澳洲银行偏移账户操作失当 消费者被迫多付利息

澳大利亚金融监管机构ASIC发现，多家银行在处理抵押贷款偏移账户时存在操作不当，导致借款人支付了超出应缴的利息1。目前，消费者已获得5500万澳元的赔偿，但预期后续赔偿金额还会增加1。

偏移账户在澳洲抵押贷款市场中应用广泛1。数据显示，55%的澳洲抵押贷款产品附带偏移账户功能1，且在所有贷款机构的最低利率产品中，45%也配备了该功能1。借款人在偏移账户中存放的资金已达历史新高，约为3490亿澳元1，每天因此抵消的利息约为6100万澳元1。

Australia's financial regulator has identified widespread failures by banks in managing mortgage offset accounts, resulting in consumers paying excess interest. A total of $55 million in compensation has already been paid to affected borrowers, with further payouts expected to follow 1. The issue affects a substantial portion of Australia's mortgage market, as approximately 55% of Australian home loans include offset account features 1.

Offset accounts allow borrowers to reduce their mortgage interest by holding funds in linked savings accounts, and the total balance held in these accounts has reached a historic high of approximately $349 billion 1. The financial impact is considerable, with approximately $61 million in interest being offset daily 1. Among lenders offering their lowest-rate loan products, 45% include offset account functionality 1, making proper operation of these accounts critical to consumers' financial outcomes.