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Permanent TSB to hike variable mortgage rates

The bank's standard variable rate is to climb by 0.35% to 4.3% from 31 July.
The bank's standard variable rate is to climb by 0.35% to 4.3% from 31 July.

Variable rate mortgage customers of Permanent TSB are to see the rates they are paying increase by between 0.05% and 0.4%.

The bank's standard variable rate is to climb by 0.35% to 4.3% from 31 July.

While its loan-to-value based Homeloan Managed Variable Rates (MVRs) are to rise by between 0.05% and 0.4%, bringing MVRs to between 3.8% and 4.3%.

However, the lender’s fixed rates are to remain unchanged for now.

They remain at between 3.9% and 4.9% depending on the rate and the loan to value ratio chosen by each customer.

PTSB claims fixed rates now account for 95% of its new business, with just 5% seeking variable rates.

Variable and fixed rates on buy-to-let properties are also to increase.

Buy-to-let variable rates are increasing by 0.5% for all Managed Variable Rate loan-to-value bands, while buy-to-let new business fixed rates are increasing by 1%.

PTSB said customers who already have approval for a fixed buy-to-let loan will have until 27 October to draw it down at the existing lower rate.

It is the first change in non-tracker rates announced by any Irish lender since the European Central Bank raised its rates by a further 0.25% last week.

In total, the ECB has now increased its main rate by 4% since July of last year.

Permanent TSB also pointed out that it has increased its deposit rate three times since November of last year, with the most recently announced change taking effect from today.

"The bank will continue to keep deposit rates under review," it added.

The bank also said it would be ending fee waivers on legacy current accounts no longer available to new customers.

Until now. customers with the legacy accounts did not have to pay fees if they held at least €2,500 in their accounts per quarter.

However, if they did not have this level of balance, they had to pay €18 a quarter and this will continue to be the prevailing position for all holders of these accounts going forward if they choose to keep them.

Alternatively, they can move to the Explore current account. which charges €6 a month and has a cash back feature.

Around 47,000 customers were actively using the fee waiver feature, which is being removed.