The Big Four – Commonwealth Bank, NAB, ANZ and Westpac – are the biggest players in Australia’s mortgage market. But they aren’t the only options available to borrowers. Understandably, when it comes to what will likely be the biggest financial commitment of your life, you would like to think you’ve partnered with the biggest, safest lender. However, the idea that a bigger bank is a safer bet could be holding you back from getting a better rate. After all, every Australian financial institution, big or small, is regulated by APRA and ASIC. Furthermore, they’re the ones taking the risk on you.
On this page you can compare mortgage rates available from the Big Four lenders and find useful information to help you weigh up whether there’s any benefit for you in choosing a Big Four bank over a smaller lender.
Compare home loans from the Big Four banks
Hit "load more" to see a fuller selection of home loans and hit "More info" to learn more about a particular product. The "Enquire now" buttons allow to you leave your details and speak to a mortgage broker for more help. Some of these products are not currently available through Finder. You can also compare rates from smaller lenders.
Rates last updated October 18th, 2019
What are my alternatives to a home loan from the Big Four?
Mortgage lending in Australia is a thriving, crowded industry, with lenders big and small looking to lend you money. Alternatives to the major lenders include:
- Online lenders. If you're comfortable with applying online or over the phone an online lender could be convenient and save you money. These lenders often have the lowest rates.
- Non-banks. Credit unions, building societies and other non-bank institutions offer mortgages and are also very competitive.
- Smaller banks. Many local banks can serve customers in cities, states or large portions of the country. There are also newer bank brands, often operating online, which offer cheaper rates. Some of these brands are owned by one of the Big Four.
- Fintechs and neobanks. Smaller, high-tech startups are beginning to enter the mortgage market. They can be very competitive and convenient if you're comfortable with banking via an app.
Lenders in the categories above often overlap. A small bank could be entirely online, while credit unions may have limited physical branches and a strong online service. And some banks are starting to use the technology of the fintechs.
Compare home loan rates from other competitive lenders
Rates last updated October 18th, 2019
What are the benefits of getting a mortgage with a big bank?
Australia's four largest lenders dominate the market. Most people have an account with them, and many home buyers stick with their bank when getting a loan.
There are plenty of reasons borrowers stick with NAB, ANZ, Westpac or the Commonwealth Bank:
- Convenience and service. The Big Four have the largest networks of ATMs and physical branches. For many people, face-to-face service and brick and mortar branches are very important.
- Product range. The big lenders have products for most Australian borrowers and a greater range than many smaller lenders.
- Stability. Even small Australian lenders are heavily regulated, so this shouldn't be a big concern. But the Big Four are the oldest and biggest lenders for a reason.
- Service. The Big Four have large customer service departments. They are also the most likely to have dedicated migrant banking services for non-residents.
Are there any downsides to banking with the Big Four?
- Low rates. If you want the absolute lowest interest rates on the market (and this will save you money) there are lower options than the Big Four. It's not always a huge difference, but shaving 20-30 basis points off your mortgage can make a noticeable difference to your repayments.
- Few options for non-conforming borrowers. If you have bad credit or are self-employed you might have a harder time getting approved for a mortgage from the big banks.
- Technology. The Big Four have strong online banking and well-designed apps, but there are smaller fintech lenders and neobanks offering faster service, better apps and more tools to help you manage your mortgage.
What about trust, stability and regulations? Are the big banks safer?
Australian lenders are relatively stable.
As mentioned earlier, all registered financial institutions, regardless of their size, are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC).
Financial institutions are required to hold a certain portion of capital, as they provide a permanent commitment of funds and are available to absorb losses.
The lender takes on the risk, not the borrower
lender went bankrupt tomorrow you would still owe money to whoever took control over your old lender. This is quite rare, and wouldn't actually affect your mortgage contract.
Some smaller lenders are actually backed by the Big Four
You might not know this, but the nation's biggest institutions own or are associated with the following financial brands:
- NAB. UBank is a digital bank owned by NAB, although it operates by its own brand philosophy and strategy.
- Westpac. This bank actually owns St.George, Bank of Melbourne, BankSA and RAMS.
- Commonwealth Bank. BankWest is fully owned by Commbank. They also own Aussie Home Loans.
- ANZ. Alone of the Big Four, ANZ really only lends mortgages under its own brand.
Hi Sir,
Me and my husband are both Australian citizen but now both working in overseas with overseas income. We have an existing mortgage loan with Westpac and now want to refinance the loan with cash out (for personal use). I have talked to Commonwealth bank but they require both my husband and myself to sign the documents in the branch in Australia. However, we are unable to come back to AU in the short period of time.
It seems that not many bank will accept application with overseas income.
Is there any other bank/financial institution will accept application for my case?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Best Regards,
Kathy
Hi Kathy,
Thanks for getting in touch with Finder! Yes, and there are options to refinance your home even while you are overseas and you can go to this page to get started. Kindly note that each lender has its own approach to foreign income. Most Australian lenders will only accept a certain percentage of your foreign income, which allows a lender to protect itself against factors such as fluctuating exchange rates. Also, lenders accept major currencies such as British Pound Sterling, US Dollar, Euro and etc. (PLEASE see part of the page saying “How is foreign income treated?”)
As a friendly reminder, review the eligibility criteria of the loan before applying to increase your chances of approval. Read up on the terms and conditions and product disclosure statement and contact the bank should you need any clarifications about the policy.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki