The benchmark interest rate in Australia was last recorded at 3.60 percent. This dataset provides - Australia Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Finance sector's operating environment was previously characterised by record-low interest rates. Nonetheless, high inflation prompted the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to hike the cash rate from May 2022 onwards. This shift allowed financial institutions to impose higher loan charges, propelling their revenue. Banks raised interest rates quicker than funding costs in the first half of 2022-23, boosting net interest margins. However, sophisticated competition and digital disruption have reshaped the sector and nibbled at the Big Four's dominance, weighing on ADIs' performance. In the first half of 2025, the fierce competition has forced ADIs to trim lending rates even ahead of RBA moves to protect their slice of the mortgage market. Higher cash rates initially widened net interest margins, but the expiry of cheap TFF funding and a fierce mortgage war are now compressing spreads, weighing on ADIs' profitability. Although ANZ's 2024 Suncorp Bank takeover highlights some consolidation, the real contest is unfolding in tech. Larger financial institutions are combatting intensified competition from neobanks and fintechs by upscaling their technology investments, strengthening their strategic partnerships with cloud providers and technology consulting firms and augmenting their digital offerings. Notable examples include the launch of ANZ Plus by ANZ and Commonwealth Bank's Unloan. Meanwhile, investor demand for rental properties, elevated residential housing prices and sizable state-infrastructure pipelines have continued to underpin loan growth, offsetting the drag from weaker mortgage affordability and volatile business sentiment. Overall, subdivision revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 8.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $524.6 billion. This growth trajectory includes an estimated 4.8% decline in 2024-25 driven by rate cuts in 2025, which will weigh on income from interest-bearing assets. The Big Four banks will double down on technology investments and partnerships to counter threats from fintech startups and neobanks. As cybersecurity risks and APRA regulations evolve, financial institutions will gear up to strengthen their focus on shielding sensitive customer data and preserving trust, lifting compliance and operational costs. In the face of fierce competition, evolving regulations and shifting customer preferences, consolidation through M&As is poised to be a viable trend for survival and growth, especially among smaller financial institutions like credit unions. While rate cuts will challenge profitability within the sector, expansionary economic policies are poised to stimulate business and mortgage lending activity, presenting opportunities for strategic growth in a dynamic market. These trends are why Finance subdivision revenue is forecast to rise by an annualised 1.1% over the five years through the end of 2029-30, to $554.9 billion

Mortgage lenders are dealing with the RBA's shift to a tighter monetary policy, as it fights heavy inflation. Since May 2022, the RBA has raised the benchmark cash rate, which flows to interest rates on home loans. This represents a complete reversal of the prevailing approach to monetary policy taken in recent years. Over the course of the pandemic, subdued interest rates, in conjunction with government incentives and relaxed interest rate buffers, encouraged strong mortgage uptake. With the RBA's policy reversal, authorised deposit-taking institutions will need to balance their interest rate spreads to ensure steady profit. A stronger cash rate means more interest income from existing home loans, but also steeper funding costs. Moreover, increasing loan rates mean that prospective homeowners are being cut out of the market, which will slow demand for new home loans. Overall, industry revenue is expected to rise at an annualised 0.4% over the past five years, including an estimated 2.2% jump in 2023-24, to reach $103.4 billion. APRA's regulatory controls were updated in January 2023, with new capital adequacy ratios coming into effect. The major banks have had to tighten up their capital buffers to protect against financial instability. Although the ‘big four’ banks control most home loans, other lenders have emerged to foster competition for new loanees. Technological advances have made online-only mortgage lending viable. However, lenders that don't take deposits are more reliant on wholesale funding markets, which will be stretched under a higher cash rate. Looking ahead, technology spending isn't slowing down, as consumers continue to expect secure and user-friendly online financial services. This investment is even more pressing, given the ongoing threat of cyber-attacks. Industry revenue is projected to inch upwards at an annualised 0.8% over the five years through 2028-29, to $107.7 billion.

Banks are grappling with a transition from years of loose monetary policy to tighter financial conditions. Soaring inflation prompted an RBA pivot in the face of surging energy, housing and food prices. The RBA hiked the cash rate multiple times from May 2022 to November 2023. Prior to this, banks cashed in on high residential housing prices, with low interest rates and government schemes encouraging strong mortgage uptake over the course of the pandemic. APRA also eased the interest rate buffer in 2019, before raising it in 2021. Interest hikes have pushed up banks' incomes over the past few years. Meanwhile, banks' interest deposit expenses and funding costs have also risen while elevated interest rates have dampened industry profit margins over the past few years. Overall, industry revenue is expected to expand at an annualised 9.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $259.2 billion. This includes an anticipated slump of 8.3% in 2024-25, as inflationary pressure shows signs of easing, the cash rate easing, weighing on interest income. As banks passed on cash rate rises through higher interest rates, the RBA's policy approach has had a cascading effect on the economy. There’s a lag before these hit customers, with some fixed-rate mortgages gradually rolling over through 2023 and 2024. Banks are securing more interest income from existing loans but must manage inflated borrowing costs and bigger payouts on deposit accounts. Residential housing prices are set to stabilise, while heavy mortgage payments will price out some potential homeowners. Banks will be monitoring consumer spending amid inflationary pressures and spiralling borrowing costs. APRA has strengthened rules for managing interest rate risks, effective from October 2025. The updated Prudential Standard APS 117 requires major financial institutions to implement robust frameworks to manage these risks effectively. The big four will need to keep up with rapid technological change, managing cyber security as consumers embrace online financial services. Competition isn't easing up as smaller technology-focused firms disrupt the finance sector and foreign banks tap into the Australian market. Revenue is projected to climb at an annualised 0.3% over the next five years, to total $262.6 billion in 2029-30.

The industry has grown on the back of increased loan volumes and elevated interest rates. A high-interest rate environment has allowed non-bank lenders to charge higher rates, boosting their revenue. Yet, it has also hiked their funding costs, hindering profitability as net interest margins plunged. The mortgage war in 2023 saw authorised deposit-taking institutions (ADIs) offer competitive rates and attractive packages like cashback. This trend intensified competition and squeezed non-bank lenders' margins in the mortgage segment. Non-bank lenders have attracted a broader consumer base by providing flexible lending terms and user-friendly platforms. They have also filled the service gap left by traditional lenders because of tight lending standards, like increased capital requirements and serviceability buffers. Nonetheless, challenging economic conditions and inflationary pressures have limited non-bank lenders' involvement in commercial loans. In addition, supply chain disruptions have weakened construction-related loans. As supply chain issues have eased, commercial loans' contribution to revenue has gradually recovered. Overall, industry revenue is expected to have surged at an annualised 13.5% over the five years through 2025-26, to $40.5 billion. This includes an anticipated 8.9% fall in 2025-26 in response to expected rate cuts that will lower the interest rates that non-bank lenders charge. In the coming years, non-bank lenders are set to tap into the commercial sector thanks to improving economic conditions. They will capitalise on commercial sector opportunities by presenting innovative solutions to diverse financial needs. A digital transformation trend within this industry is allowing better consumer service and competitiveness than traditional ADIs. Even so, competition is set to heighten as ADIs innovate and diversify their loan products. Notable examples include CommBank's Unloan and NAB's Green Finance for Commercial Real Estate. Emerging neobanks are adding to competitive pressures. As non-bank lenders gain prominence in Australia's financial system, regulatory bodies may ramp up their oversight to ensure financial stability. More stringent regulations will lift compliance costs for non-bank lenders in the short term, curbing their growth in the competitive financial services landscape. Overall, revenue is forecast to grow at an annualised 2.3% over the five years through 2030-31, to $45.5 billion.

Mortgage Rate in Australia decreased to 5.51 percent in September from 5.52 percent in August of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for Australia Mortgage Rate.

The benchmark interest rate in New Zealand was last recorded at 2.25 percent. This dataset provides - New Zealand Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

The Credit Card Issuance industry has contracted as the number of cards issued and balances accruing interest have fallen. Issuers have faced significant competition from other forms of payment like debit cards and BNPL services. The monthly value of debit card transactions has continued to surpass the monthly value of credit card transactions thanks to initiatives like the Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) least-cost routing initiative. BNPL services have also gained popularity with younger consumers who constitute a significant market for online sellers. That's why revenue is set to weaken by an annualised 5.3% over the five years through 2024-25, to $7.6 billion. To compete with sophisticated competition, credit card issuers have beefed up their reward and referral programs and integrated online payment, service and customer acquisition platforms into their operations. The Big Four banks dominate the industry and NAB's acquisition of Citigroup's Australian consumer banking business has expanded its collective market share. Economic conditions tied to inflationary pressures have ravaged consumer sentiment and appetites for spending through credit. Some customers have opted to pay down debt instead and have avoided taking on more. A sharp climb in interest rates over the past few years has compounded this dynamic, which is set to constrain industry performance in 2024-25, with revenue declining by an anticipated 0.9%. Credit card issuers' performance will improve over the coming years as economic conditions recover. Credit card issuance revenue is projected to expand at an annualised 2.0% through the end of 2029-30, to total $8.4 billion. The RBA is forecast to slash the cash rate once inflation falls within the central banks' target band, lifting credit card issuer profit margins as funding costs drop. Alternative payment methods, like BNPL services, debit transactions and other fintech solutions, are on track to sap away demand for credit cards. However, easing inflationary pressures and lower interest rates over the medium term are set to spur household consumption expenditure and credit card use. In response to the fierce competition, issuers will emphasise innovation and enhance their rewards and points systems to entice consumers.