The Signal: Banks Move First
In mid-January 2026, well before the RBA's February meeting, Australia's largest lenders sent a clear message: they were pricing in rate hikes ahead. Commonwealth Bank led the charge on January 15, lifting its 3-year fixed rate by a massive 0.70% (70 basis points)—from 5.34% to 6.04%. This single move was equivalent to three standard RBA hikes.
CBA wasn't alone. By early February, more than 30 lenders had repriced fixed products, with Macquarie Bank hiking twice in six weeks. Then, on February 3, 2026, the RBA confirmed what the banks had anticipated: a 25-basis-point increase in the cash rate to 3.85%.
While variable rates rose in lockstep with the RBA's 0.25% increase, the fixed-rate market had already moved with triple the intensity—a clear indicator that lenders expect more hikes ahead.
Track the Impact: Live Lender Response
We're maintaining a live RBA Rate Tracker showing exactly which banks have passed on the February rate hike—and by how much. While most major lenders have matched the RBA's 25bp increase, some have moved faster than others:
Variable Rate Pass-Through:
- CBA, NAB, ANZ: Variable rates increased 0.25% p.a., effective February 13
- Westpac: Variable rates increased 0.25% p.a., effective February 17
- Macquarie: Delayed pass-through until February 20
Fixed Rate Movements (January-February 2026):
- CBA: 3-year fixed +0.70% (Jan 15)
- Macquarie: Multiple hikes totalling +0.50% (Jan-Feb)
- 30+ lenders: Various fixed rate increases ranging from 0.30% to 0.70%
Banks Passing on Rate Changes
See which banks have recently changed their home loan rates
Data from the last 30 days • Updated: 21 Sept 2026, 10:25 pm
Banks with Rate Hikes
Largest Rate Hike
Average Rate Hike
Total Products
Top 20 Banks with Rate Hikes
| Rank | Bank | Hike Range | Max Hike | Avg Hike | Latest Hike | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | St.George BankMajor Bank 110 products with hikes | 0.25% - 0.50% | +0.50% | 0.40% | 21 Sept 2026 | |
2 | BankSAMajor Bank 110 products with hikes | 0.25% - 0.50% | +0.50% | 0.40% | 21 Sept 2026 | |
3 | WestpacMajor Bank 100 products with hikes | 0.25% - 0.50% | +0.50% | 0.40% | 21 Sept 2026 | |
4 | Bank of MelbourneMajor Bank 110 products with hikes | 0.25% - 0.50% | +0.50% | 0.40% | 21 Sept 2026 | |
5 | Macquarie Bank LimitedMajor Bank 90 products with hikes | 0.10% - 0.30% | +0.30% | 0.21% | 8 Sept 2026 | |
6 | ANZMajor Bank 75 products with hikes | 0.10% - 0.20% | +0.20% | 0.14% | 17 Sept 2026 | |
7 | Bendigo BankMajor Bank 5 products with hikes | 0.04% - 0.20% | +0.20% | 0.11% | 25 Aug 2026 | |
8 | NATIONAL AUSTRALIA BANKMajor Bank 125 products with hikes | 0.15% | +0.15% | 0.15% | 18 Sept 2026 | |
9 | Auswide Bank LtdMajor Bank 2 products with hikes | 0.10% | +0.10% | 0.10% | 4 Sept 2026 | |
10 | MyState BankMajor Bank 4 products with hikes | 0.10% | +0.10% | 0.10% | 29 Aug 2026 | |
11 | BankVicCommunity Owned 2 products with hikes | 0.45% | +0.45% | 0.45% | 27 Aug 2026 | |
12 | Bank AustraliaCommunity Owned 103 products with hikes | 0.40% | +0.40% | 0.40% | 18 Sept 2026 | |
13 | Qudos BankCommunity Owned 40 products with hikes | 0.40% | +0.40% | 0.40% | 18 Sept 2026 | |
14 | RACQ BankCommunity Owned 33 products with hikes | 0.25% | +0.25% | 0.25% | 12 Sept 2026 | |
15 | Great Southern BankCommunity Owned 28 products with hikes | 0.05% - 0.25% | +0.25% | 0.16% | 11 Sept 2026 | |
16 | Queensland Country BankCommunity Owned 4 products with hikes | 0.20% | +0.20% | 0.20% | 16 Sept 2026 | |
17 | ING BANK (Australia) LtdInternational 61 products with hikes | 0.20% | +0.20% | 0.20% | 16 Sept 2026 | |
18 | Southern Cross Credit UnionOther 8 products with hikes | 0.40% - 0.80% | +0.80% | 0.45% | 12 Sept 2026 | |
19 | The MacOther 1 products with hikes | 0.30% | +0.30% | 0.30% | 3 Sept 2026 |
Data sourced from 7,829 home loan product variations
Showing 1,011 products with rate hikes in the last 30 days
Use our tracker to see if your lender has announced changes, and compare how quickly they're passing on cuts versus hikes. The pattern reveals a lot about which banks prioritise shareholder margins over customer outcomes.
Timeline: How We Got Here
Understanding the sequence of events helps explain why fixed rates moved so aggressively:
January 15, 2026
CBA increases 3-year fixed rates by 70bps (5.34% → 6.04%)
January 28, 2026
December CPI data released: 3.8% annual inflation (above RBA's 2-3% target)
January 15-31, 2026
30+ lenders reprice fixed products; Macquarie hikes twice
February 3, 2026
RBA raises cash rate by 25bps to 3.85%
February 13-20, 2026
Variable rate increases take effect across major lenders
What the Market is Pricing In
Major banks are divided on what comes next:
- NAB: Forecasts another 25bp hike in May 2026
- Westpac & ANZ: Expect the cash rate to hold at current levels
- Market consensus: Uncertainty remains, but the era of falling rates is definitively over
The disagreement reflects genuine uncertainty about inflation persistence versus economic slowdown, but one thing is clear: lenders are protecting their margins by moving fixed rates preemptively.
The Mechanics: Why "Fixed" Is Getting Friction
Here's what most borrowers don't understand: Lenders don't fund fixed loans from the RBA cash rate—they use the Swap Market (wholesale borrowing costs).
The Math:
If a bank expects the cash rate to be 4.5% in 12 months, they cannot offer you a 5.5% fixed rate today without losing money later. The swap market reflects expectations of future cash rates, and those expectations have shifted dramatically.
The Buffer Impact:
This surge in fixed rates creates what we call a "Serviceability Shadow." Even if you aren't on a fixed rate, banks often use the higher of the "Fixed" or "Variable" rate as the floor for their stress tests.
What this means: The 70bps jump in fixed rates may effectively reduce your borrowing capacity, particularly if you're applying for a new loan or seeking pre-approval.
The Action Plan: Your 48-Hour Checklist
1. The "Pre-Approval" Audit
Critical: If you have a pre-approval based on last month's fixed rates, it may be void or significantly reduced.
Action: Call your broker TODAY to refresh your "Max Purchase Price" before heading to an auction. Many buyers are discovering at the last minute that their borrowing capacity has shrunk.
2. Break-Cost Analysis
Who this affects: Anyone currently on a high variable rate (7% or higher).
The window is closing to lock in a sub-6% fixed rate. Have your lender calculate the "break cost" versus the potential savings of a 2-year fix at current rates.
Example calculation:
- Current variable rate: 7.25%
- Available 2-year fixed: 5.99%
- Potential saving: 1.26% p.a.
- On a $500K loan: ~$6,300/year in interest savings
- Break cost to exit variable: Calculate and compare
3. The "2026 Cliff" Check
Who this affects: Anyone whose current fixed term expires anytime in 2026.
Do not wait. You need to model a "Transition Offset" strategy now—essentially "over-saving" into an offset account today to cushion the 2% jump you'll likely face upon expiry.
If your fixed rate expires:
- Q1 2026: Revert rate likely 7.0-7.5%
- Q2-Q4 2026: Revert rate potentially 7.5-8.0% if further hikes occur
Check our home loans product search to see what interest rates your bank is currently offering.
The Bheja.ai Solution
Our AI engine has been updated with the latest February 2026 swap rates and RBA expectations. Use the Bheja.ai Refinance Simulator to run a "Fixed vs. Variable" scenario tailored to your situation.
What it calculates:
- Exactly how many RBA hikes it would it take for a variable loan to become more expensive than today's available fixed rates
- Your break-even point for fixing vs. staying variable
- Projected total interest costs under different rate scenarios
- Optimal refinancing timing based on your current loan structure
→ Ask Bheja
The Bigger Picture: What This Tells Us About 2026
The aggressive repricing of fixed rates—particularly CBA's 70bp move—reveals what banks' risk models are saying: more hikes are coming, or at the very least, rates will stay higher for longer than initially expected.
Key signals:
- Lenders moved 3 weeks before the RBA decision (not after)
- Fixed rates moved 3x harder than variable rates (forward-looking pricing)
- 30+ lenders acted simultaneously (market-wide consensus)
- Major banks disagree on next move (genuine uncertainty, not coordinated messaging)
What to watch:
- March CPI data (released late April): If inflation remains above 3.5%, May hike probability increases
- Fixed rate trajectory: If 3-year fixed rates cross 6.5%, the market is pricing in 4.5%+ cash rate
- Swap market movements: Leading indicator for where fixed rates will go next
Bottom Line
The 70bps fixed rate surge isn't about what happened on February 3—it's about what banks expect to happen between now and December 2026. Whether you're fixing, staying variable, or refinancing, the key is to act with current information, not last month's assumptions.
