NAB vs ING: which home loan suits you?
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NAB offers the full weight of a big four bank — branches, business banking, a broad product suite — while ING competes as a lean, digital-only lender with no physical branches. This is one of the clearest 'traditional vs digital' comparisons among mainstream lenders.
| Attribute | NAB | ING |
|---|---|---|
| Rate positioning | Tiered basic-vs-package pricing typical of a big four bank. | Historically positioned toward the sharper end of ongoing variable rates for straightforward digital borrowers. |
| Offset & redraw | Full offset on the Choice Package; redraw available on variable loans. | Offset available on select variable products; redraw via app. |
| Fees | Annual package fee for full features; basic variable has minimal fees. | Generally low or no ongoing fees, subject to conditions on top-tier products. |
| Cashback / promotions | Periodic refinance cashback tied to loan size and LVR. | Has run its own refinance and rate-match style promotions. |
| Turnaround / service | Branch, phone and broker channel service; large centralised credit team. | App and phone only; no branches, generally efficient for straightforward files. |
| Borrowing power quirks | Own serviceability model; generous treatment of some essential-service overtime income. | Own serviceability model; conditions can apply to retain top-tier pricing. |
| Best suited to | Borrowers who want business banking, in-person help and a broad product ecosystem alongside their mortgage. | Digitally confident borrowers focused on ongoing rate who don't need a branch relationship. |
Full-service versus lean and digital
NAB is built to serve everyone from first home buyers to business owners under one roof, with the overheads that implies. ING has deliberately stayed out of the branch network business, which historically let it price more sharply on ongoing variable rates for customers who don't need in-person service.
What to check before switching
- Confirm whether ING's advertised rate carries account-activity conditions before assuming it's your ongoing rate.
- If you run a small business or want linked business banking, NAB's broader ecosystem may outweigh a small rate gap.
- Both are full-doc lenders — neither is the right comparison if your file needs alt-doc or adverse-credit policy.
Who should pick which
Choose NAB if you want a single relationship covering personal and business banking, with branch access when you need it.
Choose ING if your priority is the lowest achievable ongoing rate and you're comfortable managing everything digitally.
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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