Banks have collectively agreed to a massive programme of loan repayment “holidays” for customers, and have so far allowed over 100,000 household and business borrowers to make reduced repayments on their loans, or temporarily stop making repayments altogether.
New Zealand’s trading banks have provided businesses and consumers $7.5 billion in new loans since the country went into lockdown, with 13,559 business customers lent $5.5 billion and the balance going to 21,772 consumers.
Banks so far have loaned an extra $7.5 billion to businesses and consumers during the lockdown. They’ve also allowed customers to pay only interest for almost $33 billion worth of loans, and allowed them to pause all repayments on $17 billion worth of loans.
Meanwhile banks had allowed 41,436 borrowers to reduce their loans to interest-only, or made other principal and/or interest repayment reductions. The value of these customers’ outstanding balances was $14.6 billion.
The NZBA said that across its membership, payments had been lowered on 41,436 loans worth $14 billion, while repayments had been deferred entirely on 40,918 loans worth $14.5b.
New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont said the group would be publishing aggregated data “which will show how banks are supporting both business and personal customers in practical ways”.
“Given the extraordinary circumstances it seems fair that individual credit ratings are not affected by a pandemic-related mortgage deferral.”
Anyone who has deferred their mortgage repayments for up to six months because they are financially impacted by Covid-19 will not have their credit rating affected as a result of the deferral, provided they were not in arrears before the pandemic.
Banks have agreed this initiative with credit reporting agencies.
New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont says this approach to credit reporting during Covid-19 is intended to provide certainty and relief for affected customers.
“Banks have stepped up at this time to offer mortgage deferrals for eligible customers. This agreement means those customers won’t have their credit ratings negatively impacted for the period they’re not making repayments.
“Given the extraordinary circumstances it seems fair that individual credit ratings are not affected by a pandemic-related mortgage deferral.
“This only applies to customers who were up to date with their repayments before Covid-19.
“There may be other factors that can affect a customer’s
credit rating, including if the customer was already in arrears before applying
for a mortgage deferral, so we encourage customers to talk to their bank early
if they’re finding it hard to keep on top of things.
“We acknowledge the support of the Reserve Bank in facilitating this initiative. They have helpfully agreed that banks can treat deferred loans as performing,” Beaumont says.
Mortgage deferrals are one of
a number of ways banks can help customers in need. Other ways banks are helping
customers include:
- Reducing or suspending principal payments on loans and temporarily moving to interest-only repayments
- Providing loans to businesses under the Business Finance Guarantee Scheme
- Helping with restructuring loans, for example extending the term of the loan
- Consolidating loans to help make repayments more manageable
- Providing access to short-term funding
- Referring individual customers to budgeting services.
Due to the very high number of calls to contact centres at this time, customers are encouraged check their bank’s website for information on how to access assistance in the first instance.
Further information about how banks are helping customers get through is available at: https://www.nzba.org.nz/consumer-information/covid-19/banking-industry-response-to-covid-19/
The government’s official Covid-19 website also includes useful information on financial support: https://covid19.govt.nz/individuals-and-households/financial-support/
ENDS
“The latest ratings reflect what’s happening in the environment in which banks are operating rather than the banks themselves,” said New Zealand Bankers’ Association chief executive Roger Beaumont.
“Last week we announced that New Zealand’s retail banks are offering mortgage repayment deferrals. That represents immediate financial relief for many customers. Banks do not profit from this. In fact, they cover the cost of providing that credit for the period of the deferred payments.”