Bankwest vs St.George: which home loan suits you?
Last reviewed
Bankwest (CBA-owned) and St.George (Westpac-owned) are both regional-heritage brands operating inside a big four banking group with their own pricing and, at the margin, their own policy settings. This comparison is most useful when a broker is deciding which second-brand path to test for a specific file.
| Attribute | Bankwest | St.George |
|---|---|---|
| Rate positioning | Competitive variable and fixed pricing with a Western Australian heritage; set independently within the CBA group. | Competitive tiered pricing with a NSW heritage; set independently within the Westpac group. |
| Offset & redraw | Offset on packaged variable loans; redraw generally available. | Offset on Basic/Advantage Package products; redraw generally available. |
| Fees | Annual package fee broadly comparable to major bank packages. | Annual package fee broadly comparable to Westpac's own. |
| Cashback / promotions | Runs its own refinance cashback, independent of CBA's calendar. | Runs its own refinance and first-home-buyer promotions, independent of Westpac's calendar. |
| Turnaround / service | Own contact centre and digital banking, historically strongest in WA. | Strong historical presence in NSW/ACT with relationship managers in many areas. |
| Borrowing power quirks | Own serviceability settings, can differ from CBA's parent settings. | Own serviceability settings, independently maintained from Westpac's. |
| Best suited to | Borrowers wanting a CBA-backed regional brand, sometimes with a sharper live offer than CBA itself. | Borrowers wanting a Westpac-backed regional brand with a more relationship-driven feel. |
Why compare two second brands directly
Bankwest and St.George rarely come up against each other in everyday shopping — most borrowers compare each against its own parent bank. But when a broker is weighing up two big four groups for a client and both flagship brands have similar offers, comparing the second brands can reveal which group currently has the sharper independent pricing or more flexible policy for that specific file.
What tends to differ
- Promotional cashback and fixed-rate specials are set independently at each brand and rarely align.
- Serviceability calculators, while built on similar risk principles to their parents, are maintained separately and can produce different maximum loan amounts.
- Regional service strength differs — Bankwest historically strongest in WA, St.George in NSW/ACT — though both now serve customers nationally.
Who should pick which
If you're CBA-group leaning (perhaps for an existing relationship or a specific promotion), Bankwest is worth comparing against CBA's own offer first.
If you're Westpac-group leaning, St.George is the natural first alternative to check against Westpac's flagship product.
A note on pricing
Indicative only — check current pricing. Rates, fees and cashback offers change frequently and vary by loan purpose, LVR and lender promotion. Nothing on this page is a quote; speak to an XLOANS broker for live pricing from both lenders.
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Frequently asked questions
Indicative only — check current pricing. This page is general information, not financial advice, and does not quote live rates. Lender policy, pricing and cashback offers change frequently. Speak to an XLOANS broker for advice tailored to your situation.
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