Loan Fee Impact Calculator
See how much an establishment fee and ongoing account fees add to the true cost of a loan over its term, beyond the quoted interest rate.
Your results
Calculation breakdown
- Total fees
- establishment fee + (monthly fee × number of months)
- Total cost
- interest cost + total fees
Worked example
A $15,000 loan at 9.5% over 5 years with a $300 establishment fee and $8 monthly fee adds around $780 in fees on top of the interest cost, meaningfully changing the loan's real cost.
Assumptions
- Assumes fees are as stated in the loan contract and don't change over the term.
- Interest is calculated using standard reducing-balance amortisation.
- Does not include one-off government charges such as registration fees.
How this calculator works
Loan fees such as an upfront establishment fee and a periodic account-keeping fee add to the real cost of borrowing but are often overlooked next to the headline interest rate. This calculator totals these fees over the loan term and adds them to the interest cost from the repayment schedule, so you can see the full cost of the loan.
Frequently asked questions
Are loan fees included in the advertised interest rate?
No, the interest rate is separate from fees; Australian lenders must publish a comparison rate that folds in most fees, but checking the dollar impact directly can be clearer for your specific loan amount.
Which fees should I include here?
Include the upfront establishment fee and any regular account-keeping or service fee stated in the loan contract; exclude one-off fees that would apply regardless of lender, such as government charges.
Can fees change which loan is cheaper overall?
Yes, a loan with a slightly higher rate but no fees can sometimes be cheaper in total than a lower-rate loan with high fees, especially over a shorter term.
Results are estimates only and are not financial, tax, legal or credit advice.