Banks' Pass-Through Rates Vary Widely as FMA Releases New Data
New data from the Financial Markets Authority has revealed significant differences in how quickly major banks pass on official cash rate movements to both borrowers and savers.
The regulator requested information from eight financial institutions, representing 98% of housing loans in New Zealand, as part of an effort to improve transparency around pricing behavior. The Reserve Bank last moved the OCR on July 8, lifting it by 25 basis points to 2.5%, with its next scheduled decision due on September 2.
The figures show stark contrasts on the savings side. When the OCR was falling last year, Kiwibank passed on 100% of the cuts to on-call savings accounts, while ANZ only passed on 30%. On the other hand, when the OCR lifted in July, Kiwibank and TSB again passed on the full increase.
Mortgage rates show a similar story of uneven pass-through. When rates were cut last year, most banks passed through 60% to 80% of the reduction in floating rates, with The Co-operative Bank leading at 96%. However, when the OCR rose in July, The Co-operative Bank passed through only 35 basis points of the increase.
Experts say that reputational risk could keep banks in line. Infometrics chief forecaster Gareth Kiernan said that transparency is a welcome step and that 'you don't want to get that reputation as being the bank that's ripping everybody off.'