If you’re looking for a simple and easy to manage credit card then take a look at the Commonwealth Low Rate credit card.

As a low rate credit card it maintains its reputation as an affordable credit card without compromising other important features.

Purchases on this credit card incur a flat interest rate of just 13.24% p.a. which is on par with both the Westpac and ANZ low interest rate credit cards. These cards also have a similar cash advance rate to the Commonwealth Low Rate MasterCard’s 21.49% p.a.

For a card that is meant to save you money on interest this may seem a bit steep to most people, but when compared to other similar cards, you’ll find that it’s pretty standard.

Balance transfers on this card are also very affordable with an introductory period of five months where the interest charged is just 4.99% p.a. This isn’t the lowest interest rate out there, but the length of time that this rate is available is three months longer than most cards in the low interest credit card category.

Paying your monthly balance in full and avoiding cash advances on this card can mean some great savings on a good all round card. Also, with a potential annual fee of $48 (see pricing schedule below) and up to 55 days interest free this card would work well for those on a budget such as students or people who just want to save money!

However with no real stand out features from other cards that are classified as having low credit card interest, making a decision could be a tough one.

Current Annual Fee Pricing Schedule:

The card’s annual fee is $78, 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 (to $48).

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

See our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category

For comparison purposes the RSPCA Rescue credit card was called a rewards credit card, however the Bendigo RSPCA Rescue Rewards credit card is the real deal. It is very similar to the RSPCA Rescue card, but with a number of notable differences.

The most noticeable is of course the rewards program. With one point for every dollar spent it at first seems like a good program, however you need to spend over $35,000 just to get a $100 voucher. So, if you don’t want to spend that much money just to get a reward, you can just turn whatever points you have into donations to the RSPCA.

This donation on top of your monthly donation made by Bendigo Bank adds up to a generous amount over a year, which you may not have otherwise made.

Another few differences are the jump in interest free days from up to 40, to up to 55, and the interest rate hike from 14.49% p.a. to 18.64% p.a. Like the RSPCA Rescue credit card the annual fee is just $24 and there is an introductory interest rate on purchases of 7.89% p.a. However after this period the interest rate is fairly high across the board.

By and large, the RSPCA Rescue Rewards credit card is not a spectacular option for any of the categories that it fits into, and is by far outshone by the RSPCA Rescue credit card in all areas. Other than the increase in interest free days (which is relatively common anyway), there would be no other reason to recommend it over another credit card.

See our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category

The Bendigo Gold credit card is a bit of a trick. It appears to have the characteristics of regular Gold credit cards, but really it’s just the Bendigo Red credit card in disguise!

The annual fee on the Gold credit card is almost double that of the Red credit card at $85. But what do you get for that $85? Well, the interest rate is a little more reasonable on a Gold credit card at 18.99% p.a. for both cash advances and purchases, along with up to 55 days interest free on purchases, which is a nice change.

Rewards points have a marginally better earn rate at 1.5 points per dollar spent, but the reward redemption rate is of course exactly the same. So to get a $100 reward you need to spend just under $24,500 which is still a truck load of money for that kind of reward value.

Rewards available under the Bendigo Rewards program include gift vouchers, discounts, movie tickets, cash back, magazine subscriptions, travel and accommodation. Speaking of travel, this credit card does actually offer two benefits for Gold credit card holders who are planning on travelling – commission-free traveler’s cheques and travel assistance.

Travel assistance at Bendigo gets you emergency ticket replacement, legal and medical assistance, lost luggage assistance, and emergency transport assistance. This is available for you, your spouse and any dependent children under the age of 22 when they are travelling with you. While it’s good to see on the Gold credit card it’s not up to the standard of other gold credit cards, so is no reason to be singing from the roof tops, that’s for sure.

If after all that you’re still hell-bent on getting a Bendigo credit card then we think the Basic Black is probably your best bet in terms of price. Otherwise we’d recommend looking to another bank, plain and simple.

See our top credit card picks in the Editor’s Choice category