Mortgages 15 February 2026 - 14 May 2026

Westpac Mortgage Rate Hike Hits Borrowers as Big-Bank Risk Comes Back Into View

Westpac raised variable home-loan rates by 25 basis points on May 15, matching the Reserve Bank of Australia’s cash-rate hike to 4.35%. Westpac shares closed at A$35.84 Friday, up 0.34% for the day but down 8.9% over the week. Prediction markets showed traders expect the RBA to hold rates steady in June, though some see a risk of another increase.

May 15, 2026

Finance·Mortgages·News·Real Estate

Lloyds Banking Group’s £5,000 Mortgage Opens a Door — But Not for Every First-Time Buyer

Lloyds Banking Group will launch a £5,000-deposit mortgage for first-time buyers on May 18, offering a five-year fixed rate of 5.89% with no product fee and a £300,000 property cap. The 98% loan-to-value product excludes new-builds, shared ownership, and gifted deposits. Applicants must pass affordability and credit checks. The move comes as UK rate expectations remain unsettled.

May 14, 2026

Banking·Finance·Mortgages·News

UK Mortgage Rate Cuts Spread — Barclays, Skipton And Santander Move Before BoE Decision

Barclays and Skipton cut rates on more than 20 mortgage products Wednesday, with Santander, HSBC, and Virgin Money set to follow this week. Barclays’ two-year fixed rate at 60% LTV now starts at 4.60%. The average two-year fixed UK mortgage rate fell to 5.83% Wednesday, down from 5.87% Tuesday. The moves come ahead of the Bank of England’s April 30 rate decision.

April 22, 2026

Finance·Mortgages·News·UK Economy

Nationwide brings back 3.54% fixed mortgages as UK lenders jostle for borrowers

Nationwide cut selected fixed mortgage rates by up to 0.16 percentage points, lowering its cheapest two-year fix for home movers at 60% loan-to-value to 3.54%. The changes took effect Friday. The lender also reduced rates for first-time buyers, with a two-year fix at 90% LTV now at 4.10%. Brokers said the move stands out amid volatile market pricing.

February 15, 2026