No break fee and no discount from NAB
National Australia Bank is the first of the majors to pander to the government in launching a home loan with no early exit, discharge or settlement fees.The Clear Banking Home Loan is a no-frills mortgage, answering the government's call to allow bank customers to more easily move from a product they are not happy with, without incurring penalty fees.The bank, though, did not address the important issue of existing customers locked into mortgage products with high break fees. In launching a product that appears to be taking a proactive step in addressing the government's request, NAB has not yet, however, made any move to reduce break fees on its other home loans. (And nor has any other lender.)The new loan, which NAB is marketing as the Clear Banking Home Loan, will attract an application fee of $600, with no monthly fees and available for loans from $80,000, available through the National network and brokers.The current standard variable of 9.61 per cent will apply. It appears that no rate discount, which is still standard on many loans, will apply.Exit fees of around $900 are charged on the existing National standard variable loan if exited before four years, with an additional $350 charge for settlement and discharge fees, varying depending on the package.