It is difficult to describe the predicament facing the people of Kinglake.

On the one hand they are deep in grief over the loss of friends and relatives, neighbours and acquaintances from their town.

They have got a massive clean-up in front of them, funerals to attend and children to care for. And then there are other old echoes of their previous lives.

Different banks seem to have different ideas about how the bushfire survivors should go about resuming mortgage repayments on houses that no longer exist.

Matt Falla says he is lucky his house survived, but just when he is getting back on his feet, he has had to worry about his mortgage.

"My wife went to the Commonwealth Bank who we have a mortgage with and spoke to the manager about some relief assistance with our mortgage," he said.

"I'm a sub-contract carpenter so I am unable to work at the moment.

"My wife does work part-time but she is unable to work. We are caring for our daughter because there is no schooling.

"We've been told that we can have a suspension of repayments for a period of three months, but at the end of that three months we need to repay the interest in full."

Mr Falla says should his mortgage line of credit go over its limit during that time, the excess amount will be charged at double the normal rate of interest.

"I relayed the story to our neighbour, Justin, who we fought the fire with on Saturday. He banks with the Bendigo Bank and they have suspended their mortgage for a period of three months on their principal and interest and they don't have to pay anything after that period."

Commonwealth Bank's national spokesman Steve Batton says the bank assesses each customer on an individual basis.

"Some customers have different needs to others," he said. "What we are looking at in the interim is a three-month moratorium.

"However as mentioned, we will look at individual customers' needs and assess whether or not there is a requirement for an extension."

Fiona Leadbeater, who lost her home in the fires, said her mortgage was the last thing on her mind.

"I have been too concerned about friends and family who have lost loved ones and just trying to help get the community back on its feet," she said.

"I am in a fortunate position that I don't have a house any more but only have a small mortgage.

"I feel very sorry for people that have got a large one because it must be a huge burden on top of everything else that has happened to them."

Mr Falla says a compulsion to stay and help his fellow residents outweighs any pressure to earn money to pay off his mortgage.

"I can't with my conscience, hop into my car, drive down to Melbourne to work to pay for a mortgage when I have got dead friends still on the ground," he said.

"Others who have no home. Others who are hurting and are injured and I am a builder and a carpenter and I can help here.

"I just can't do it."