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Banks lower TD rates ahead of OCR announcement

Tuesday 8th of March 2011

While the expectation is for a 50-basis-point cut in the Official Cash Rate, the quantum of cut in the deposit rates varied between banks. Some banks lowered rates for a period as less than 90 days and there were others who went as far ahead as the five-year term, and some made moves across the entire curve.

Incidentally, RaboDirect who has been sitting ahead of the rest across most of the curve decided to stay mum, thus further increasing the attractiveness of its investment rates.

Among the majors, Westpac and ASB lowered deposit rates right from 90 days to five years but the latter made steeper cuts in the long-term and also for one-year rates.

The net result is that Westpac is offering the best one-year rate of 4.70% among the four Australian majors, and its rate is now equal to Kiwibank's. TSB Bank is offering a more attractive 5% and RaboDirect is the leader with 5.55%.

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