Skip to content
A quick sweep of recent lender updates you may have missed…

Your monthly cheat sheet. This is where we round up a handful of lender updates that floated through during the month that you may not have seen, or saw but meant to circle back to before they vanished into the abyss.

These are hand picked for relevance, clarity, and practical use, and while it’s not every update from every lender, it’ll give you a clean snapshot of what’s worth knowing.

Please use the below as a guide only and continue to keep track of your own lender updates and always confirm with the relevant contacts before proceeding with an application.

Lender Policy & Updates

Bendigo Bank

  • Fixed rate changes effective 15 April 2026 across Flex and Easy products, all LVR tiers
  • Refer to Broker Website for full details

 

MyState Bank

  • Internal refinances can reset loan terms to max 30 years (if fully assessed)
  • Overtime income must be explained if recent payslips are 20% lower than YTD average
  • $500k borrowing cap for Category A postcodes removed

Holiday Rental Income

  • Can use latest tax return + NOA, or
  • 12-month agent/rental statement

Valuations

  • No longer require physical valuation for interstate purchases
  • LVR >80% requires Desktop valuation or higher, no AVMs

 

ANZ
5% Deposit Scheme

  • Now participating lender
  • Must select “Low Risk” pricing
  • Max savings buffer $30k
  • 5% genuine savings required
  • Self-employed assessed under <80% policy, no shading

$3,000 Cashback

  • Excludes loans with LMI waivers, including scheme and medico

Rental Income (Private Lease)

  • Tax return + NOA, or
  • 3 months rental history, use lowest if inconsistent
  • Ownership must be verified for non-ANZ securities

Policy Tightening

  • No exceptions for LMI or non-permanent residents
  • No accountant = no income acceptance
  • ABN/ACN must be ≥18 months

 

ING

  • Start with 1 year income policy where eligible
  • 2 year income policy available, no shading, higher LVR (80%–95%)
  • SME lending increased to $8M (from $5M)

 

Qudos Bank

  • No Frills rates increasing from 10 April
  • Submit by COB 9 April to secure current rates
  • Must settle by 30 June to retain rate

 

Bluestone

  • Accepts tax debt consolidation or ATO repayment plans
  • Accepts probation (min 3 months or 12 months continuous employment)
  • Low doc construction and commercial lending available
  • Unlimited cash out with statutory declaration only
  • No statements required for debts not being refinanced
  • Adverse credit accepted (defaults, bankruptcy, Part IX, caveats)
  • Negative gearing at current rates, incl. company/trust
  • Non-applicant debts treated as 100% liability and income
  • Alt doc via accountant letter only (up to $250k)
  • No CCR or credit scoring
  • 0.25% discount on SMSF residential lending

 

WLTH

  • New Broker Portal launched
  • Improved UX/UI and functionality
  • Greater transparency and efficiency

 

Bank of Melbourne

  • Fixed rate increases effective 2 April 2026
  • Applies to OO and investment loans
  • Reflects higher funding costs

 

Westpac

  • Fixed rate increases effective 2 April 2026
  • Applies to OO and investment loans

 

Bankwest

  • Fixed rate increases effective 2 April 2026
  • Applies to Complete Fixed and Fixed Rate Home Loans

 

Firstmac

  • Fixed car loan rates +0.20% from 1 April
  • Pipeline apps keep old rates if settled by 10 April
  • Fixed home loan rates +0.20%
  • Rate lock honoured if settled within lock period
  • Variable rates unchanged (from 6.59%)

 

Auswide

  • Changes effective 2 April 2026

Fixed Rates

  • All increasing

Variable Rates

  • OO variable and revert rates (<60% LVR) +0.05%
  • Applies to Basic Variable and Freedom Package

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Guarantee Scheme

The Scheme will enhance lenders’ willingness and ability to provide credit and will be available for new loans made by participating lenders until 30 September 2020.

The Government will provide eligible lenders with a guarantee of 50% per cent of new loans. Some generic terms are:

  • Businesses with a turnover of up to $50 million.

  • Maximum total size of loans of $250,000 per borrower.

  • Loans will be up to three years, with an initial six month repayment holiday.

  • Unsecured finance, meaning that borrowers will not have to provide an asset as security for the loan.

Reduced Interest Rates

Consider your current banking arrangements. The Reserve Bank has recently reduce the cash rate and lenders have passed this on to various loans they have.

Instant Asset Write Off

An increase in the instant asset write-off threshold from $30,000 to $150,000 30 June 2020.

Deferment of Loan Repayments for up to 6 Months

The banks are developing their own approach as to how to deal with requests from their clients for repayment holidays. Some are automatically granting the request, others are assessing the requests individually.