It\u2019s the kind of news that stirs mixed feelings \u2014 a bit of relief for savers, a bit of dread for borrowers. With the Reserve Bank\u2019s first meeting of the year just around the corner, ANZ has made a move that\u2019s turning heads in the financial world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ANZ Bank has increased interest rates across several of its savings accounts, making it the first of Australia\u2019s big four banks to act ahead of the Reserve Bank of Australia\u2019s (RBA<\/a>) February meeting. The decision has been described as a pre-emptive step in what could be a tightly contested call for the central bank \u2014 to hold or to hike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers using ANZ\u2019s Online Saver account will now see their maximum rate climb by 0.10 percentage points to 4.85%, while the Progress Saver account will lift to 4.60%. The adjustments take effect immediately for new and existing customers, offering a modest boost to households with savings balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For savers, it\u2019s welcome news after months of flat returns. But for borrowers already under pressure from high mortgage rates, the move raises the question: is another rate rise on the horizon?<\/p>\n\n\n\n