The ban on mortgage exit fees has passed into law, Treasurer Wayne Swan announced yesterday, calling it "a victory for Australian families"."This critical measure will help boost competition in the home loan market over time, by giving consumers greater freedom to walk down the road if their bank isn't doing the right thing by them," Swan said.The NAB again voiced its support for the ban yesterday, saying it would benefit those lenders who were offering their customers the fairest value and most competitive interest rates.The ANZ and CBA have also removed their exit fees. Indeed, the ban is widely expected to work against small lenders. Treasury papers released in February showed Treasury officials were concerned that the ban could lead to higher loan interest rates and fees, reduced transparency and higher costs for consumers who don't switch loans.The ban will apply from 1 July 2011.