ANZ follows Kiwibank by announcing mortgage rate rises

ANZ is to increase the price of its floating rate home loans.

It will lift its floating home loan and ANZ Flexible Home Loan interest rates by 40 basis points to 5.94% pa and 6.05% respectively.

It will also increase its business floating loan and overdraft base rates by 50 basis points, with the increases taking place next month.

The move follows rate hikes by Kiwibank, which has lifted its one-year fixed-rate home “special” loan rate from 4.55% to 4.85% for borrowers with debts of less than 80% of the value of their homes.

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Kiwibank lifted its floating rate home loan interest rate from 5% to 5.5%.

The rate rises at ANZ and Kiwibank come as economists predict home loan rates to rise above 6% putting a strain on many households’ finances.

Richie McLay, Kiwibank senior manager for savings and borrowing, said: “While we are first to move on this occasion, we aim to remain competitive in the market so both our lending and savings customers are getting a fair deal.

Kiwibank also lifted some of its term deposit rates with its 90-day term deposit rising from 1.1% to 1.25%.

“We know the low interest rate environment has been challenging for some customers who rely on returns from savings, the higher term deposit rates on offer provide a lower risk option for steady returns,” McLay said.

Deposit rates remain firmly behind inflation of 6.9% eroding the value of people’s cash deposits.

Ben Kelleher, ANZ’s managing director for personal banking, said the rate rises followed the Reserve Bank’s increase in the official cash rate (OCR) to 2%, but the bank had also seen its cost of funds increasing.

“For those who haven’t experienced rising interest rates we understand this can add some extra stress, particularly with rising inflation impacting other household costs,” he said.

ANZ also announced it would lift some of its deposit rates.

The cost of living crisis has become a national political battleground, with National’s housing spokesperson Chris Bishop blaming economic mismanagement for the hit to borrowers as the Reserve Bank fights to control inflation.

“The latest analysis from the Reserve Bank will make for chilling reading for mortgage holders, with the central bank predicting the interest rate on one and two-year mortgages will hit 6 per cent next year,” he said.

“A household that has borrowed $700,000 would face annual interest costs of $42,000, meaning they would have to pay more than $800 a week before they even begin to reduce the actual loan.”

Jarrod Kerr, Kiwibank’s chief economist, said it appeared the RBNZ intended more rate rises in a bid to dampen inflation.

The official cash rate (OCR) is currently 2%, but Kerr said: “We expect a 50 basis point move in July and August (to 3%), followed by two 25 basis point moves to 3.5% by November.”

He said the Reserve Bank was getting plenty of bang for buck, but predicted worse was to come for people with home loans.

“Mortgage rates have risen swiftly. And house prices are already down around 5% from their November peak on their way to a 10% correction by year end,” he said.

“Adding to the housing market correction, mortgage rates are soon to be above 6% with the delivery of expected hikes to come.”