<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A major bank has hiked its fixed rate home loans </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/interest-rates-australia-westpac-predicts-rate-rises-us-israel-iran-war-fuel-crisis-australia/dc7f0d02-06b7-438d-b024-28850e6346ee" rel="" target="_blank" title="weeks after forecasting interest rates could hit an 18-year high in 2026"><span>weeks after forecasting interest rates could hit an 18-year high in 2026</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/westpac" rel="" target="_blank" title="Westpac"><span>Westpac</span></a><span> announced its fixed rates for home loans to owner-occupiers and investors would increase by 0.15 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This change reflects the increased cost of fixed rate funding and ensures our fixed home loan rates remain aligned with current market conditions," the bank said in a message to customers.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>LIVE UPDATES:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-live-updates-april-23-donald-trump-latest-world-news-headlines/a233896c-f0d2-4024-bd3c-3cce661a51ab" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Stunning footage shows Iran's ultimate act of defiance</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rate increase will apply to all new fixed loans, and to any fixes on existing variable loans, from today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Westpac's figures showed its lowest fixed rate was now 6.39 per cent.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It comes just weeks after the bank, citing the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, forecast mortgage holders would face three more interest rare hikes from the Reserve Bank.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/westpac-hikes-fixed-rates-on-home-loans/2c2c99dd-4e0a-423b-8b57-ece0d9210112" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/fuel-prices-australia-country-should-prepare-for-long-tail-of-diesel-supply-crunch/fde53705-c860-46e0-b71f-9e81242cee9e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Delayed diesel supply crunch could hit Australia soon</span></strong></a><strong><span></span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Interest rates have already risen from 3.60 per cent at the end of 2025 to 4.15 per cent after two increases to start the year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Westpac had previously only predicted one further increase from the RBA.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This shift reflects the longer disruption to and slower recovery in fuel supply assumed… with the Strait of Hormuz essentially closed for eight weeks and traffic recovering only slowly after that," Westpac chief economist Luci Ellis said at the time.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>