The out-of-cycle cycle
Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank and Bendigo & Adelaide Bank joined ANZ and Westpac yesterday in making out-of-cycle home loan interest rate increases.Commonwealth Bank increased the rate on its standard variable home loan by 10 basis points to 7.41 per cent.NAB (along with Homeside and UBank) increased the rate on its standard variable home loan by nine basis points to 7.31 per cent.Meanwhile, Bendigo and Adelaide has made the biggest move so far, increasing its rate by 15 basis points to 7.45 per cent. On Friday, ANZ increased its rate by six basis points to 7.36 per cent and Westpac increased its rate by 10 basis points to 7.46 per cent.All these banks offer discounts of varying sizes on their standard variable rates.So far, two banks - Bank of Queensland and ME Bank - have said they will not be moving their rates during the current out-of-cycle cycle.All lenders increasing their rates cited the higher cost of funds as the reason. Commonwealth Bank's media statement referred to the Reserve Bank's Statement on Monetary Policy, published on Friday, which said: "Bank funding costs have increased relative to the cash rate over the past six months."Bendigo and Adelaide Bank's chief executive, Mike Hirst, said in a statement: "Banks are currently subsidising mortgages and if you look at the traditional role of a bank that makes no sense and is unsustainable."