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2023-12-22 2:05 pm

Eco

5.98
%
p.a.
Reduced variable rate
6.42
p.a.
%
Comparison rate*
LVR ≤ 90% applies.
Effective 1 October 2024

What you need to know about applying for an Eco Clean Energy Home Loan.

Clean Energy Home Loan for eco homes

Buying or building an eco home is one big way you can help to lessen humanity’s impact on our world. With an Eco Clean Energy Home Loan, you can buy a planet-friendly property to live in, refinance your current 7+ star rated home, or build something new. All at a reduced variable home loan rate for 5 years, or fixed rate for 3 years.

Making home improvements instead? See the criteria for Eco Upgrade applications.

Our Eco rates

Finder Green Awards 2023
Green Bank of the Year
See all reviews
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5.98
%
p.a.
Reduced variable rate
LVR ≤ 90% or Home Guarantee
Scheme loan
Effective 1 October 2024
6.42
p.a.
%
Comparison rate*
Based on a loan of $150,000 for 25 years
Fees and charges may apply
Comparison rate warning
View full rates table
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Who and what it's for

  • Owner occupiers
  • Qualifying properties in Australia - check the criteria below

Is this product right for you? Find out more

Property criteria

Your property must meet one or more of the below criteria to be eligible to apply for an Eco Clean Energy Home Loan. And just so you know, you will need to provide documentation confirming this. 

The standard eligibility rules also apply before you can take out a home loan.

NatHERS rating of 7 stars or higher

A Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) certificate shows the home’s star rating out of 10. If you’re buying an apartment, we look at the rating of the individual apartment – not the building.

What to provide

  • Existing property:

NatHERS certificate completed by a NatHERS-accredited assessor with a rating of at least 7 stars

  • Construction loans:

A NatHERS Certificate as above and a declaration from the homeowner and builder about adhering to the building plans

ACT only: Non-accredited NatHERS certificate with a 7+ star rating plus an ACT Energy Efficiency Rating certificate with the same rating

The ACT has its own system for energy rating certificates, and some ACT energy assessors are licensed by the ACT Government, but not as NatHERS assessors.

What to provide

  • A black-and-white non-accredited NatHERS certificate from a licensed energy assessor, showing a rating of at least 7 stars
  • An ACT Energy Efficiency Rating certificate completed by the same assessor with the same rating

Passive House certification

This is a voluntary standard for buildings with a healthy indoor environment and a very high standard of energy efficiency. The formal certification is done after the build is finished.

What to provide

  • Existing property:

Passive House certificate by a Passive House certifier

  • Construction loans:

Evidence the home is being built to Passive House standard, with certificate to be provided within 12 months of build completion

Residential Efficiency Scorecard rating of 7+ stars (excluding the impact of solar)

A Residential Efficiency Scorecard helps households understand the energy performance of their home. It’s completed by a licensed assessor on new or existing homes and shows the home’s star rating out of 10 – both with solar and excluding the impact of solar.

What to provide

  • A Residential Efficiency Scorecard certificate that shows a rating of at least 7 stars (excluding the impact of solar)

A Green Star Design & As Built score of 8 points or more

Green Star Design & As Built is a rating system for apartments, scoring different elements. The assessment is organised by developers rather than individual apartment owners. We reference section ‘15 Greenhouse Gas Emissions’ for property criteria.

What to provide

You can contact us to confirm if your planned purchase is on the list of qualifying buildings.

Above: Michelle and Nathan, Bank Australia Clean Energy Home Loan customers

Customer story

How Michelle built her sustainable dream home

"We've reduced our environmental impact and have fewer bills, which means we can spend that money on the everyday costs of raising a family, and invest our time in our growing community.”

Read more

What if you’re building?

The construction loan feature allows you to draw down on your loan as the build progresses, with interest payments kicking in gradually, as portions of the loan are accessed.

The Clean Energy Home Loan reduced interest rate applies from when we:

  • review your energy rating information and construction loan declaration
  • confirm that your build is eligible.

When you take out a construction loan with Bank Australia, we protect land equivalent to the size of your building lot in our Conservation Reserve in Western Victoria.

Fees and charges

Here’s what to expect with our Clean Energy Home Loan. Be sure to factor in related costs like stamp duty, legal fees, building reports, and insurance.
Fee and description
Cost
Establishment fee
$0
Annual package fee
$350
Monthly fee
$0
Redraw fee
$0
1st valuation fee
$0
Construction progress inspection
$0
Credit card annual fee
$0
Mortgage discharge fee
$350 + government fees

Banking done differently

We’re 100% customer-owned, which means you have voting rights. We don’t pay our execs bonuses, which means more funds are used to support people and the planet. And we’ll never use your money (or anyone’s, for that matter) to fund harmful industries like fossil fuels, live animal exports or nuclear weapons.

Why us
Sheep grazing in an open field with wind turbines in the distance.

Money, People & Planet

See more at the Bank Australia blog
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Things you need to know

GENERAL ADVICE

  • Any information and advice does not take into account your personal needs and financial circumstances and you should consider whether it is appropriate for you and seek any third party advice you need.
  • Before deciding to apply, we provide and recommend you read our Financial Services Guide.
  • All applications are subject to a credit assessment and approval. Terms and conditions apply. All applicable terms and conditions will be included in our loan offer.
  • Additional fees and charges may be payable – all relevant details will be included in our loan offer.
  • Information and interest rates are current as at the date of publication and are subject to change at any time, at the discretion of Bank Australia Limited.
  • This document does not constitute a contract for finance.
  • *Comparison Rate: The Comparison Rate is based on a loan of $150,000 for 25 years. Fees and charges may be applicable.
    IMPORTANT: The Comparison Rate applies only to the example given. Different amounts and terms will result in different Comparison Rates. Costs such as redraw fees, early repayment fees, and cost savings such as fee waivers, are not included in the Comparison Rate but may influence the cost of the loan.
  • Terms and conditions, fees and charges apply. Loans subject to normal lending criteria and approval.
  • Rates apply to new applications received as per effective date set out above however are subject to change at anytime.

CLEAN ENERGY HOME LOAN

  1. The Clean Energy Home Loan Package variable interest rate is for Owner Occupiers making Principal and Interest repayments with a Loan to Value (LVR) ratio of less than or equal to 90%.
  2. When you qualify for a Bank Australia Clean Energy Home Loan you receive a reduced interest rate at the time that is only applicable to the Clean Energy Home Loan Package and not applicable to other Bank Australia home loan products.
  3. For variable rate loans, a reduced variable rate applies for 60 months from the date the loan is settled. For fixed rate loans, the reduced rate applies for the length of the 3 year fixed rate period. In either case, the rate payable on the loan will then revert to the lowest advertised variable Premium Home Loan Package rate at that time.
  4. Minimum new borrowings of $10,000 for an Owner Occupied Home Loan.
  5. Available to new borrowers who submit their loan application as per effective date set out above;
  6. For construction loans, Bank Australia protects an equivalent amount of land on the Bank Australia Conservation Reserve as is being constructed to help offset the environmental impact of land clearing. Homes constructed on large lots of land such as hobby farms will be offset according to the amount of land occupied by the dwelling.
  7. The Annual package fee of $350 is payable in advance and is non-refundable. The fee is debited to the loan balance on funding, and then annually on the anniversary date of funding. Package benefits cease to apply once the loan is repaid in full. Other fees and charges may be payable. Refer to the Lending and Credit Card fees, charges and transaction limits available from bankaust.com.au or by calling 132 888 for more details.
  8. Repayment Pause. Loans must be established for a full 12 months and a maximum Loan to Value Ratio of 90% (Family-Pause) or 90% (Eco-Pause) applies. Pausing repayments will result in interest continuing to accrue on the loan, potentially increasing the term of your loan. Full conditions available from Bank Australia.
  9. Redraw is not available during the interest only period of the loan and the amount available for redraw is governed by the terms set out in your Loan Offer.
  10. Fixed Rate Loans. If a Fixed Rate is selected, then that rate may vary from the date of application anytime up until the date of funding, unless a rate lock agreement applies. Redraw is not available on fixed rate loans. Additional repayments are capped at $30,000 for the term of the fixed rate loan, and cannot be redrawn. Repayments in excess of the cap may be subject to a Break Fee. A limit of one mortgage offset account applies to Fixed Rate Loans. Mortgage Offset is capped at $20,000 and one account can be linked to one Fixed Rate Loan only.