Aussies turn to Google for finance basics

New research shows thousands of Australians are Googling the most basic financial terms, with searches for queries like “mortgage meaning”, “what is interest?” and “what is a comparison rate?” attracting thousands of hits each month. 

According to non-bank lender MONEYME’s keyword analysis, the most searched category is around “interest” with an average of 9,590 searches per month. This is followed by mortgage-related queries (8,900) and credit-related terms (7,810). 

The single most searched query was “mortgage meaning”, which drew 3,600 monthly searches over the past year. 

Financial confusion highlights risks 

Clayton Howes (pictured), CEO of MONEYME, said the findings highlight both the scale of financial confusion and the opportunity for education. 

“Finance can be overwhelming, especially when you’re making big decisions like taking out a loan or buying a home,” Howes said. “But not understanding basic terms like ‘interest rate’ or ‘comparison rate’ can lead to costly mistakes, from signing up for a loan with hidden fees to underestimating repayment amounts. 

“The more confident and informed you are, the better equipped you are to compare products, negotiate better deals and avoid unnecessary costs. Even a basic level of financial literacy can translate into thousands of dollars saved over the life of a loan.” 

Most Googled finance questions 

MONEYME’s research analysed 533 finance-related search queries. Among the top were: 

• What does “mortgage” mean? — A loan used to buy property, secured by the property itself. 
• What does “default” mean? — Failing to meet loan repayment terms. 
• What is a “comparison rate”? — The interest rate plus most fees and charges, to show the true cost of a loan. 
• What does “credit” mean? — Borrowing money with the promise to repay it later, often with interest. 
• What does “creditor” mean? — A person, business, or financial institution that lends money. 
• What does “debtor” mean? — Someone who owes money, such as a borrower. 
• What is “compound interest”? — Interest calculated on both the principal and accumulated interest. 
• What is an “interest rate”? — The cost of borrowing money, expressed as a percentage. 
• What is “lenders mortgage insurance”? — Insurance that protects the lender if the borrower defaults. 

Methodology behind the MONEYME research 

To conduct the study, MONEYME created a seed list of finance terms, expanded them into long-tail questions such as “what is”, “meaning”, and “for beginners”, and then ran a keyword analysis through Google Keyword Planner. 

This generated 533 long-tail keywords, which were grouped into umbrella topics like “interest,” “mortgage,” and “credit” to reveal the most common areas of confusion. 

Why it matters for mortgage brokers 

The findings highlight the gaps in financial literacy among borrowers, particularly around fundamental loan concepts. For mortgage brokers, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. 

On one hand, clients may enter conversations with limited understanding of key terms like “comparison rate” or “LMI,” which can create confusion or unrealistic expectations. On the other hand, brokers are in a strong position to add value by educating clients, clarifying these concepts, and ensuring borrowers avoid costly mistakes. 

With thousands of Australians turning to Google every month for basic definitions, brokers can position themselves as trusted guides in the home loan process, helping clients build confidence, compare products accurately, and make better long-term financial decisions. 

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