburbs risk mortgage default, says NAB

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 29-Sep-15

National Australia Bank has identified about 80 postcodes across Australia where it will restrict loan-to-valuation ratios due to concerns about the potential for home loan borrowers to default. Home buyers in some 40 postcodes are regarded as being particularly at risk of default, and home loan borrowers in these postcodes will require a minimum deposit of 30 per cent. While many of the postcodes are in mining areas, the list also includes 34 in Sydney and five in Melbourne, and the CBDs of all five major capital cities.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, HOMELOANEXPERTS.COM.AU, RESERVE BANK OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE TREASURY

NAB puts 40 postcodes on credit watch

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Original article by James Eyers
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 8 : 18-Aug-15

National Australia Bank has identified 40 postcodes where loan applications are scrutinised more thoroughly because of higher risk of default. David Gall, chief risk officer of National Australia Bank, says rising interest rates and unemployment have made certain localities more vulnerable to economic stress. According to Digital Finance Analytics, risky localities include Kambah in Canberra, Grasstree Hill and Honeywood in South Tasmania, and Leigh Creek and Lyndhurst in South Australia.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, DIGITAL FINANCE ANALYTICS

Westpac takes tougher line on interest-only mortgages

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Original article by Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 17-Aug-15

Westpac will apply new standards to interest-only mortgages. The bank told brokers that borrowers will now have to show that they will be able to service an interest-only loan after the interest-only period had ended. The bank will also reduce the maximum interest-only period for owner-occupier home loans from 15 years to 10 years.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY, STANDARD AND POOR’S ASX 200 INDEX

CBA to cut lending for new homes

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Original article by Michael Bleby
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 10&8 : 10-Aug-15

The Commonwealth Bank of Australia plans to introduce restrictions on lending to first-home buyers and investors for property purchases in greenfield housing developments. The bank told brokers that the approval of finance for buyers of land lots would be delayed until all preliminary work on the project has been completed. Developers worry that the plan, if implemented, would have a negative impact on the housing sector.

CORPORATES
URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF AUSTRALIA (VICTORIA), COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, FRASERS AUSTRALAND PTY LTD, HOUSING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION LIMITED

Big banks make overtures to home buyers

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Original article by Duncan Hughes
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 48 : 6-Aug-15

Australian lenders are actively targeting the owner-occupier segment of the residential property market, due to new restriction on lending to property investors. Westpac-owned regional banks are offering a range of incentives for owner-occupiers, while some smaller lenders are reducing their loan-to-value ratios in a bid to gain market share from their larger peers.

CORPORATES
WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, CAPITAL HOMELOANS PTY LTD, BLUEBAY HOME LOANS PTY LTD, LIBERTY FINANCIAL PTY LTD, MORTGAGE AND FINANCE ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA

Westpac’s $1m-a-day IT glitch

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Original article by James Eyers, Clancy Yeates
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 6 : 28-Jul-15

The Commonwealth and ANZ banks increased their mortgage interest rates for property investors in late July 2015, while cutting fixed interest rates for owner-occupiers. However, Westpac and National Australia Bank currently have a single reference rate for both types of customers, which has forced the latter to increase interest rates for both. Westpac’s IT systems do not allow it to charge different interest rates at present, which is said to be costing it about $A1.15m each day.

CORPORATES
COMMONWEALTH BANK OF AUSTRALIA – ASX CBA, AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BANKING GROUP LIMITED – ASX ANZ, WESTPAC BANKING CORPORATION – ASX WBC, NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANK LIMITED – ASX NAB, BANK OF AMERICA AUSTRALIA LIMITED, MERRILL LYNCH (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD, MACQUARIE GROUP LIMITED – ASX MQG, BANK OF MELBOURNE LIMITED, ST GEORGE BANK LIMITED, AUSTRALIA. FOREIGN INVESTMENT REVIEW BOARD, AUSSIE HOME LOANS LIMITED, DEUTSCHE BANK AG, AUSTRALIAN PRUDENTIAL REGULATION AUTHORITY