ANZ yesterday took the proverbial axe to its two main savings account products, the non-introductory Progress Saver account and the introductory Online Saver account.

These savings accounts had their maximum interest rates cut by 15 basis points, in a month where no Reserve Bank rate cut took place. 

ANZ also cut a huge number of term deposit interest rates by as much as 25 basis points yesterday. 

The moves come at a time when Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) statistics for April 2020 show all four major banks increased their deposit books by more than 4% compared to the same month in 2019, potential in response to financial uncertainty created by COVID-19. 

ANZ savings account rate cuts 

According to ANZ's website, both of these savings account products were cut by 15 basis points, both to below 1.00% p.a. 

ANZ's non-introductory account, the Progress Saver, has had its maximum interest rate reduced from 1.00% p.a. to 0.85% p.a: This change applies to the bonus interest rate, cut to 0.84% p.a, while the base interest rate is a miniscule 0.01% p.a. 

To earn the bonus rate customers must make no withdrawals and deposit at least $10 in any given month. 

ANZ's Online Saver meanwhile now has an interest rate of 0.80% p.a, down from 0.95% p.a, and is an introductory rate for three months before reverting to just 0.05% p.a. 

ANZ now has the second-lowest non-introductory rate among the big four banks' savings accounts:

  • The Westpac Life account has a total interest rate of 1.05% p.a. 
  • The NAB Reward Saver has a total interest rate of 1.00% p.a. 
  • The Commonwealth GoalSaver has a total interest rate of 0.50% p.a. 

Outside of the big four banks there are some introductory savings accounts on offer with much higher interest rates.

Macquarie Bank and Rabobank, for example, offer four-month introductory interest rates of 2.26% p.a and 2.25% p.a. respectively, before reverting to lower interest rates (rates that are still on par or higher than those of the big four). 

These types of accounts might not be the best choice for long-term savings, but they could be useful for savers that have a short-term savings goal, like saving for a holiday. 

The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure

High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Macquarie Savings Account (<$250k)

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
  • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
  • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
  • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
Disclosure

AMP Saver Account

  • Earn up to 5.20% pa by depositing $1,000 in the previous month
  • No account fees
  • Easy access to your money
Disclosure
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account (<$100k)

    02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Growth Saver

      01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Virgin Money Boost Saver

        01001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Bonus Saver Account

          01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Bonus Saver

            0100$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            mySaver

              000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Simple Saver

                4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Netsave Account

                  3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Online Savings Account

                    3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    HSBC Everyday Savings Account

                      0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Incentive Saver Account

                        4000.01$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Bankwest Easy Saver

                          0502$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Bonus Saver

                            0500$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Incentive Saver Account

                              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                              All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of October 5, 2024. View disclaimer.

                              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                              The only other notable savings account rate changes to occur in the last few weeks is RAMS, which on Monday 1 June cut the maximum interest rate on its RAMS Saver account from 1.65% p.a. to 1.20% p.a - a whole 45 basis points. 

                              ANZ term deposit rate cuts 

                              ANZ also cut a swathe of term deposit rates on Thursday, by as little as 10 basis points and as much as 25 basis points. 

                              It's the only one of the major banks to make changes to term deposit rates so far in June, as far as Savings.com.au has managed to find. 

                              These cuts apply to pretty much every term ANZ offers, ranging from a few months to five years. 

                              Term deposits among the big four banks are extremely low at the moment, with the highest rate advertised on ANZ's website being just 1.00% p.a.for an eight-month term. 

                              The average term deposit rate among all the big four banks, when comparing a broad range of their term deposits, is just 0.80% p.a. 

                              But outside of the big four, there are some banks offering significantly higher term deposit rates than this. 

                              The table below features term deposits with some of the highest interest rates on the market for a six-month term.

                              Provider

                              At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Term Deposit - 6 months

                                At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                Term Deposit - 6 months

                                  At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                  Fixed Term Deposit - 6 months

                                    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                    Term Deposits - 6 months

                                      At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                      ME Bank Term Deposit - 6 months

                                        Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                        All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of October 5, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                        Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning