Savings accounts and term deposit interest rate updates: October 2017
October saw even more cuts to St.George Group's Maxi Saver accounts.
With constant changes to the interest rates on savings accounts and term deposits it can be hard to keep track of who is offering what. Here at finder.com.au, we keep a close eye on interest-rate movements so you don’t have to. Here’s what went down in October.
Savings account interest rate changes
St.George Group cut the interest across its Maxi Saver Accounts by a further 20 basis points this month, bringing the maximum variable rate down to 2.60% p.a. This follows September's cut when the Group dropped the rate from 3.00% p.a down to 2.80% p.a. At the same time, the Group increased the maximum variable rate offered across its Incentive Savers by 15 basis points to 2.00% p.a. CommBank increased the maximum variable rate on its GoalSaver account by 35 basis points to 2.50% p.a. However, to achieve this rate you need to maintain a balance over $250,000.
Other than this, the majority of the movement was down. Credit Union SA was the most notable, dropping the maximum variable interest rate on its Netsave Account by 35 basis points from 2.75% p.a. to 2.40% p.a. This rate is an introductory rate for new customers for the first three months only. Hunter United Credit Union customers will be unimpressed to learn the bank dropped the rates across two of its savings products (XLR8 Savings Account and e-ZYNET Direct Account) by 10 basis points each. Maleny Credit Union also dropped the maximum variable rate on its E-Saver Account by 10 basis points, from 1.90% p.a. down to 1.80% p.a.
| Provider | Product | Current max variable rate | Previous max variable rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| CommBank | GoalSaver (over $250k) | 2.50% | 2.15% |
| Hunter United Credit Union | XLR8 Savings Account (up to $250k) | 2.00% | 2.10% |
| Hunter United Credit Union | e-ZYNET Direct Account (over $5k) | 1.30% | 1.40% |
| Credit Union SA | Netsave Account | 2.40% | 2.75% |
| Beyond Bank | monEsaver ($5k - $200k) | 1.80% | 1.90% |
| Maleny Credit Union | E-Saver Account | 1.45% | 1.55% |
| Newcastle Permanent | Smart Saver Account | 2.60% | 2.75% |
| St.George | Maxi Saver | 2.60% | 2.80% |
| Bank of Melbourne | Maxi Saver | 2.60% | 2.80% |
| Bank SA | Maxi Saver | 2.60% | 2.80% |
| St.George | Incentive Saver ($0-$100k) | 2.00% | 1.75% |
| Bank of Melbourne | Incentive Saver ($0-$100k) | 2.00% | 1.75% |
| Bank SA | Incentive Saver ($0-$100k) | 2.00% | 1.75% |
Term deposit interest rate changes
ME Bank increased the rate on its one year term deposit by 10 basis points to 2.80% p.a and increased the rate on its Business Term deposit by 5 basis points to 2.75% p.a. While these rates are quite competitive in today's low-rate environment, they're still rather underwhelming considering you can earn a higher interest rate with a savings account and still have access to your money. ING and Westpac both dropped the interest rate on their one year terms by 5 basis points, while AMP dropped the rate on its one year term by 20 basis points down to 2.20% p.a.
| Provider | Product | Current rate | Previous rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| People's Choice Credit Union | Term Investment (90 days) | 2.20% | 2.30% |
| ME Bank | Business Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.75% | 2.70% |
| ME Bank | Term deposit (1 year) | 2.80% | 2.70% |
| Goldfields Money | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.55% | 2.85% |
| Westpac | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.30% | 2.35% |
| CommBank | Term Deposit (180 days) | 2.05% | 1.75% |
| Macquarie Bank | Term Deposit (90 days) | 2.20% | 2.25% |
| ING | Term Deposit (1 years) | 2.55% | 2.60% |
| AMP | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.20% | 2.40% |
| Bank of Queensland | Premier Investment (180 days) | 2.45% | 2.25% |
| RaboDirect Term Deposit | Business Term Deposit (4 years) | 3.15% | 3.00% |
| Greater Bank | Term Investment (1 year) | 2.65% | 2.45% |
| P&N Bank | Term Deposits (180 days) | 1.75% | 1.80% |
| Unibank | Member Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.65% | 2.75% |
| Credit Union SA | Term Investment (2 years) | 2.70% | 2.80% |
| Heritage Bank | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.55% | 2.65% |
| QBank | Term Deposit (2 years) | 2.90% | 2.85% |
| BCU | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.45% | 2.40% |
| Firstmac | Term Deposit (1 year) | 2.55% | 2.71% |
All above rates were correct at the time of publication.
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