5 things to review in your banking set up for 2026

Keeping on top of your financial admin is important. Each year, it pays to check whether your current banking setup is still suited to your needs. This is also a good opportunity to check in with your financial position, set some goals, and review these five key aspects of your banking set up. You might find ways to improve, simplify or optimise your finances in the process.

1. Interest rates

Interest rates on loans, credit cards and savings accounts can often fall into the ‘too hard basket’. But there’s a lot to be gained from checking how much you’re paying and earning in interest.

On loans or credit cards, check whether your interest rate is competitive against advertised rates, and consider speaking to your lender about switching to a better rate. On savings accounts, see how much you’re earning on your balance, and whether there might be a better offer out there. Some accounts, like the Bendigo Bank Reward Saver, pay a bonus rate of interest when you grow your balance each month. If you’re accumulating your savings over time, you could earn more interest just by selecting the right savings environment.

And if you need a simple savings account that you can use as and when you need to, you could consider the Bendigo Bank EasySaver account. You'll earn consistent interest ongoing without paying any monthly service fees.

2. Banking functionality and features

The functionality of your bank’s online and app interfaces make more of a difference to your financial success than you think. Some accounts offer features like multiple savings buckets, card controls and quick balances, which can make your banking experience much smoother.

3. Savings setup

Success with your savings is about more than just interest rates. Earning a good interest rate on your savings matters, but where you keep your savings is just as important.

Consider things like:

• The purpose of your savings and when you might want or need to access the money.
• Whether you’re adding to your balance regularly or maintaining a static balance.
• Your savings timeline. Is the money for a short, medium or long term time horizon?
• Whether you would benefit from having more or less access to the money.

However, if you're looking for consistent interest and no eligibility criteria, a simple savings account with a variable interest rate like the Bendigo Bank Easy Saver could be the solution.

4. Home loan

If you haven’t reviewed your home loan in the last 12 months, it’s worth adding it to your 2026 to do list. A free Home Loan Health Check can assess whether your loan still suits your circumstances and potentially save you money. You could uncover ways to save on interest or even access equity for a renovation or an investment property.

5. Security

Scams continue to pose a threat to Australian customers as criminal activity gets more advanced. The new year is a great time to optimise your account security. Change your passwords regularly, make sure multifactor authentication is switched on, and ensure your app and device software’s are up to date to benefit from the latest fraud protection.

Plus, brushing up on the latest scam alerts can help you know what to look out for.

Now that your finance admin is in order, it’s also a great time to do your digital diligence to keep you and your money safe from scams. Check out our 6 tips to ensure you get digitally safe and savvy!