Rams Interest Rate Dropping from 3% to 2.8%

I just got an email from Rams:

We're writing to let you know that the RAMS Saver rate will change to the new rates below, effective Wednesday 26 September 2018. The base rate is decreasing by 0.20% p.a. There is no change to the bonus rate.

It's a pity about this as it is an ongoing rate rather than an introductory rate and is easy to meet the requirements ($200 deposit per month) for money that you don't need to draw on.

And banks justified their mortgage rate increases by saying that the cost of borrowing has increased?

Time to look at other options again.

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Comments

  • +3

    Thanks for info. They dropped it to 2.8% sometime ago, and then raised it back to 3.0% while there was not much interest movement in the market. Now, a drop again. Would be nice if they do a surprise rise again later :-)

  • +12

    So mortgage rate increases and saving rate decreases…. Hmmmmmm someone is skimming a bit too much from the middle me thinks!

  • +3

    Hmm interesting as it's within Westpac and we're seeing a bit of a play off between the banks.

    Somewhat disappointed as this puts Ubank at first with 2.87% but limited to one account for those who create multiple accounts/buckets.

  • +1

    That's a shame to hear, been with them for a few months as a purely savings account to dump $200 in. 2.8% still decent, hopefully they raise it again.

  • +2

    UBank is the way to go!

    • UBank is 2.87%, so a massive 0.07% better :/

      But yes still better $70 a year better interested per $100k.

      • My ubank rate is 2.69 and we got $1k cash.. Refinanced a cpl months ago.

        • -1

          ubanks website says its 2.87% vs 2.8% at rams now. So you're getting ripped at 2.69%.

          But as I said, $70 a year better in interest per $100k with ubank. Key word…..DIFFERENCE………

      • Don’t forget about the poor tax man

        • True, chop off at least 30% for the tax man, and where down to around $50!

      • If you're parking $100k to get 2.87% you need a financial strategist post haste.

        • +2

          Not necessarily. The $100k might be just part of your bonds/cash asset allocation.

          • @Dacs: Then with your presumably $1-$10 million dollar portfolio chasing an extra $70 from your cash account is P still not warranted ;)

            • @pgdownload: If you're, say, a retired couple both 65 years old, you might have $1m in retirement savings with 40% to 60% of that in cash. You'll still need to live pretty carefully in case you need it to last you for another 40 years. A ~$350 per year saving is worth switching for.

        • +2

          I am keeping my savings in cash because I plan to buy a property in the next 12 months. You should ask a financial strategist to explain investment horizons to you post haste…

          • @bthaddad: If that was to me, I already work closely with my strategist but thanks for sharing concern. My original comment was with property in mind actually, much more than 2.87% to be had there…

            Different strokes for different folks. I get that, we're all friends here.

  • citibank 3.05%

    • +1

      Citibank 3.05% only for the first 4 months. For those of us that have already had one of those accounts the interest rate is only 1.70%

      • Rinse and repeat

        • Is it not once-per-lifetime?

        • +1

          @Dacs:
          Apparently not http://whrl.pl/RfdaVl

        • @jackofspade: I messsaged Citibank asking about this. Their reply was:

          We advise that the promotional rate on the Citibank Online Saver Account is only applicable on the first Citibank Online Saver that you open. Accounts that you will open will attract a standard variable rate of 1.70% p.a. for balances between $0-$500,000+.

        • @Dacs:
          Probably a loophole in their system. Best not to bring it to their attention and ruin it for others.

          • @jackofspade: surely they have these loop holes, and depends who you speak to.
            I have a friend on 5.00% with another bank and he mentioned the bonus rate can be adjusted..

  • -2

    Rams (Subsidiary of Westpac) decreases its saving rate by 0.20 points while it has increased its variable interest rate on homeloans by 0.14 points.
    Again lets save dumb people who borrowed over what they can repay and "tax" people who saved some money by decreasing savings account interest rates…
    I hope later increases in homeloan rates just force those people to default so to teach them a lesson.

    • Your comment is an example of not being able to teach some people anything.
      Roll eyes.

      • Yes you are right. We should give them a tap on the shoulder, tell them that they are the best and everyone is a winner… That's a great way of teaching people what to do and not to do…

  • Next stop Ubank!

  • Sorry Rams….3% is my extreme low point in earnings on my hard earned. You are yo-yo'ing your rates now…..pisses me off. 400K will soon be heading from you to Rabo TD at 3.4% and my Super fund. I'm sure you don't want my funds.

    • +2

      If you put money into a Rabo TD account, remember that you can get an extra 0.1% interest if you first put it in a one-month TD then automatically reinvest into whatever length TD you want.

    • +1

      Make sure you wait to transfer it on the first of the month otherwise you will lose your bonus interest with RAMS for having made a withdrawal.

    • What is the best way to close the account and are there any fees? OR should you keep a small amount in there in case they lift rates again?

  • +1

    Yeah I opened one up recently purely because they held the best rate in town for my to set and forget. again im better off with ubank…

  • +1

    Signed up with ING this morning.

  • Surely at 2.8 or 3% youd be better off putting your money elsewhere, dividends are paying nearly twice that

    • +2

      some people don't like risks and rather play it safe, especially if near retirement.

    • Partly true…yes I have shares as well. What I am fed up with is lending my money to the banks at such lowly rates. Savers are the bread and butter of banks, yet you wouldn't know that as it seems the share holder is now King.

  • +1

    Goodbye RAMS…

  • In still with greater bank at 3% although U need to be under 25 to open the account I think. Worth considering.

  • +1

    For those of you who have $100,000 and don't mind locking their funds for 12 months, Citibank has a 12 months term deposit at 3%

    • You can also get 3% for a 12 month term deposit on amounts from $5,000 to $499,999 at Unibank and Teachers Mutual Bank.

      I don't know much about either bank, but Unibank's About page says it's "exclusively for staff, students and graduates of Australian universities and their families" and Teachers Mutual Bank says "Membership is open to current or retired employees of the Australian education sector or family members of members (i.e. shareholders) of the Bank. Additionally, individuals must be citizens or permanent residents of Australia."

      • The family Hominidae fixes that. Some of them went to uni.

  • Any reason not to mention mebank @ 2.85%?

    • Appears to be new accounts only:

      "Everyday Transaction Account alongside your first Online Savings Account, and you could qualify for a delicious monthly bonus rate."

      • Thanks for that. This would be my first shift in a few years so I didn't catch that one.

        • But that shouldn't be a problem in any case:

          "You’re automatically eligible for bonus interest on your first OSA unless it was opened before 10/08/15, in which case you’re only eligible upon request."

          If you don't have an account yet, open one and it's a new account, so eligible. If you already have an one opened before 10/08/15, then just ring up and request for it to be made eligible. From the Whirlpool thread, it seems more people had problem with the "weekly tap" requirement (and the exact definition of "weekly").

  • I didn't even receive an email, time to move the motherlode again…

  • Only just moved my savings into RAMS 3 weeks ago to get the 3%. Time to move them out again.

  • Now 2%…….what a joke.

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