Independent overviews of 12 Australian home loan providers — the four major banks, online-first lenders, and a selection of regional and specialist banks. Each guide covers products, key features (offset, redraw, split, app), application process, hardship contacts, and how to negotiate a better rate. We don't sell loans and don't take lender commissions — these guides exist to help you walk into the conversation prepared.
The four largest Australian banks by market cap and retail deposit base. Widest branch networks, broadest product ranges, but rarely the sharpest standard variable rate.
Big Four · AFSL 234945
Borrowers wanting a full-service bank with branch access and a wide range of loan products.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →Big Four · AFSL 233714
Borrowers looking for flexible home loan packages with fee waivers for bundled products.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →Big Four · AFSL 234527
Borrowers who value digital tools and want competitive variable rates from a major bank.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →Big Four · AFSL 230686
Borrowers seeking package discounts, particularly professionals and high-income earners.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →App-first lenders with no or minimal branch presence. Often offer competitive rates and faster online application processes.
Online bank · AFSL 229823
Borrowers comfortable banking online who want competitive rates without branch visits.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →Digital bank (NAB subsidiary) · AFSL 230686
Tech-savvy borrowers wanting no-frills, low-rate home loans with app-based management.
Offset, Redraw, App
Read overview →Online bank · AFSL 234739
Borrowers looking for professional packages and competitive offset account home loans.
Offset, Redraw, Split
Read overview →Digital bank (CBA subsidiary) · AFSL 050192
Borrowers wanting competitive rates and good digital tools from a CBA-backed lender.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →State-focused regional banks, investment banks with retail home loan arms, and non-bank lenders with distinctive rate structures.
Investment bank · AFSL 237502
Borrowers looking for competitive rates from a bank with strong offset account features.
Offset, Redraw, Split, App
Read overview →Non-bank lender · AFSL 318127
Borrowers wanting consistently low rates that automatically drop as they pay down their loan.
Redraw, App
Read overview →Regional bank · AFSL 229882
QLD and regional borrowers wanting a mid-tier bank with competitive rates and branch access.
Offset, Redraw, Split
Read overview →Regional bank · AFSL 229882
Borrowers preferring a community-focused bank with owner-managed branches and local service.
Offset, Redraw, Split
Read overview →Three things matter most when comparing lenders: rate, features, and fit for your situation. The advertised rate is rarely what you will actually get — most lenders offer 0.1–0.4% retention discounts for borrowers who ask. The real rate is the one you negotiate, not the one on the rate-card. Use the refinancing break-even calculator to model how much a rate difference is worth over the life of your loan.
Features matter when your situation is non-standard. Self-employed borrowers benefit from lenders with flexible income verification (Macquarie, ING). High earners with variable income often prefer offset-heavy structures (Macquarie, CBA Wealth Package). Investors look at IO availability and tax-friendly redraw. Australians outside the major capitals should compare regional banks (Suncorp in QLD, BOQ) alongside the majors.
If you don't know where to start, check the lender's hardship contact and AFSL registration in your first conversation — both are publicly listed (we include them in every lender overview). A lender that buries its hardship process is a lender you don't want when life happens.
Use our calculators to estimate repayments, borrowing capacity, and refinancing savings before you contact any lender.
Borrowing Capacity Calculator Refinancing Break-Even