REVEALED: What the big 4 banks don't want you to know...

"Interestingly, when rates last went up in November 2010, CBA pushed through the hike in just two days," said Mozo Director Kirsty Lamont. As a result, when interest rates increased, CBA adjusted ten days faster inflicting interest rate pain on their customers, but when interest rates dropped, they were 7 days slower to adjust rates.

Mozo reports that some of the smaller lenders have seized the opportunity to attract new customers who offer low rates and as a result, have seen an uptick in demand as more and more Australians turn their backs on the big 4.

Major bank principal and interest standard variable rates

Bank Cut New rate Effective from:

NAB -0.25% 5.11% 14/6/19
ANZ -0.18% 5.18% 14/6/19
Westpac -0.20% 5.18% 18/6/19
Commonwealth -0.25% 5.12% 25/6/19

In a recent report by The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), customers experience often differ from what their bank appears to promise in their media statements. As such, consumer advocates urge all mortgagee's to contact their banks and question their entitlements as cuts may not translate in real life to real accounts.

"It does pay to examine your particular situation and not rely on these media releases and media reporting about what the big banks are doing," said Gerard Brody from the Consumer Action Law Centre. "I think that is the case this time where some of the big banks have announced that their changes, their cuts in interest rates, will not happen until later on in June," he said.

The Australian Banking Association's chief executive Anna Bligh turned her attention to the savers, telling the ABC that individual banks had to weigh up the factors in setting rates, in particular the effects on cutting deposit rates.  "Interest rates are at historic lows and competition between banks for the business of Australian customers remains at an all-time high," she said in a statement.

With the fiercely competitive home loan market, Australian mortgage holders should talk to their bank and shop around until they get the best possible rate.