Australian Finance News

Australian Car Loan Demand Still Well Below 2009 Levels
Despite the recovery in car sales, car loan demand has declined to below levels seen a year ago, and the up-tick in sales is painting a false picture of recovery.

NAB Remains In The Running For RBS UK Branch Network
Australian banking major National Australia Bank (NAB) and Virgin Money remain in the running for the acquisition of a 318 strong branch banking network owned by troubled British lender Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), whilst Spanish banking giant Banco Santander remains the front runner, having hired Credit Suisse to advise on its bid.

Property Investor Demand For Mortgages Highest In Six Years
A survey conducted by a leading mortgage broker suggests that investors returning after their summer holidays took the largest share of the home loan market since 2004.

Australian Credit Card Borrowers Face Higher Interest Rates
Australian credit card holders face the spectre of higher monthly payments as major lenders increase their interest rates in response to the central bank tightening official cash rates.

Australian’s Increasingly Switching From Credit Cards Into Debit Cards
Australian consumers are increasingly transitioning away from credit cards and into debit cards instead, as concerns over personal finance become more acute, and major lenders engaged in a big marketing push.