BNZ takes rate war to six-month term

Its sharpest rate is a new Classic six-month rate of 6.99%. This replaces the one year Classic rate of 7.99%.

The move comes in advance of the Reserve Bank’s next official cash rate announcement which is due next Thursday.

Economists, as reported on Good Returns, are expecting a 100 basis point cut to the OCR, however a couple, including Goldman Sachs JB Were and Deutsche Bank are suggesting the next cut could be has big as 150 basis points.

What is interesting is that a variety of pricing strategies are emerging from lenders as rates fall.

Kiwibank has moved to own the floating rate space, offering a rate of 7.95%.

Well below its nearest competitor, Bank Direct, which is sitting at 8.45%.

BNZ is the leader in the six-month term with its 6.99% Classic product. However, its standard six-month rate is 7.35%, the same as several other banks including ASB and Bank Direct.

At the next term, one-year, many of the banks are sitting around the 7.29%-7.30% mark.

The other characteristic of the market is that several lenders, notably Kiwibank and TSB are offering sharp rates for loans where there is at least 20% equity in the deal

To see what banks are offering and to compare rates go to goodreturns.co.nz MORTGAGE CENTRE.