New data from Commonwealth Bank shows the use of mortgage offset accounts has continued to increase.
Over the past 12 months, CBA has recorded growth in the proportion of eligible customers with an offset account as well as an increase in the balances associated with these offset accounts.
The proportion of customers with an offset account grew by just under 10 per cent, while total account balances increased by a similar amount over the 12 months to July 2022.
Commonwealth Bank’s Executive General Manager Home Buying, Dr Michael Baumann, said while some of the growth in offset accounts could be attributed to certain seasonality factors, it was also clear customers are looking for ways to better manage their finances in the current environment.
“An offset account is a transaction account linked to an eligible home loan or investment home loan that can help borrowers to pay less interest over the life of their loan and reduce the time it takes for them to pay their home loan off,” he said.
Borrowers with a $500,000, 30-year home loan with an interest rate of 4.50 per cent p.a. who have a starting offset balance of $10,000 and add a further $100 deposit to their offset every month, could save in excess of $60,000 over the life of their loan.
“At Commonwealth Bank, we offer eligible home loan customers the option to take advantage of multiple free offset accounts, which is perfect for those people who like to give their money a specific task and then set it aside into different accounts to ensure it is only used for its designed purpose. Eligible customers can also take advantage of our redraw facility, which can help them to pay less interest on their loan,” Dr Baumann said.
One such customer who has been taking advantage of the multiple offset accounts offered by the bank is Marisa Cregan. The mother of two utilises 10 offset accounts that are connected to her Commonwealth Bank home loan.
According to Ms Cregan, the 10 offset accounts – all of which work together to offset the interest charged on her home loan – helps her to bucket her money and ensure she keeps track of her finances.
"We have an offset account for our savings, as well as one for our everyday expenses and another for our regular monthly expenses – like our mortgage repayments, phone bills, childcare costs. All of the money my husband and I earn has a purpose and having multiple offset accounts helps to ensure our money goes towards what we intended it for,” Ms Cregan said.
The recent growth in offset accounts recorded by CBA follows research from earlier this year when it was revealed more than 90 per cent of home owners were actively preparing for imminent rate increases on their mortgage.
Back before the first rate increase in May this year, 92 per cent of home owners said they were “doing something to prepare for the impact of a rate rise on their mortgage”. Of those, 37 per cent of home owners said they were putting more money into their offset or redraw facility that is connected to their home loan.
Dr Baumann said it’s encouraging to see that Australian homeowners are taking proactive steps to strengthen their financial position with rates still expected to increase further over the coming months.
In addition to using offset accounts, Dr Baumann said the bank had a range of other flexible home loan tools and features that customers could take advantage of to help manage their mortgages.
“Customers can utilise our home loan repayments calculator tool to understand how any rate changes may impact their repayments. Further, through NetBank and our industry leading app, eligible customers with a variable rate loan can apply to split their home loan at any time. This can give them the certainty of a fixed rate and the flexibility and features of a variable rate, including access to multiple offset accounts on eligible home loans,” Dr Baumann said.
“Another tool available to our customers is the Home Loan Change Repayments tool. This is a new feature in the CommBank app that gives eligible customers with weekly or fortnightly home loan repayments the control to sync their repayments with the frequency and day of the week they receive their salary.”
For more information about CBA’s flexible home loan features and tips on how borrowers can manage their home loan in the current rate environment, visit: commbank.com.au/home-loans
Things you should know
Media releases are prepared without considering an individual readers objectives, financial situation or needs. Readers should consider the appropriateness to their circumstances. Visit Important Information to access Product Disclosure Statements or Terms and Conditions which are currently available electronically for products of the Commonwealth Bank Group, along with the relevant Financial Services Guide. Target Market Determinations are available here. Loan applications are subject to credit approval. Interest rates are correct at the time they are published and are subject to change. Fees and charges may apply
