FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate: Low balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55 days

• Extras:
  • Rewards
  • Design your own card
  • Visa Entertainment
  • Phone/Internet banking

There are two features of the ANZ Balance Visa which make it an affordable and worthwhile card – the rewards program and the low interest rate.

Purchases made on your ANZ Balance Visa will incur a Low interest rate  p.a.*, and when it comes time to make your repayment, you’ll be rewarded with one rewards point for every dollar you repay. This includes both fees and interest paid on your account. It receives the title of #3 in the Editor’s Choice – Balance Transfer category with just a low p.a. for the first 18 months on all balances transferred.

Points can be redeemed for a number of rewards, such as gift vouchers, shopping vouchers and even cash back. All rewards are available in values of $100, $50 and $20, with cash back rewards credited straight back into your account and the total reward amount being deducted from your credit card’s balance.

There is, however, one downside to this rewards system which is that you need to spend quite a significant amount of money in order to be able to redeem your points. For example, the lowest redemption amount is 4,000 points (which gets you a $20 voucher) and the highest being 22,000 points, which gets you a $100 Caltex voucher. This can be counteracted by the fact that points earned on repayments includes purchases, fees, interest, cash advances and repayments on balances transferred*.

When divided weekly this just over $420 a week, but this would have to be a regular expenditure which, if you are not careful, could result in some huge bills. So spending $22,000 just to get a $100 voucher? Not really the greatest rewards deal out there, but is more realistic with the points earn rate that’s on offer.

With a low annual fee you are paying a bit more than most low interest credit cards but if you are looking for an affordable monthly interest rate with rewards then it is relatively cheap.

Especially seeing as these two features work in tandem as the main draw cards of the Balance Visa; rewards points for repayments act as an incentive to pay back the lower interest on your credit card bill, faster.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate: Low p.a. balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55

• Extras:
  • Fraud Protection
  • Phone/internet banking

The St George Vertigo MasterCard is one of The Credit Card Guide’s most highly recommended credit cards as it takes out top 3 spots in five different categories, including 2nd place in the Editor’s Choice category – Overall.

Another card with a low p.a.* on purchases, the St George Vertigo MasterCard is cracking the whip on some of the other big name banks. It does however have a cash advance rate  p.a.*, but that can be avoided if it’s a real issue.

It comes with up to 55 days interest free* on purchases and a balance transfer rate  p.a. for the first 6 months. The annual fee is fairly average for this kind of card so is not really a deciding factor.

While this low interest credit card would be beneficial for pretty much everyone, it would be most beneficial for those in NSW and South Australia as there are more branches and ATM’s (including Bank SA’s which are owned by St George), so you’d be less likely to be stuck using another bank’s ATM.

The current cash advance rate is p.a. variable. The balance transfer rate remains p.a. for the first 6 months.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate: Low p.a. balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55 days
• Extras:
  • Cash back

• Airfare Deals
• Extended Warranty
• Purchase Security
• MasterCard Moments
• MasterCard Applause
• Transit Accident Insurance
• Platinum 24/7 Concierge Service

For a platinum credit card this one from Commonwealth is pretty standard in most areas, but it does have a wide range of features in order to cater well for a wider range of people.

It comes with all the same benefits as the gold card but with longer time periods and greater values (International travel insurance for trips up to 12 months, extended warranty for up to a year longer than the manufacturer’s warranty, purchase security for up to 90 days and transit accident insurance), plus a few other features just to set it apart.

The card’s annual fee, but if you happen to be applying for (or already have) a Commonwealth Bank home loan or bank account then the annual fee of your credit card will be waived. Or, if you are an existing Commonwealth credit card customer then (depending on which credit card you have) your annual fee will be either waived or reduced.

Bank account or home loan – Annual fee is waived
Awards Card – Annual fee is reduced
Gold Card – Annual fee is reduced
Platinum Card – Annual fee is reduced
Low Rate – Annual fee is reduced
Low Rate Gold – Annual fee is reduced
Low Fee – Waived when you spend $1000 or more per year on your credit card
Low Fee Gold – Waived when you spend $10,000 or more per year on your credit card

This includes a 24/7 platinum concierge service*, a comprehensive annual summary* (which will help at tax time) and a guaranteed pricing scheme*, so if you a find a product you’ve bought for a cheaper price (in print) than what you paid, Commonwealth will pay you the difference.

And now for the Awards program – with every dollar you spend on your Commonwealth platinum card you’ll get one Awards point. You can also get extra points by using the Commonwealth Travel Plus service, or by shopping at selected Bonus Partners.

These points can be redeemed for all sorts of goodies including cash back (which is credited back to your account), entertainment, shopping, merchandise and also travel. You can choose to have your awards points converted to frequent flyer points for your choice of Virgin Blue or Qantas airlines (you must be a member of your airline of choice’s frequent flyer program). Also, if you happen to be flying business or first class on a flight you’ve bought with your platinum credit card with Air Tahiti Nui, Japan Airlines or Air Pacific you’ll be eligible for companion airfare deals.

While this is probably a good deal, we thought there might be some kind of other benefit to really set it apart from the Gold and standard credit cards (not to mention other platinum rewards credit cards). But for an annual fee we still think it’s a really good deal, which is why it takes out the #3 spot in the Platinum credit card category and #2 in the Frequent Flyer credit card category. Adding to this cards prestige (in our eyes) is the fact that we also named it the #3 place getter in the Editor’s Choice – Rewards Credit Cards category.

The interest rate offered is more reasonable on the platinum credit card than on its lower value counterparts with the same rate, at * on purchases and p.a.* on cash advances, along with up to 55 days interest free*. If you have a credit card balance that you need to transfer to a lower interest rate then you can transfer it onto this card  for the first 5 months. After this time any balance remaining from your transfer will be charged * interest.

But to sum up, the Commonwealth Platinum credit card definitely holds its own in the platinum credit card market with its variety of features and it’s standard pricing. It would be ideal for those who fly regularly with Virgin or Qantas and plan on using their rewards credit card regularly for retail payments each month.

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As the title suggests, the key feature of Commonwealth’s Low Fee credit card is its annual fee.

This can be reduced even more so that you pay nothing at all. How? By spending $1000 or more per year on your credit card, which when you think about it is not much at all.

The thing about offering a low fee credit card is that the majority of people who are looking for that feature are most likely going to be looking for low interest rates as well. So when the low fee card is compared to the Commonwealth’s other specialized card (the low rate credit card) it comes off second best due to its high interest rate on purchases ( p.a.*) and cash advances ( pa.*).

If they could somehow combine the two they would have a much more competitive credit card and probably a few more customers to say the least.

It’s a very basic credit card with the only other features being the (up to) 55 days interest free on purchases* and the low balance transfer rate. Commonwealth offers balance transfers for the first 9 months*, after which it will increase to the cash advance rate of p.a. That’s a jump of over 15% so you’d want to make sure you paid off any balance transfers before the 9 months is up.

To sum things up, the Commonwealth Low Fee credit card is evidence of yet another bank over-compensating for one feature at the expense of another. If you’re strict with your money and as a result are good at paying your bill in full each month then this card could be a good choice. But if that’s not the case then there are other cards that cater for people that are looking for both low fees and interest rates.

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Citibank has teamed up with Emirates airlines to bring you the Emirates Citi Platinum credit card, designed for those frequent flyers who are not so worried about how much they are spending and are looking to capitalize on their expenses.

This airline rewards credit card comes with an extremely high credit limit of $100,000*, plus all the expected insurance benefits (international travel, transit accident, purchase cover and extended warranty)* not to mention a personal concierge service*.

As an added bonus, this card has an excellent balance transfer rate.* which earns it the title of #1 credit card in the Balance Transfer category.

Whether your balance is around $1000, or closer to $10,000, this ongoing interest rate means the savings are there for the taking when you get your Emirates Citi Platinum credit card. But that’s not all.

It also has a bundle of other benefits that you probably wouldn’t expect.

For example, a chauffeur-driven ride to and from the airport each year (when flying with Emirates of course), a double lounge pass per year to any of Australia’s Emirates lounges. Or if you happen to be going to Dubai you’ll get free access to the airport’s Marhaba lounge.

You’ll also earn Skywards Miles (Emirates’ frequent flyer program) at a rate of 3 for every dollar spent on your Emirates Citi Platinum card.

Skyward Miles can be redeemed for international flights on Emirates airlines and it’s partners, as well as Virgin Blue domestic flights, selected hotels, car rentals and merchandise from the Emirates online rewards store – The Emirates High Street.

This does come at a relatively high price (which is unfortunately becoming pretty standard for Platinum credit cards). Citibank charge for cash advances and for purchases on the Emirates platinum card with an annual fee. However it is expected with such a low ongoing balance transfer rate and so many added benefits.

On the whole the Emirates Citi Platinum is a well rounded card with prices that come as no surprise considering the range of benefits available. So if you fly with Emirates regularly, are looking for a platinum card to match your credit card expenses, or most importantly are looking for a credit card that offers low interest rates on balance transfers then this is the airline credit card for you.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate: Low p.a. balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55

• Extras:
  • Fraudshield
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Phone/Internet banking
  • International Travel Insurance

The Citibank Clear Platinum credit card is one of a number of premium credit cards available from Citibank, but when you compare it to most others on the market it doesn’t really seem like a platinum card at all.

This odd choice of name from Citibank has potential to confuse customers. Platinum credit cards tend to be more costly than the Citibank Clear Platinum card, which means those in the market for a cheap credit card may overlook it without realizing just how affordable it is.

It is in fact a really good credit card. It takes out the #1 spot for platinum credit cards, #2 for cash back credit cards and #3 for interest free credit cards in the Editor’s Choice category.

The standard interest rate is low on purchases* and on balance transfers*. The one downfall that can be seen on this card is its cash advance and default balance transfer rate. At that rate you’d only want to use cash advances in a real emergency.

Other benefits of this credit card also include international travel insurance, purchase protection and extended warranties on all products purchased with the credit card. And who could forget the rewards. With over 40,000 rewards partners in over 30 countries around the world, your rewards will follow you anywhere you go.

The main requirement that Citibank has for this card is that you must earn $50,000 or more per year. With up to 55 days interest free*, it is an impressively cheap credit card (when you avoid getting out cash) with great travel and reward benefits that you are unlikely to get anywhere else at such an affordable rate.

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According to Bankwest, their Lite MasterCard is the ‘lowest stress credit card’, and we’re inclined to believe them when they offer customers the very low interest rate.*

The only other cards to have a lower interest rate are ones with introductory offers that finish with a much higher rate after only a few months. Meanwhile, the Bankwest Lite MasterCard interest rate is ongoing.

The cash advance rate on this low rate credit card is significantly higher than the purchase rate*, but is within the standard cash advance range so it’s not much of a downside.

In terms of balance transfers this card shines again with a super low rate, which is much longer than most balance transfer cards across the board.

With a low annual fee this is a reasonably priced credit card that also offers up to 55 days interest free on purchases*. Like the Aussie MasterCard, the features on Bankwest’s Lite MasterCard make it very appealing.

If you look at the card over all, it’s fair to say that if it’s used wisely, this credit card could be very valuable. Its ability to cater so well to such a wide range of financial needs has enabled to take out a top 3 placing in the Editors Choice category, and therefore comes very highly recommended.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate:  Low p.a. balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55 days

• Extras:
  • Phone internet banking
  • Up to 9 additional cardholders
  • Visa Entertainment benefits
  • Worldwide emergency card replacement

The ANZ Gold Credit Card offers much the same benefits as the ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum credit card without the huge price tag, enabling it to come in second in the Editor’s Choice – Gold credit cards category. With a low annual fee a year it is even cheaper than the standard ANZ Frequent Flyer card.

While it is not the cheapest credit card on offer from ANZ in terms of its interest rate  it has a number of features that make it stand out from the rest, and also give it the title of #1 Editor’s Choice in the Gold Credit Cards Category. One  example of why it is the leader in this category is a great introductory offer on balance transfers.

With a low balance transfer rate, a small balance transfer could be paid off at a much cheaper rate than what you would normally be paying for that balance on a different credit card. The only catch is that you have to apply for your transfer at the same time as you apply for the Gold credit card.

The ANZ Gold card also includes the following travel insurance benefits:

- 90-day purchase security (after the expiry of the product warranty)*
- Overseas medical and travel insurance*
- Commission free travelers cheques*

This card sits on the middle of the scale in terms of price, but makes up for any price-related concerns you may have by having very reasonable rates for pretty much all of its features, rather than just focusing on one, like a lot of other credit cards tend to do.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

 

• Annual fee: High annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55 days
• Extras:

• • Concierge Service
  • Extended Warranty
  • Phone/Internet banking
  • Overseas Medical Insurance
  • Up to 9 additional cardholders
  • American Express/Visa Entertainment benefits

Earn 20,000 bonus Qantas Frequent Flyer Points to help get to your destination sooner.
 * 20,000 bonus Qantas Frequent Flyer Points if you apply by 28th Feburary 2011. Offer available to only new applicants.

The ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum credit card is the top dog of the ANZ Frequent Flyer cards, so as well as being the #1 credit card in the Frequent Flyer category, it also takes out the #2 spot in the platinum credit card category.

Being the next step up from the Gold Frequent Flyer card, it has a number of benefits that are exclusive to Platinum credit card holders and are very beneficial for a regular traveler.

The core features of this airline rewards credit card remain the same as the other frequent flyer cards offered by ANZ (interest, balance transfer, interest free period). However the inclusion of travel insurance benefits makes this card much more valuable than the rest.

With this card you will receive extended warranty on purchases*, 90-day purchase security on lost/stolen/broken products*, not to mention overseas medical insurance*. Safety measures such as these can often be expensive and a major hassle to organize, so if you do fly regularly then the inclusion of these features is very convenient.

Using your Platinum American Express credit card will earn you 1.5 points for every dollar spent (up to $2500 a month), and like the lower level frequent flyer cards, 1 point for every $2 spent on the Frequent Flyer Platinum Visa. ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum cardholders also benefit from the concierge booking service*, which adds another level of convenience to your international travels.

The annual fee for this card burns a hole in your pocket, so if it is mainly frequent flyer points you’re looking for then we recommend the ANZ Frequent Flyer Gold credit card as this offers the same rewards benefits with a much cheaper annual fee. Otherwise, the ANZ Frequent Flyer credit card comes very highly recommended.

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FEATURES SUMMARY

 

 

• Annual fee: Low annual fee
• Purchase rate: Low p.a. purchase rate
• Cash Advance rate: Low p.a. cash advance rate
• Balance Transfer rate: Low p.a. balance transfer rate
• Interest-free days: Up to 55 days
  • Extras:

• Phone/Internet banking
• Purchase Security Insurance
• Commission-free travellers cheques
• Worldwide emergency credit card replacement
• American Express/Visa Entertainment benefits

Like the standard ANZ Frequent Flyer card, the ANZ Frequent Flyer Gold credit card gives you two choices of cards to use when making purchases, and therefore more opportunities to build up your Qantas frequent flyer points.

The majority of the features of this card are the same as the standard ANZ Frequent Flyer credit card, such as the interest rate and interest free days. But according to the ANZ website you ‘go further with the Frequent Flyer Gold’ card.

What exactly does this mean?

Well it starts with paying a bit more in your annual fee. After reading the fine print, it was found that the fee for joining the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is not actually included in the card’s annual fee. The good news is that this Qantas fee is a once off payment rather than an annual fee.

Another shortcoming of this travel credit is the difference in points-earning potential between the standard and gold frequent flyer credit cards is marginal. The gold credit card offers just 1.25 points for every dollar spent on the American Express card, and is the same as the standard card’s points rate on the Visa ($2 = 1 point)*.

These points are capped at 10,000 points per month which is 5,000 more than the standard card, so it is quite obvious that this card is aimed at those who will be spending quite a bit more than those with the standard card and will of course be able to reap the benefits.

This credit card takes out the #2 spot in the Frequent Flyer credit cards category, so if you’re already a member of the Qantas Frequent Flyers program or plan on doing a fair bit of travelling over the next few years, then this card will be highly beneficial for you. Otherwise, it would be wise to cover all your bases to make sure you’re getting the best airline rewards credit card on offer.

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