The Global Financial Crisis and Retail Interest Rate Pass-Through in Australia

In this paper, we examine the impact of the global financial crisis (GFC) on the interest rate pass-through for four types of loans in Australia: mortgages, residentially secured small business lending, nonsecured small business lending and personal loans. Australia is an interesting case study since its central bank lowered but also raised interest rates during the GFC. We find that after the onset of the crisis, there has been a shift in the way banks adjust their lending rates in response to changes in market interest rates; the markup has increased and there has been a drop in both short- and long-term pass-through from funding costs to lending rates. Closer analysis indicates that the drop in short-term pass-through is due to the slower response of banks to increases in funding costs. We also find asymmetries in the way banks adjust lending rates in relation to funding costs in the long-run for nonsecured small business lending and personal loans. The evidence shows that banks in Australia tightened lending standards and competed less aggressively for loans but more for deposits in response to heightened default risks following the global financial crisis. The wider margin allows banks to adjust their lending rates more slowly and asymmetrically.