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Help for your home loan

Getting started

If you're looking to buy a home, you can apply for home loan pre-approval to help give you peace of mind for when you're ready to make an offer.

Please contact us on 1300 228 228 to speak with one of our home loan specialists, who can guide you through the process.  

Find out more about getting pre-approval for your home loan.

Request a home loan appointment

Depending on your application, we can provide loan pre-approval in as little as 24–48 hours, and we are doing so for many of our customers. 

For more complex applications, unconditional finance approval or where a valuation of your property is required, it can take between five and seven days to process all the documentation.

Applying for a home loan can seem daunting, but our home loan specialists make it easy and will walk you through the process. 

We’ll ask for information about your income, your expenses and any assets that you own. We also need to know about any other loans, credit cards or other debts (e.g. pay day lenders) you may have. 

You'll need to provide documents to support your application.

Get the ball rolling by calling 1300 228 228 to speak with a with a home loan specialist today.

If you’re looking to buy your very first home, with BCU Bank you can borrow up to a loan to value ratio (LVR) of 95%. 

As a general guide you'll need a minimum 5% deposit plus your settlement fees and Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) fees. LMI fees will apply if you don’t have a 20% deposit plus settlement fees.

You may qualify to take out (LMI) for deposits less than 20% of the property value.

Read five simple tips to save for a home deposit

LVR stands for Loan to Value Ratio. This is calculated as the amount you want to borrow as a percentage of the value of the property you buy, or that will be used as security.

For example, if you borrow $540,000 to buy a property valued at $600,000, your LVR would be 90%.

If you have a home loan with another bank or lender, it's easy to switch to BCU Bank. 

Our lending specialists will work with you to help you understand the best loan, or mix of loans, for your personal needs and guide you through the application process. 

If you'd like to speak to a home loan specialist, please call us on 1300 228 228 or book an appointment online.

Typically, the maximum term for a home loan is 30 years.  We will also take into account the age of the borrowers and other circumstances before providing an offer of credit.

As long as you can evidence your capacity to meet the required repayments whilst you're on parental leave, you may be eligible for a home loan.  

For more information, please call us on 1300 228 228 and speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists.


Your first home

There are many things to consider when working out how much you can borrow including your income, regular expenses and any existing loans you need to make repayments on.

That’s where our home loan borrowing calculator comes in.

Just provide us with a few quick details about your income and spending – like how much you get paid, your regular expenses and bills, and any loans or credit cards you've got – and our calculator will give you with an estimate of how much you could borrow to buy a home.

When you book an appointment with us you'll need to bring your identification and other relevant documents with you. 

We'll need to understand your financial needs to provide you with the best service possible. What you need exactly depends on your circumstances however as a general guide we'll need to see:

  • Personal identification documents 
  • Proof of your income
  • Details of your assets and liabilities
  • Details of your everyday expenses, savings and your deposit (if buying)
  • Other documents related to your particular circumstances

For more detailed information on what you'll need to bring, find out more about how to apply for a home loan.

Please call us on 1300 228 228 to speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists if you have any queries.

A loan's comparison rate is made up of the standard interest rate as well as any fees and charges associated with the loan. This helps you to know the true cost of a loan so you can compare loans accurately and make informed decisions when using comparison sites or considering different loan.

Find out how the comparison rate is calculated.

Stamp duty – which is also called transfer duty – is a tax charged by the state and territory governments for certain types of transactions, such as the purchase of a property or the purchase of land. The amount of stamp duty charged is different in each state.

You can work out how much stamp duty will apply on your property purchase using our stamp duty calculator.

A home loan key fact sheet summarises the important information about a loan and is laid out in a consistent format, making is easier for you to compare loans from BCU Bank with other lenders. 

It will provide you with the estimated cost of the loan, including:

  • loan repayment per month
  • loan repayment per year
  • loan establishment fee
  • the total amount to be paid back (including loan amount and fees), and
  • the total you'll pay back per $1 borrowed.

All credit providers are required to make a key facts sheet available in a consistent format.

Create a home loan key fact sheet

Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is a type of insurance that protects the bank if you as the borrower are unable to make your home loan repayments. LMI is usually required when a borrower has a deposit of less than 20% of the property's purchase price and doesn't have a guarantee or guarantor.

A redraw facility allows you to access the additional payments that you have made on your loan, less the next repayment due.

Not all loans offer the option to redraw your extra payments, so you should consider this when choosing your loan type.

You may have authorised loan redraw access when you signed your loan contract. If not, you'll need to complete the Redraw Authority Nomination form. 

You can return the completed form in branch or via Secure Mail in internet banking. 

Download Redraw Authority Nomination Form - PDF (71 kB)

With a home loan offset account every dollar in your account is offset against your variable rate home loan balance.  

For example if you have $1,000 dollars in your offset account, this will reduce the balance that your interest is calculated on by $1,000 dollars. That’s $1,000 dollars you’re not paying interest on, so more of each repayment goes to paying off your loan rather than paying interest. 

An offset account is not available on all home loans. Please check the loan product features or your loan contract to see if you are eligible for redraw.


Repayments

You can find your minimum monthly loan repayment and see when it is due in our mobile app or internet banking. 

In the mobile app, go to your loan account and reveal the information 'i' icon. Extra loan information will display including your next payment due date and payment amount. 

In internet banking, go to your account and expand the more details section by clicking on the ellipsis (…). Your next payment date and amount due will display. 

If you need more help, please call 1300 228 228 or visit your local branch and one of our friendly team will be happy to assist.

Depending on your loan type, your repayment is due monthly on the anniversary of your loan settlement date. You can check this in the loan information section of internet banking or the mobile app.

You can set up regular loan repayments aligned to your weekly, fortnightly or monthly salary payments if you want to - just make sure the minimum required repayment is made each month.

If you are in advance on your loan more than the repayment amount due, and you're only going to be a few days late, you don't need to notify us.

If you believe that you won’t be able to make a repayment with us because of sickness, an accident, you've lost your job or had a change in circumstances, please contact us on 1300 228 228 so we can assess your situation.

Find out more about financial hardship

If your loan balance is showing an available amount (i.e. you're in advance of your contracted repayments), you may be able to skip a payment on your loan.

To ensure you won’t fall behind, your available balance will take into consideration your upcoming minimum monthly repayment.

If you’d like us to check if you’re sufficiently in advance, please call us on 1300 228 228 or visit your local branch.

If you have a qualifying loan you can set up access to redraw additional funds from your home loan via internet banking or the mobile app, or you can request a one off transfer.

Online access to loan redraw

To enable redraw ongoing using Digital Banking, you'll need to complete a Redraw Authority Nomination Form - PDF (71kB)  and return this to us via secure mail or in a branch. 

One off loan redraw request

If you would like to make a one off transfer from your loan account you can request this using the Loan Redraw Request form - PDF (92kB).

You will be able redraw up to the amount that is shown as available on your loan balance. Your upcoming minimum monthly payment will be taken into consideration in the amount shown, so redrawing will not result in you falling behind on your repayments.

For example, if you have paid a total additional amount of $9,000 into your loan, and your next repayment is $1,500, you'll see an available balance of $7,500.

If you pay more than the minimum monthly repayment to your home loan each month, you may be able to pay your loan off faster and save on interest. The actual savings will depend on factors such as the frequency and amount of your extra payments. 

Our home loan repayment calculator lets you see how paying extra to your home loan could reduce the amount of interest you’ll pay over the life of your loan. And as they say, seeing is believing.

Consider choosing a home loan that offers an offset account to help you pay your loan off faster. An offset account can help reduce the amount of interest you pay on your loan, so more of your repayments go towards the principle.

You can also try to make extra payments, either as a lump sum or regular payments. Repaying weekly or fortnightly instead of monthly can also help. With more regular payments, over the course of a year, you'll end up paying a little extra to your loan - and every little bit counts! 

By selecting the ‘extra repayments’ tab on our home loan repayment calculator, you can calculate the impact that making extra payments would have on your home loan.

You can schedule your home loan repayments to coincide with your pay cycle or when is most convenient.  

For new loans you can choose the frequency and day on the Loan Repayment Authority in your home loan contract pack, or if you prefer you can manage repayments yourself using scheduled payments in the mobile app or internet banking.

If your current repayment plan was set up when your loan was funded, please call us on 1300 228 228 for help with making changes to your repayment schedule.

If you have set up your own repayments via internet banking or the BCU Bank app, you can either edit your existing amount, or simply delete the existing payment and set up a new one.

You may need to change your repayment amount if you change your loan type from variable to fixed, or principle and interest to interest-only. This will be outlined on your new contract. 

For principle and interest loans you can update these repayments yourself in the mobile app or internet banking. We'll be happy to help you set up any new repayments, if required.

An offset account is a bank account linked to your home loan. The balance in your account is used to offset the outstanding balance of your loan, which reduces the amount of interest you’re charged. You can use your offset account the same way you would a transaction account, so it’s a great option to deposit your salary and manage your everyday banking.

A redraw facility is a feature available on some variable rate home loans, and isn't a separate bank account. It allows you to withdraw any extra money you've paid towards your home loan over and above your minimum required repayments.

Both offset accounts and redraw facilities can help reduce the amount of interest you pay on your home loan, which could mean you pay your loan off sooner. 

If you have already signed and returned your construction loan contract, you will have provided authority to release progress payments (excluding the final/handover claim).  

We will make progress payments upon receipt of a tax invoice or claim for completed work from your builder, and when any other conditions or requirements are met. We may seek evidence such as a valuation to confirm the additional work has been undertaken.


Top up or switch

Most of our existing home loan customers can switch to another of our home loans, however there are some exceptions.  

To confirm your eligibility, please call us on 1300 228 228 and speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists.

We are happy to review your current home loan rate to ensure you're on the best product for your situation. Please call us on 1300 228 228 to speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists. 

When you split your home loan you can divide your debt into multiple loans (e.g. a fixed rate loan and a variable rate loan). This may help you to reduce the impact of interest rate fluctuations while retaining the features and benefits you want. 

For example, a fixed rate loan gives you the confidence of knowing how much your repayments will be and protects you against rate rises. In comparison, a standard variable rate loan allows you to make extra repayments and gives you the flexibility to redraw them at any time, providing you meet the relevant requirements to do so.

If you'd like to speak to a home loan specialist to see if a split home loan can benefit you, please contact 1300 228 228 or book an appointment online.

If you have an existing home loan with BCU Bank there is a Home Loan switch fee that applies. 

Other fees and charges may apply depending on your loan.

View all home loan fees

One of our experienced home loan specialists can assist you with switching your home loan.

We can meet with you at one of our branches or you can speak with one our direct banking team to apply over the phone.

Call us on 1300 228 228 to make an appointment or to speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists.

Request a home loan appointment

After confirming your eligibility for a loan switch, we can have your variation paperwork issued within 48 hours. Please allow 10 - 15 working days after we receive your signed variation document for your loan to be switched.

Call us on 1300 228 228 to speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists.

Yes, your loan account number will change if you combine loans. A new loan is created combining both of your previous loans together.


Fixed rate loans

Interest rates can change in the time between your loan application and when the loan is advanced.

A Rate Lock is an optional feature of a fixed rate home loan that allows you to lock in a fixed interest rate for up to 90 days before funding to avoid any uncertainly with rate changes.  This feature requires you to complete a Fixed Rate Lock Request and pay the applicable fee. Terms and conditions apply.

Reach out to one of our lenders if you would like to know more.

View all home loan fees

You can pay an additional amount up to $25,000 to your fixed rate loan without penalty, however, please note that no redraw is available during a fixed rate period.  

Your fixed rate home loan will automatically 'roll-over' to a standard variable rate home loan upon maturity. We'll notify you of this in advance.

If you wish to explore other home loan products or your options at the of your fixed rate loan, please call us on 1300 228 228 to speak with one of our home loan specialists.

We'll notify you 45 days before your fixed term ends to advise when your fixed loan will be expiring, what product it will change to, the new interest rate and the new repayment required.

Alternatively, you can contact us at any time on 1300 228 228 to confirm when your fixed loan is due to expire.

When your fixed rate home loan term is due to end, it's the perfect time to reassess your needs and financial situation. Once you’ve done that, you have three options: re-fix, switch, or revert.

  • To fix your loan again for a further 1-5 years, speak to one of our home loan specialists.
  • To switch your loan product to a variable home loan that may better suit your needs (such as a loan with the option to redraw or an offset account), speak to one of our home loan specialists.
  • If you decide not to do anything when the term of your fixed rate home loan is up, the interest rate will revert to a ‘standard’ variable rate set by the bank. This rate can be higher than the rate you’ve been fixed on and may increase your monthly repayments. The interest rate and product your loan will revert to will be noted on the letter that is sent to you.

If you wish to explore your home loan options, please call us on 1300 228 228 or make an online enquiry to speak with one of our home loan specialists.

You may wish to either partially or fully repay your fixed rate loan before the end of your fixed rate period, or switch to a different loan or repayment type. If you do so, you may need to pay a fixed rate adjustment cost or break cost.   

If you'd like a break cost estimate, please call us on 1300 228 228 and speak with one of our experienced home loan specialists.

A fixed-rate loan means the interest rate and repayments on your loan don't change for the duration of the fixed-rate period (1 - 5 years).  

The interest rate on a variable rate home loan can change based on a number of factors such as the reserve bank cash rate, which can move up or down as the market changes.


Rates & costs

You can find all the important information about your home or personal loan in the mobile app or internet banking. You can view the interest rate, account owners, when your next repayment is due and the amount due, as well as how much you're in advance on your loan.

  • In internet banking from the dashboard go to your loan. Click on the three dots to expand your loan details.
  • In the BCU Bank app from My Accounts go to your loan. Slide the account card to the left and tap on Info.

The interest charged to your loan account varies month to month because interest charges accrue daily and are calculated on the unpaid balance at the end of each day. This is then debited to your loan account as the interest charged on the last day of each month. 

For variable rate home loans, there is no penalty or ‘break cost’ fee when you pay your loan off early. There may be a break cost fee for fixed rate loans and you’ll find the details on your loan contract. 

In addition, there’s an industry-standard discharge fee that applies to all home loans.

View our home loan fees to learn more.

The fees and charges that apply to your home loan will be listed in your loan contract.

You may also incur a late payment fee if your home loan repayments are not paid by the monthly due date.

You can refer to our home loan fees and charges or contact us on 1300 228 228 for more information.

There are many costs (some of them not so obvious) when selling a house that sellers should be aware of. This includes real estate agent fees, settlement fees, advertising fees, conveyancing fees and more. 

Our home buying and selling cost calculator can help you estimate the total costs involved. 

Buying a property costs much more than just the purchase price. You'll need to consider additional costs such as stamp duty, building and pest inspection fees, strata costs, pro rata council rates, transfer fees and more.

Use our home buying and selling cost calculator to get an accurate breakdown of the costs involved. 


Credit reporting

Your credit report shows how many times you’ve applied for credit and which loans you've opened and your history of making repayments, any defaults, and how much debt you currently have. This is very important information as it tells the new credit provider how you’ve treated those debts, which gives an indication about how you’re likely to treat the new debt.

It includes information that is needed to identify you - name; birth date; and recent addresses; current or last known employer’s name; driver’s licence number (if you have one).

Your credit report helps us determine your suitability for credit (loan) products, like home loans, personal loans or credit cards. When you apply for a home loan, personal loan or credit card with us we will check your credit report. We will also record your application for credit.

You can access your own credit report using the credit reporting bodies outlined on the CreditSmart website.

Your credit score is a summary of your credit report. It’s a number that indicates how healthy your credit report is – generally, the higher the number, the better you’re managing your credit. Your credit score can change as well, and under Comprehensive Credit Reporting (CCR), things like on-time repayments will positively affect your score.

There are a number of ways to find out your credit score, however the score that matters for your next credit application may depend on which reporting body the credit provider uses.

You can find out more about obtaining your credit score on the CreditSmart website.

Find out more about how to improve your credit score

Comprehensive credit reporting (CCR) was introduced in Australia to provide a more complete picture of your credit history.

Under CCR, financial institutions are sharing additional information which forms part of your credit report, providing a more in-depth view of your credit history. This information includes the type of accounts you hold, when they were opened, your credit limit(s), and up to 24 months of your repayment history – including payments made on time.

If you make your repayments on time, your credit score will reflect your good payment behaviour. This means lenders may look at this information more favourably if you have requested credit. If you’ve had difficulty in the past making repayments on time, but are now back on track, this will be considered in your loan application and may impact your ability to obtain credit.

Find out more about comprehensive credit reporting.

Your information is protected by the Privacy Act 1988 and the Privacy Amendment (Enhancing Privacy Protection) Act 2012, and the information we can share is mandated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.

We will share comprehensive credit information with other banks and lenders. The 'big four' banks are currently participating, with other financial institutions progressively coming on board.

Find out the credit reporting bodies we use

Credit providers are looking for the following key indicators on your credit report to show that you are a good prospective customer:

  • Stability – for example, credit providers want to make sure that you haven’t moved house too many times over a short period.
  • Not too much credit – this includes credit that you’ve taken out, but also credit that you’ve simply applied for.
  • Good payment history – credit providers want to see that you’re made your payments on time. Don’t worry if you’ve missed the occasional payment by a few days. One of the good things about the credit reporting system is that each payment you do make on time will make you look better to credit providers. If you think you’ve missed (or will miss) more than an occasional payment, it's best to speak to your lender about it.
  • No negative entries – this includes defaults, bankruptcy information and court judgments. These types of things will make it harder for you to get credit (at least until they fall off your credit report in 5-7 years).

In Australia, everyone has the right to one free credit report per year from each of the three main credit reporting bodies. These reports include the information that credit providers see when you apply for a loan or credit, so it’s important to check each report for any errors. 

It's worthwhile getting a copy of your credit report before you apply to borrow money or buy something on credit, if you're eligible to. Checking your own credit report has no impact on your credit report or credit score when viewed by a credit provider.

You can access your credit report from the following organisations:

If you want to access your credit report more than once per year you can also choose to pay for an additional one from some of these organisations.

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