After Macquarie and Judo cut TD rates earlier in the week, CommBank has followed suit with cuts across its range of products.

The top rate is now 4.75% p.a. on its eight month special offer, only available to existing customers.

This comes days after the CommBank Household Spendings Insights were released for December, which suggested Australian households cut spending back by 1.8% through the month in seasonally adjusted terms.

Chief Economist Stephen Halmarick said the drop in spending combined with the improving inflation outlook supported CBA's position that the RBA will cut in February.

"The fall in household spending in December reinforces the view that the Australian consumer continues to struggle, with summer-time and holiday spending clearly brought forward to October and November to take advantage of sales activity," he said.

"We continue to hold the view that the RBA can begin to lower interest rates at their first meeting of the year...we also expect 100 basis points of monetary policy easing through 2025."

On Thursday, the Labour Force numbers for December showed unemployment ticked up to 4% to close the year - still below the projection in the most recent Statement on Monetary Policy.

Nevertheless, as of 16 January markets continue to price in a February rate cut, with a 73% chance of a decrease to 4.10% per the ASX RBA rate tracker.

Term deposit boom over?

For many mortgage holders, 18 February may still seem too far away after more than a year with the cash rate at 4.35%.

However for Australians without home loans looking to grow their savings, this period could have been lucrative as term deposit rates climbed up near 5.50% p.a.

Now rates appear to be on the way down, the TD market has come off the boil - the top rate now is 5.15% p.a. for a six month term with AMP or nine months with Heartland Bank.

Once the cash rate is cut there's a good chance these returns will be gone, so savers looking at fixed investments might feel its time to pull the trigger.

CommBank term deposit rate changes

Term length (LVR) Deposit size Payment frequency Interest rate
8 months $5,000 - $1,999,999 Annually 4.75% p.a. (-0.13)
8 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 End of term 4.45% p.a. (+0.85)
9 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 End of term 3.55% p.a. (-0.90)
10 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 End of term 3.65% p.a. (-0.10)
11 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 End of term 3.75% p.a. (-0.10)
8 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 End of term 4.45% p.a. (+0.80)
9 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 End of term 3.60% p.a. (-0.85)
10 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 End of term 3.70% p.a. (-0.10)
11 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 End of term 3.80% p.a. (-0.10)
12 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 Annually 4.25% p.a. (-0.10)
13-17 months $5,000 - $49,999.99 Annually 4.25% p.a. (-0.10)
12 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 Annually 4.30% p.a. (-0.10)
13-17 months $50,000 - $1,999,999.99 Annually 4.30% p.a. (-0.10)

Advertisement

Looking for a fixed income investment? Check out some of the top term deposits in Australia

Provider

At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

SMSF Term Deposit - 6 months

    At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]25000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Term Deposit - 6 months

      At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]1000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Term Deposits - 6 months

        At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]25000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Term Deposit ($25,000+) - 6 months

          At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Term Deposit - 6 months

            At Maturity$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]5000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Macquarie Bank Term Deposit (<$1,000,000) - 6 months

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of January 18, 2025. View disclaimer.

              Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

              Picture from CommBank