According to new research by RaboDirect, 49 per cent of surveyed respondents said they would be older than 60 before they finish paying their mortgage.

The survey by RaboDirect, a subsidiary company of Rabobank Australia, questioned people about their attitudes and behaviour towards debt and savings.

The results found that a significant portion of Australians have a low level understanding of many financial services and products.

About half the survey thought transaction and savings accounts were the same thing.