consumer
Banking
Home loan fees jump 17 per cent as banks collect $15 billion
Australian banks collected roughly $15 billion in fee revenue in the year to June 2025, a 3 per cent lift on the prior year, according to the Reserve Bank of Australia's latest annual survey of bank charges. On the big four's combined balance sheets, that number barely registers.
Economy
Power bills fall, but the price cap is not the cheapest deal
The Default Market Offer is the number most electricity customers have never heard of, even though it directly sets the ceiling on what they pay. The DMO is a safety-net price rather than the cheapest plan available, and it acts as a reference price to help consumers compare market offers.
Banking
NAB and Westpac cut rewards and raise rates from 1 October
The number that matters most to anyone carrying a balance: NAB is lifting the variable purchase rate on the Rewards Platinum, Rewards Signature and NAB Qantas Rewards Premium cards from 20.99% to 22.49% p.a., effective 1 October 2026.
Australia
Check your offset account, says ASIC after $55m repaid
Your offset account might not be saving you a cent. The corporate regulator found banks quietly failed to link, open or activate them, and repaid more than $55 million to borrowers who never knew.
Finance
Loan comparison versus loan matching explained
Ask how to compare loans and you will be pointed at a comparison site. Loan matching is the channel that actually reflects what you can qualify for, and no lender pays to influence the order.
consumer
Interest fee: Harvey Norman and Latitude fined $55m
Shoppers were told 60 months interest free with no deposit. The Federal Court found the ads left out what customers were really signing up to, and has ordered Harvey Norman and Latitude to pay $55 million.
Travel
Jet Fuel Doubled in a Fortnight. Melburnians Are Cancelling Europe.
Flight Centre reports a 34% spike in European trip cancellations as airfares surge following the Iran conflict.