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Monthly Reports

Savings & Deposits

Monthly Savings and Deposits Report - 12 Month Subscription 2010

RFI’s monthly savings and deposit monthly market report provides a brief overview of the savings and deposit market. Using various economic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the re... Read more

Monthly Savings and Deposits Report - 12 Month Subscription 2009

Monthly Savings and Deposits Report - 12 Month Subscription 2008

Mortgages

Monthly Mortgage Report -12 Month Subscription 2010

RFI’s monthly mortgage market report provides a brief overview of the mortgage market. Using various economic data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), the report provides up to date infor... Read more

Monthly Mortgage Report -12 Month Subscription 2009

Monthly Mortgage Report -12 Month Subscription 2008

Consumer Lending

Monthly Personal Lending Report - 12 Month Subscription 2010

RFI’s monthly market reports provide a brief monthly overview of the available market data for various areas of retail banking. The monthly personal lending report combines general economic indicators from the RBA and ABS, such as inflation, GDP and unemployment, with market statistics regardi... Read more

Monthly Personal Lending Report - 12 Month Subscription 2009

Monthly Personal Lending Report - 12 Month Subscription 2008

Credit Cards

No Reports Available.

Debit Cards

No Reports Available.

Transaction Accounts

No Reports Available.

Private Wealth Management

No Reports Available.

Geography

No Reports Available.

Annual Reports

Savings & Deposits

Annual Savings and Deposits Market Outlook - Market Opportunities, Trends and Forecasts 2009

This report aims to analyze the key trends in the savings behavior of Australians, using economic data and the results of RFI’s savings surveys. The report looks at how Australian economic conditions have influenced the savings behaviour of Australians over the past year, in regards to how muc... Read more

Best Practice - The Americanization of Transaction & Savings Accounts

This report discusses the motivations behind new products in the savings and deposits arena, and looks at specific best practice examples of current offerings. The report discusses St George’s SENSE product, ANZ’s Smarty Pig account and Bankwest’s “Happy Banking” initia... Read more

Unfair Contract Terms Regime - Uncertain, unclear and unstable and ultimately unfair

This report discusses the Unfair Contract regime that will be introduced into Australia in 2010 and the effects it will have on the financial sector. The brief is divided into four sections. The opening sections will give an overview of the new Australian Consumer Law. The second section will analyz... Read more

Mortgages

Best Practice - Mortgage Broker Distribution

The broker channel has increased in importance in Australia over the past 10 years, although it does not dominate the mortgage market as much as in the UK or US. In these countries the mortgage broker industry has been largely self regulated, but in the past few years regulation from government an... Read more

Best Practice - Leveraging the Online Mortgage Channel

The internet has been increasing its presence in consumers’ lives for many years and RFI survey results show that it is steadily becoming a popular application channel for mortgage applicants. Results from the June survey show that 3% of respondents applied for their home loan by the internet ... Read more

Annual Mortgage Market Outlook - Market Opportunities, Trends and Forecasts 2009

The Australian mortgage market had been challenged by falling housing affordability amid rising housing prices, soaring inflation and interest rate hikes until September 2008 when the RBA averted the monetary policies. Despite the implementation of stimulative economic policies, the threat of econom... Read more

Annual Mortgage Market Outlook - Market Opportunities, Trends and Forecasts 2010

Over 2009 the mortgage market faced significant changes in the context of a volatile global and domestic economy. Improving economic conditions impacted the home loan market over, as the RBA raised interest rates and First Home buyer incentives were scaled back. This report will analyse developments... Read more

Unfair Contract Terms Regime - Uncertain, unclear and unstable and ultimately unfair

Consumer Lending

Annual Personal Lending Market Outlook - Market Opportunities, Trends and Forecasts

This report aims to analyze the key trends in the personal lending behavior of Australians, using economic data and the results of RFI’s personal lending surveys. The state of the economy has a strong bearing on the level and direction of lending growth. The demand for loans is directly relate... Read more

Best Practice - Managing Distribution Channels in Consumer lending

There are five widely used channels for personal loan applications. These are the direct channels – branch, internet and phone and the indirect channels – brokers and car dealers. To build a customer base and provide services in the most effective way, it is essential for banks to distin... Read more

Unfair Contract Terms Regime - Uncertain, unclear and unstable and ultimately unfair

Credit Cards

Annual Credit Card Market Outlook – Market Overview, Trends and Forecasts 2009

This report aims to analyse the development of the Australian credit card market and to forecast its trend for the period between 2009 and 2013. The report looks at how Australian economic conditions have influenced credit card usage among Australians over the past year. Of particular areas of focus... Read more

Best Practice - Innovation in Co-branded Airline Cards

This best practice report will examine the benefit credit card issuers and airlines stand to gain with the launch of a co-branded card. It will give a brief outline of existing co-branded cards within Australia, with particular emphasis on the changes that have occurred in the Qantas frequent flyer ... Read more

Best Practice - Leveraging Insight to Drive Credit Card Loyalty

This paper begins with an overview of the competitive nature of the Australian card loyalty market and then explores the challenges for players in this space. It then describes two best practice examples in overseas markets and discusses how the Australian market may benefit from the lessons learnt ... Read more

Unfair Contract Terms Regime - Uncertain, unclear and unstable and ultimately unfair

Debit Cards

No Reports Available.

Transaction Accounts

No Reports Available.

Private Wealth Management

No Reports Available.

Geography

No Reports Available.

Insight Studies

Savings & Deposits

Insight Report - The Necessity of Capturing the Customer of Tomorrow, Today.

Gen Y will be the largest and most affluent generation to date, making them a highly lucrative segment of the market. This report will discuss the banking customers of tomorrow, with the intention of identifying their key banking needs and requirements in order to determine the strategies banks shou... Read more

Insight Report - Shelter in a Storm: The rise in trust of Term Deposits

In the volatile times of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC), investors and consumers searched for the safest option for their money. Many of these people believed that deposit products offered them the best possible shelter from the GFC, and as such there was a flourish in the uptake of deposit produ... Read more

Insight Report - Stable Funding in the Post GFC Retail Deposits Market

In the decade prior to 2007, the funding of banks was relatively stable and predictable. However as a result of the turbulence which began to ripple through economies worldwide in mid-2007, the costs and reliance of the different components of banks’ funding have changed. This report will exam... Read more

Insight Report - Savings as Security in an Uncertain Market

This report aims to examine changes in saving behaviour among consumers since mid-2008, using economic data and the results of RFI’s savings surveys. The report aims to understand past and current consumer behaviour and suggest possible future outcomes. Specifically, it will focus on the idea ... Read more

Insight Report - The Flight to Cash: Winners & Losers in the Retail Deposits Market

This report explores the changes in the savings market between June 2008 and June 2009, and how the adverse economic conditions have affected consumer sentiment and behaviour. The report examines trends in consumer use of savings accounts and attitudes to savings in this period, focusing particularl... Read more

Insight Report - Targeting Gen Y for Savings and Deposits

This report compares the savings behavior of Generation Y (Gen Y) to the average savings behavior of Australians, using data from the RFI June 2009 Savings account survey and August 2009 Transaction survey. The report aims to understand the financial plans and consumer sentiment of Gen Y, and their ... Read more

Insight Report - Fee-Free Banking: The Step Forward

This report explores the outburst of fee cutting and the emergence of fee-free accounts amongst Australian retail banks while exploring the sustainability of this concept and innovations from overseas markets. Read more

Insight Report - A New Direction for Savings and Deposits - Innovation Meeting Demand

Australians have not been enthusiastic savers in recent times. However, with the advent of the GFC there has been a significant increase in the level of savings among Australian households and, as a result, this provides an opportunity for Australian financial institutions to shore up their funding ... Read more

Mortgages

Insight Report - Understanding Tomorrows Borrowers

Analysts, forecasters and lenders have long been trying to predict the future of the turbulent Australian mortgage market, with varying success. Perhaps the key question, at this time, should be what do consumers want from their mortgage and provider? RFi’s latest report, “Understanding ... Read more

Insight Report - All Talk, No Action: The Real Effect of the Ban on Exit Fees

This report will look at the background to and likely effects of the Government’s proposed exit fee ban, and related legislation. In order to do so this report will examine the competitive environment in banking in Australia, the proposed Government legislation aimed at encouraging competition... Read more

Insight Report - The Hierachy of Effort: Maximising the Cross Sell Opportunities

As mortgage lending continues to recover in 2010, opportunities are arising to enhance profitability and decrease costs for mortgage providers. This report focuses on strategies the mortgage provider can implement to turn a mortgage customer into a banking customer. Some of the most common cross sal... Read more

Insight Report - Stress and Stickiness: Segmenting Home Loan Customers

Retaining “sticky” customers has become a prevalent issue in the lending business. In recent quarters Mortgage stress has increased, however mortgage stress is not felt by all borrowers. This report looks at home borrower data from RFi’s March 2011 survey of 2,000 borrowers around ... Read more

Insight Report - Targeting Property Investors

In many ways, 2009 has been the year for First Home Buyers who have been able to benefit from lower interest rates, generous government incentives and improved housing affordability. However, conditions are also prime for property investors to return to the market, especially as high rental yields a... Read more

Insight Report - Targeting Gen Y for Mortgages

This report examines the place of Generation Y in the mortgage market using the results of a survey of 2,000 mortgage holders, conducted by RFI in June 2009. The report aims to understand the behaviour and characteristics of Gen Y in regards to consumer sentiment, loan characteristics, researching h... Read more

Insight Report - The Lucky Country: A Comparison of the Australian and the UK Mortgage Markets

The financial crisis has had differing effects on financial markets globally. This report aims to compare the UK and Australian mortgage markets against this background of global crisis and domestic consequences, using both national economic data and the results of surveys conducted in the UK and Au... Read more

Insight Report - Targeting Borrowers 'In The Zone' in the UK Mortgage Market

This report captures detailed information on consumers described as being “in the zone.” In this report we have defined “in the zone” as any respondent who said they intended to buy a home, an investment property, holiday home or to remortgage away from their current lender w... Read more

Insight Report - First Time Buyers in the UK Mortgage Market

This report attempts to draw some conclusions about this complex landscape – describing where it is now and where it may be heading, based on original research produced by the United Kingdom Mortgage Council. On the demand side, it describes recent trends in the size of the first time buyer ... Read more

Insight Report - Crisis and Recovery for Non-Bank Lenders and Investors

As mortgage lending continues to recover in 2010, there are a number of issues that will affect the market. This report will focus on the return of investors to the property market and the growth in investor lending commitments, as well as changes among non-bank lenders as they struggle to regain ma... Read more

Insight Report - The Wish-list of Tomorrow's Refinancers and Investors

In an increasing interest rate environment and with more pressure on the mortgage markets that ever before, it is critical for lenders to have a better understanding of what factors are important to tomorrow’s borrowers. This report uses data from RFi’s surveys of mortgage holders conduc... Read more

Consumer Lending

Insight Report - Pricing a Dream: How Interest Rates Influence Personal Lending Choices.

Since 2009 the standard variable rate of Personal loans has been tracking in line with the cash rate and the pricing of loans across the board is very similar. Despite this, 32% of current personal loan customers surveyed by RFi said interest rates played a role in their choice of personal loan, mak... Read more

Insight Report - Profile of a Personal Loan Customer

‘The borrower’ in personal lending is an important customer in the retail finance arena. It would be beneficial for lenders to understand ‘the borrower’ as a result, but the scarce amount of research available in consumer lending makes any meaningful understanding difficult. ... Read more

Insight Report - Driving Market Share

Using the results of a survey of 1,000 personal loan holders, conducted in March 2011, this report will examine how bank lenders can capture more of the car loans market by looking at the role of convenience in choice of car loans and the other factors considered by borrowers.This report will cover ... Read more

Insight Report - Mitigating Early Repayment in Personal Lending

70% of past borrowers surveyed by RFI in August 2008 had paid out their personal loans early. Not only did the majority of borrowers repay their loans early, but this was generally done well within the original term of the loan. This report attempts to compile data and information on the extent and ... Read more

Insight Report - Targeting Gen Y for Personal Loans

During October 2009 RFI has produced a series of reports which focus on Generation Y (Gen Y) and their characteristics throughout different areas of retail banking. This report examines the behaviours of Gen Y in the personal lending arena, using the results from a survey of 2,000 respondents conduc... Read more

Insight Report - Proactive Customer Retention in Personal Loans

In the world of personal loans, repayments prior to end of loan term are one of the biggest issues for lenders. This report looks at the strategies employed to mitigate early repayments and makes suggestions for the Australian market. Read more

Insight Report - Best Practice in Managing Credit Quality and a Positive Reporting Environment

In this report the usage of credit scoring, including the reasons behind credit scores and how they are obtained, will be discussed. ANZ is presented as an example of implementing a customised credit scoring system to improve the procedure of credit scoring both in terms of usability and in terms ... Read more

Insight Report - Online Distribution of Personal Loans

This strategic brief takes a look into the demographics and sentiment of consumers who choose to apply for a personal loan online and examines why, despite the much lauded implementations of online banking systems by a number of Australian financial institutions, personal loan customers still appear... Read more

Credit Cards

Insight Report - The Future of Payments in Australia

Many industry experts believe that the future of payments lies in the Mobile Phone, but what does this mean for Cash and plastic? RFi’s latest payments report shows the value of cash transactions has fallen to just 16% of total transactions, although by volume, cash payments still dominate. Th... Read more

Insight Report - The evolution of rewards in Australia

A good rewards program has traditionally been one of the strongest drivers of advocacy among credit cardholders, and in March 2011 around a quarter of credit cardholders who were likely to recommend their most used card stated that they would recommend because of the reward program. For issuers, cre... Read more

Insight Reports - Credit Cards vs. Personal Loans

Lending growth in Australia has remained strong despite adverse economic conditions overseas and interest rate hikes. But this statement alone does not cover the breadth of developments within specific lending sectors, particularly in personal lending and credit cards. This report offers in-depth an... Read more

Insight Reports - Targeting Gen Y for Credit Cards

During October 2009 RFI produced a series of reports which focus on Generation Y and their characteristics throughout different areas of retail banking. This report examines the behaviour of Gen Y in the area of credit cards, using the results from a survey of 2,000 respondents by RFI conducted duri... Read more

Insight Report - The Future of Australian Payments

The Australian payments landscape is seeing many changes owing in part to regulatory reforms, technological advancement and changing consumer spending behaviour. This report outlines the Australian payments landscape, focusing on the issues and future outlook of main payment methods in use, includin... Read more

Insight Report - The Rise of Scheme Debit

This report explores the development of the Australian scheme debit card market and speculates on how the increased penetration of debit cards over the past few years has affected the EFTPOS and credit card market. This involves analysing and quantifying changes in consumer perceptions from surveys ... Read more

Insight Report - A Profile of Companion Credit Cardholders

This paper seeks to provide a profile of front of wallet companion cardholders and to highlight differences in their behaviour compared to average cardholders. Particular areas of focus will be card usage, spending habits, repayment behaviour, satisfaction and advocacy. Read more

Insight Report - Changing Consumer Trends in Credit Card Usage

This report examines changes in consumer attitudes and behaviour between 2008 and 2010. Based on RFi’s quarterly surveys of credit cardholders, this report specifically looks at changes in market share, monthly card spend, repayment behavioural changes, consumer sentiment and advocacy. Read more

Debit Cards

No Reports Available.

Transaction Accounts

No Reports Available.

Private Wealth Management

Insight Report - Acquisition and Retention: Two sides of the Same Coin?

The challenge for banks in the Australian private banking market is to divide their resources between client acquisition and retention. While there may seem to be tension between the two, this report argues that focusing on improving client satisfaction and retention of existing clients actually has... Read more

Insight Report - Changing High Net Worth Attitudes to Private Banking and Wealth Management between 2007 and 2010

The period from September 2007 to March 2010 has seen significant changes in the economic environment both in Australia and abroad. Many HNW Australians watched on apprehensively as their superannuation savings dip and their investment vehicles fall in value. This report examines changes in attitude... Read more

Insight Report - The Social Private Banking Network

The world is rapt in a frenzy of social interaction. The online environment is volatile because it is relatively anonymous and mostly unregulated – and volatility is not a bank’s favourite word. It is even more of a concern for a private bank, due to the higher expectations held by pri... Read more

Geography

No Reports Available.