Mark Bristow is RateCity's Home & Personal Finances Editor, and an experienced analyst, researcher, and producer. While primarily focused on Australian mortgage and home loan expertise, he has experience across energy, home and travel insurances. Mark has been a journalist and writer in the financial space for over ten years, previously researching and writing commercial real estate at CoreLogic. In the years since, Mark has worked for the Winning Group, Expedia, and has seen articles published at Lifehacker and Business Insider.
1039 articles written by Mark Bristow
Are home loan interest rates so confusing that they’re costing you money?
A new ACCC report has found that a lack of price transparency may be making it harder for Australians to compare home loans, and that mortgage holders staying loyal to their bank could be missing out on significant savings.
Mark Bristow -
28 Apr, 2020 -
4 min read
Getting a home loan in the time of corona
With everyday life being put under lockdown thanks to the pandemic, and the spectre of recession hanging over our heads, the normally familiar path to property ownership has become more complex.
Mark Bristow -
20 Apr, 2020 -
4 min read
Is this the end of rate cuts? What the RBA is doing instead
With the RBA planning to keep the cash rate on hold at this record low for the foreseeable future, it has turned to other measures to keep the Australian economy’s wheels turning while the nation grapples with the coronavirus pandemic.
Mark Bristow -
07 Apr, 2020 -
6 min read
Will taking a loan repayment pause during COVID-19 affect my credit score?
The Australian Banking Association (ABA) has today announced that customers’ credit scores won’t be affected if they need to defer their loan repayments for up to six months due to COVID-19, provided they were up to date with their repayments beforehand.
Mark Bristow -
06 Apr, 2020 -
4 min read
What is the impact of taking a mortgage holiday?
Could taking a holiday from your home loan do more harm than good? What are the long-term financial consequences of putting a temporary freeze on your mortgage payments?
Mark Bristow -
26 Mar, 2020 -
4 min read
Which banks are freezing mortgages for COVID-19?
As well as offering support for Australian small business, several banks have offered home loan customers being affected by coronavirus the chance to take a mortgage holiday. This allows these affected mortgage holders to pause their loan repayments for a limited time to help relieve pressure on household budgets.
Mark Bristow -
25 Mar, 2020 -
9 min read
What are ADIs and how could they protect your savings?
With the RBA slashing Australia's cash rate, and big banks cutting savings rates, it's getting harder and harder to find savings accounts paying interest at a rate higher than inflation. In times like these, many Aussies are searching for alternative options to the big banks to help grow their wealth.
Mark Bristow -
18 Mar, 2020 -
4 min read
How to protect your personal finances from coronavirus
The global coronavirus pandemic is affecting every aspect of Australian life. Schools are closing, office employees are working from home, and supermarkets are struggling to keep up with demand for essentials. As well as affecting your health, COVID-19 could also affect your finances. Here are a few things you could do to help protect yourself, your loved ones, and your money.
Mark Bristow -
13 Mar, 2020 -
6 min read
NAB app to offer gambling block
In an Australian first, NAB his rolled out an option to block gambling transactions on its Visa Debit and Visa Credit cards via its apps, to help Australians better manage their personal finances.
Mark Bristow -
24 Feb, 2020 -
2 min read
NAB leads Australia in the world’s 100 most sustainable companies
NAB has been ranked as the greenest Australian business in an index of the world’s most sustainable companies.
Mark Bristow -
28 Jan, 2020 -
2 min read