Bankwest
Alex Bank is a modern Australian digital bank offering simple, fast, and transparent banking solutions including personal loans, savings accounts, and term deposits.
Bankwest is one of Australia’s most recognised and established banking institutions, originally founded in Western Australia in 1895 and operating today as a fully integrated division of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA). While it carries the financial strength and regulatory backing of one of Australia’s Big Four banks, Bankwest has deliberately carved out its own identity in the market — positioning itself as a digitally led, customer-first lender that takes a simpler, more streamlined approach to home loans, savings accounts, credit cards, and everyday banking.
Unlike traditional branch-heavy banks, Bankwest has leaned hard into a digital-first model, centred around its highly rated mobile banking app and a home loan process supported by specialists available seven days a week, including evenings. This combination of major bank security and a more agile, accessible experience makes Bankwest a genuinely competitive option for a wide range of borrowers — from first home buyers taking their first steps onto the property ladder, to experienced investors looking to grow their portfolios.
Bankwest’s home loan offering has been recognised at the Australian Mortgage Awards for best-in-class service, approval times, innovation, and broker support in both 2024 and 2025 — a strong indicator of its consistent performance in one of Australia’s most competitive lending categories.
As a division of CBA, Bankwest borrowers benefit from the stability, capital strength, and regulatory oversight of Australia’s largest bank, while still dealing with a lender that operates with a noticeably lighter touch when it comes to fees, paperwork, and the overall application experience.
Bankwest keeps its home loan range deliberately focused — offering variable and fixed rate options across both owner-occupier and investment lending, with the ability to add on package features for borrowers who want more from their loan.
The Simple Home Loan is Bankwest’s core variable rate product, built around flexibility and fee simplicity. Key features include:
This product suits borrowers who want a clean, low-cost variable loan with the flexibility to make additional repayments and access an offset account without being locked into a package.
For borrowers who want more features bundled into one arrangement, the Complete Variable Home Loan package adds extra value on top of the core variable rate loan:
The Complete Package is designed for borrowers who can benefit from multiple offset accounts, construction lending, or who want their credit card annual fee waived — making the $395 annual cost well worth it in many cases.
Bankwest’s Fixed Rate Home Loan allows borrowers to lock in their interest rate for a set period, providing repayment certainty in a changing rate environment:
Fixed rate lending at Bankwest suits borrowers who want short-term certainty over their repayments and are not planning to make large lump sum payments during the fixed period.
| Feature | Simple Home Loan | Complete Variable Home Loan |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Loan | $20,000 | $200,000 |
| Annual Fee | $0 | $395 |
| Application Fee | $0 | $0 |
| Offset Accounts | 100% offset available | 100% offset — up to 9 accounts |
| Monthly Offset Fee | $10 per account | $0 |
| Redraw | Available ($0 fee) | Available ($0 fee) |
| Extra Repayments | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Valuation Fee | Standard fee applies | $0 |
| Progress Payment Fee | $80 per payment | $0 |
| Loan Increase Fee | $295 | $0 |
| Credit Card Included | No | Optional — annual fee waived |
| Interest Only | Up to 5 years | Up to 5 years |
| Best For | Simple, low-cost borrowers | Borrowers with multiple offsets or construction needs |
A Complete Guide To Finding The Right Home Loan Solution For Your Needs
Bankwest caters to a broad range of borrower types across its home loan suite:
Bankwest provides dedicated guidance, borrowing calculators, deposit planning tools, and access to home loan specialists who walk first home buyers through every stage of the process — from understanding how much deposit they need to navigating conditional approval and final settlement.
For borrowers looking to switch from another lender, Bankwest’s refinancing process is handled as a new loan application. No stamp duty applies on refinances, and Bankwest specialists are available to help assess whether the move makes financial sense, given any discharge or break fees from the existing lender.
Bankwest accepts applications from sole traders, freelancers, and business owners with at least 18 months of ABN registration (where LVR is below 80%). Required documents typically include business and personal tax returns, a recent ATO notice of assessment, and business financial statements — with alternative documentation accepted where standard docs are unavailable.
Bankwest supports both new and experienced property investors with dedicated investor loan products and guides. Complete Package holders investing in property can also access a discounted depreciation schedule through DEPPRO Pty Ltd, making tax time more manageable.
Bankwest’s construction loan product allows borrowers to draw down funds in stages as building progresses, with interest-only repayments during the construction phase. Complete Package holders pay no progress payment fees, a meaningful saving on larger builds with multiple drawdown milestones.
For borrowers buying before they sell, Bankwest offers bridging loans of up to 6 months under its Simple Home Loan product. The existing home loan must be held with Bankwest or refinanced to Bankwest as part of the arrangement.
| Feature | Variable Rate | Fixed Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rate (Owner-Occ, P&I) | From 6.24% p.a. | From 6.49% p.a. (1 yr) |
| Rate Certainty | Rates can move up or down | Locked in for a fixed term |
| Extra Repayments | Unlimited | Up to $10,000 per year |
| Redraw | Available | Not available during the fixed term |
| Offset | 100% offset available | 40% offset maximum |
| Break Costs | None | Break costs may apply |
| Best For | Flexible borrowers | Borrowers want repayment certainty |
Bankwest is a strong fit for:
It is less suited for:
Bankwest delivers a compelling combination of major bank backing and a leaner, more digital-forward banking experience. Its home loan range is focused, well-priced, and supported by a team that is genuinely accessible outside of standard business hours. The Complete Variable Home Loan Package, in particular, offers strong value for borrowers with multiple offset accounts, construction needs, or who can make use of the bundled credit card benefit.
At FS Loan, we work with Bankwest and a broad panel of lenders to ensure every client is matched with the right product for their individual situation. Whether you are buying, building, refinancing, or investing, we can help you assess your borrowing capacity and structure the strongest possible application. . Call +123 456 7891 or reach out online to speak with one of our experienced mortgage and lending brokers today.
Understand how Bankwest operates as a digital-first Australian bank and what it offers for everyday customers.
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