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RBNZ adds new option to DTI consultation

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) has started consultation on debt-to-income ratios, but added a new, and more sensible option.

Wednesday, November 24th 2021, 10:09AM 3 Comments

This could involve making banks impose tougher risk-assessment measures on would-be borrowers.

The RBNZ wants comment from the finance industry on so-called debt serviceability restrictions (DSRs).

It is the latest in a series of measures to reduce banking sector vulnerability to an over heated property market.

The RBNZ says even though banks in this country are well-capitalised, the combination of very high debt levels and unsustainable house prices poses financial stability risks.

Its main method of dealing with this is the well-publicised Loan-to-Value-Ratio (LVR). This limits banks to no more than 10% of first home sales going to people with a deposit of less than 20%.

But it is now going further and consulting with the public and the industry over the viability of DSRs.

Of these, the best known is the Debt to Income Ratio (DTI). The RBNZ has already signaled its intention to consult on this and is now formally inviting comment.

Some banks have already anticipated a move with the BNZ saying a multiple of six is the level it will use in its own DTI.

The Reserve Bank is also looking at another sort of DSR: a floor on the test interest rates used by banks in their loan serviceability assessments.

These test the ability of borrowers to continue repaying their loans if interest rates rise above the level they were at when the loan was first taken out.

If approved, this would standardise the way banks assess the dependability of a loan, which they currently can vary depending on the wealth of a loan applicant.

It could also mean borrowers would have to be prepared to demonstrate they could face a higher potential interest rate than they are assessed on at present.

At this stage the RBNZ is not planning to implement either method, but it wants to have them ready in case of trouble.

A former Reserve Bank official, now an independent economist, thinks of the two methods under consideration, a floor on serviceability assessments is by far the better of the two options.

Ian Harrison, of Tailrisk Economics (pictured), says DTI is far too simplistic, since interest rates that go up and down can complicate a simple comparison between income and debt. A floor would work far better.

“Banks have a test rate, they don't just look at your current interest rate but they look at a higher interest rate, that is your test rate, and often that is about 6%.

Harrison says banks need to know that borrowers could service a loan at a higher rate in future than is being offered at present, to ensure their money is safe.

Amending the way banks make that judgment would be far more reliable in the fight to safeguard monetary system from risky debt than a simple DTI.

This view however contrasts with the RBNZ's belief that DTI restrictions would work better.

Tags: DTIs Ian Harrison RBNZ

« ANZ too clamps down on low-deposit loansRBNZ hikes rates, and promises more »

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Comments from our readers

On 24 November 2021 at 10:57 am Andy the adviser said:
The Reserve Bank has created this problem. It should be up to the Reserve Bank to fix it. Making it harder to purchase a home by threatening to increase interest rates well above inflation rates, instigating theoretical debt servicing calculations instead of using ACTUAL verified borrower budgets is just going to lead to trouble.

The only reason that homeowners are going to lose is if they HAVE to sell their house for less than they borrowed. With banks already ensuring a 20% equity gap, the banks are unlikely to lose.

The only reasons that homeowners would need to sell at a loss would be loss of income, usually brought on by poor economic decisions made by the Reserve Bank. This includes over-stimulation, and unnecessary fiddling with the OCR.

Let's not forget that the only reason house prices are so high is all the extra money being printed and being brought back in to the country by returnees chasing short supply. Reducing the money supply is the only option here - a road leading to disaster for sure.

Oh, and throw in the inaccurate way in which inflation is calculated. How can inflation be less than 5%, when house prices are rising at 30%?

The answer is simple. Forget about crystal gazing, theories and economic modelling. Look at reality. As has been said - the only way to accurately predict the future is to create it yourself.
On 24 November 2021 at 11:13 am Jonny Good Guy said:
If they did any of this why would we need 5 banks?
This is anti-competitive behavior from the RB.
Then close them all down and have one.
There would be no difference between them.
On 25 November 2021 at 8:43 am Missy said:
Rb is creating a huge disaster, the banks are making huge margins over the ocr it is so criminal. Jist making nz more a rich country and more people homeless and starving

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Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
AIA - Back My Build 6.19 - - -
AIA - Go Home Loans 8.74 7.24 6.79 6.65
ANZ 8.64 7.84 7.39 7.25
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39 - - -
ANZ Good Energy - - - 1.00
ANZ Special - 7.24 6.79 6.65
ASB Bank 8.64 7.24 6.79 6.65
ASB Better Homes Top Up - - - 1.00
Avanti Finance 9.15 - - -
Basecorp Finance 9.60 - - -
Bluestone 9.24 - - -
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
BNZ - Classic - 7.24 6.79 6.65
BNZ - Green Home Loan top-ups - - - 1.00
BNZ - Mortgage One 8.69 - - -
BNZ - Rapid Repay 8.69 - - -
BNZ - Std, FlyBuys 8.69 7.84 7.39 7.25
BNZ - TotalMoney 8.69 - - -
CFML Loans 9.45 - - -
China Construction Bank - 7.09 6.75 6.49
China Construction Bank Special - - - -
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special - 7.04 - -
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 8.40 7.24 6.79 6.65
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Co-operative Bank - Standard 8.40 7.74 7.29 7.15
Credit Union Auckland 7.70 - - -
First Credit Union Special - 7.45 7.35 -
First Credit Union Standard 8.50 7.99 7.85 -
Heartland Bank - Online 7.99 6.69 6.45 6.19
Heartland Bank - Reverse Mortgage - - - -
Heretaunga Building Society 8.90 7.60 7.40 -
HSBC Premier 8.59 - - -
HSBC Premier LVR > 80% - - - -
HSBC Special - - - -
ICBC 7.85 7.05 6.75 6.59
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Kainga Ora 8.64 7.79 7.39 7.25
Kainga Ora - First Home Buyer Special - - - -
Kiwibank 8.50 8.25 7.79 7.55
Kiwibank - Offset 8.50 - - -
Kiwibank Special - 7.25 6.79 6.65
Liberty 8.59 8.69 8.79 8.94
Nelson Building Society 9.00 7.75 7.35 -
Pepper Money Advantage 10.49 - - -
Pepper Money Easy 8.69 - - -
Pepper Money Essential 8.29 - - -
Resimac - LVR < 80% 8.84 ▼8.09 ▼7.59 ▼7.29
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
Resimac - LVR < 90% 9.84 ▼9.09 ▼8.59 ▼8.29
Resimac - Specialist Clear (Alt Doc) - - 8.99 -
Resimac - Specialist Clear (Full Doc) - - 9.49 -
SBS Bank 8.74 7.84 7.45 7.25
SBS Bank Special - 7.24 6.85 6.65
SBS Construction lending for FHB - - - -
SBS FirstHome Combo 6.19 6.74 - -
SBS FirstHome Combo - - - -
SBS Unwind reverse equity 9.95 - - -
Select Home Loans 9.24 - - -
TSB Bank 9.44 8.04 7.55 7.45
Lender Flt 1yr 2yr 3yr
TSB Special 8.64 7.24 6.75 6.65
Unity 8.64 6.99 6.79 -
Unity First Home Buyer special - - 6.45 -
Wairarapa Building Society 8.60 6.95 6.85 -
Westpac 8.64 7.89 7.49 7.25
Westpac Choices Everyday 8.74 - - -
Westpac Offset 8.64 - - -
Westpac Special - 7.29 6.89 6.65
Median 8.64 7.29 7.32 6.65

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