The battle for home-lending customers, which has seen the two-year fixed interest rate fall to 6.9 per cent, is unsustainable and risked reigniting the housing boom, bank economists say.
Wednesday, November 17th 2004, 2:47PM
by The Landlord
ASB Bank on Friday lowered its rate to 6.95 per cent to undercut the Bank of New Zealand's market leading rate of 7.15 per cent.
However, the BNZ hit back with 6.9 per cent to maintain its promise of not being undercut till at least December 17.
In reality customers were generally able to get the lowest rate in the market regardless of who they banked with or the advertised rate.
National Bank economist John McDermott said the profit margin on the two-year rate was now so thin that after paying a mortgage broker's commission banks were making a loss.
