Borrow
Banks to extend COVID-19 loan deferrals beyond ‘September cliff’
Australia’s banks will now extend loan deferrals for another four months for customers who have been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, as creditors try to avoid the September cliff.
Banks to extend COVID-19 loan deferrals beyond ‘September cliff’
Australia’s banks will now extend loan deferrals for another four months for customers who have been impacted by COVID-19 pandemic, as creditors try to avoid the September cliff.
The new extension will be processed on a case-by-case basis depending on individual circumstances, with the banks expecting those who are able to resume repayments to start doing so by the end of their six-month deferral in September.
The additional deferral will also have no impact on a customer’s credit report or their credit rating.
Australian Banking Association chief executive Anna Bligh said over 800,000 people had now deferred over $260 billion worth of loans since repayment holidays were rolled out back in March.
“This next phase of bank support will avoid a ‘cliff’ for customers in September and give them the breathing space they need to work with their bank and get back on their feet financially,” said Ms Bligh.
“Those who are able to repay their loans will resume doing so, which is in the best interests of those customers and allows support to be directed to those who need it. Encouragingly, many customers have already chosen to resume making repayments.”
Business and mortgage loan customers seeking the further four-month extension will be required to work with their bank to restructure or vary their loan.
These options include extending the length of the loan, converting to interest-only payments for a period of time, consolidating debt, or a combination of these and other measures.
“If, during or at the end of any deferral, customers continue to be severely financially impacted and are unable to make repayments, they will be assisted through their bank’s hardship process to determine the best long-term solution for their individual circumstances,” said Ms Bligh.
The second phase of support comes as the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) extends regulatory relief to the banks to encourage them to further support their customers.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg welcomed the announcement and thanked the banks for agreeing to extend support after concerns were raised about a September economic cliff due to the legislated end of the JobKeeper payments coinciding with the end of loan deferrals.
“The government acknowledges and thanks the banks, APRA and ASIC for their collective efforts in support of Australians who are facing financial hardship during this difficult time,” said Mr Frydenberg.
“It is important that customers that can afford to make repayments continue to do so. Borrowers that are facing considerable financial difficulty as a result of this pandemic should talk to their banks and work with them to find a more sustainable approach.”
RELATED ARTICLES
About the author
About the author
Banking
Brokers own the mortgage funnel: Why a 77% share is reshaping bank strategy in Australia
Australia’s mortgage market has quietly consolidated around one gatekeeper: the broker. With brokers facilitating roughly 77% of new home loans, distribution power has migrated from bank branches to ...Read more
Banking
Commonwealth Bank leads consideration while People First Bank tops satisfaction in YouGov’s latest rankings
In a revealing snapshot of Australia's banking landscape, the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has emerged as the most considered financial institution among prospective customers, according to YouGov's ...Read more
Banking
End of the easing: what a major bank’s call signals for Australian balance sheets
A major Australian bank now argues the Reserve Bank’s rate-cut run has hit a pause, resetting the risk-free rate narrative across corporate Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest Statement ...Read more
Banking
Open banking, real returns: How an Australian brokerage turned CDR data into deal velocity
Open banking is no longer a whiteboard theory—it’s a working growth engine. This case study unpacks how a mid-sized Australian brokerage (“Pink Finance”) operationalised Consumer Data Right (CDR) data ...Read more
Banking
Open banking’s quiet revolution: how one broker’s data play rewrites speed, trust and margin
Open banking is shifting from compliance cost to commercial engine, and early adopters in Australia’s broking market are already monetising the curve. The playbook: consented bank-grade data piped ...Read more
Banking
Open banking in action: An early adopter’s playbook—and the ROI case for Australian brokers
Open banking is shifting from conference buzzword to operational backbone in Australia’s broking sector. Early adopters are using bank-grade data and AI to compress underwriting cycles, cut compliance ...Read more
Banking
Australian brokerage pedals ahead using consented data for a speedy advantage
Open banking is no longer a concept; it is an operating model shift changing how brokers originate and package credit. Australia’s early movers, backed by the Consumer Data Right (CDR) and a ...Read more
Banking
BOQ’s mortgage squeeze is a market signal: where banks will win next as competition bites
Bank of Queensland’s shrinking home-loan book is more than a single-institution story; it’s a barometer of how Australia’s mortgage market is being rewired by broker power, non-bank agility and ...Read more
Banking
Brokers own the mortgage funnel: Why a 77% share is reshaping bank strategy in Australia
Australia’s mortgage market has quietly consolidated around one gatekeeper: the broker. With brokers facilitating roughly 77% of new home loans, distribution power has migrated from bank branches to ...Read more
Banking
Commonwealth Bank leads consideration while People First Bank tops satisfaction in YouGov’s latest rankings
In a revealing snapshot of Australia's banking landscape, the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) has emerged as the most considered financial institution among prospective customers, according to YouGov's ...Read more
Banking
End of the easing: what a major bank’s call signals for Australian balance sheets
A major Australian bank now argues the Reserve Bank’s rate-cut run has hit a pause, resetting the risk-free rate narrative across corporate Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia’s latest Statement ...Read more
Banking
Open banking, real returns: How an Australian brokerage turned CDR data into deal velocity
Open banking is no longer a whiteboard theory—it’s a working growth engine. This case study unpacks how a mid-sized Australian brokerage (“Pink Finance”) operationalised Consumer Data Right (CDR) data ...Read more
Banking
Open banking’s quiet revolution: how one broker’s data play rewrites speed, trust and margin
Open banking is shifting from compliance cost to commercial engine, and early adopters in Australia’s broking market are already monetising the curve. The playbook: consented bank-grade data piped ...Read more
Banking
Open banking in action: An early adopter’s playbook—and the ROI case for Australian brokers
Open banking is shifting from conference buzzword to operational backbone in Australia’s broking sector. Early adopters are using bank-grade data and AI to compress underwriting cycles, cut compliance ...Read more
Banking
Australian brokerage pedals ahead using consented data for a speedy advantage
Open banking is no longer a concept; it is an operating model shift changing how brokers originate and package credit. Australia’s early movers, backed by the Consumer Data Right (CDR) and a ...Read more
Banking
BOQ’s mortgage squeeze is a market signal: where banks will win next as competition bites
Bank of Queensland’s shrinking home-loan book is more than a single-institution story; it’s a barometer of how Australia’s mortgage market is being rewired by broker power, non-bank agility and ...Read more
