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Learn MoreA credit card is a financial product that allows you to access a line of credit from a lender, which can be used to make purchases and pay bills. Depending on the lender, a credit card generally comes as both a physical card that can be used to make in-store purchases, as well as a digital card which can be stored on a mobile device and can be linked to an online account.
A credit card works by giving you access to a lender’s line of credit which you can use to make purchases for everyday things such as petrol, groceries, and paying bills, and serves as an alternative to using your own funds or savings via a debit card.
Credit cards typically come with certain limits , depending on your circumstances and between products and lenders. You’re required to repay the credit used on your card, and interest is typically charged on the outstanding balance each month.
There are a range of different credit cards available from bank and non-bank lenders across Australia. Before deciding on a card, it’s always a good idea to compare different products, as well as their interest rates, fees, and other terms and conditions*. Here’s a short list of some of the cards commonly offered by lenders:
This is where you move the balance of one credit card to another, typically because the new card has a 0% or particularly low rate for a set period.
This card typically comes with a lower interest rate, particularly in regards to the ‘purchase rate’. This is the interest rate applied to the amount owing on your card at the end of the statement period.
This is a card which allows you to earn points for every dollar spent, with the potential to gain additional points for every dollar spent at certain retailers partnered with the lender. These points can then typically be redeemed for vouchers at retailers and supermarkets, or to purchase flights and accommodation.
Lenders typically offer a range of incentives to attract new customers, and one of the ways they could do this is by waiving the annual fee, generally for the first year. However, it’s important to check what the annual fee will be (if any) after the first year or no-fee period.
These credit cards allow you to gain points for every dollar spent which can be redeemed for travel and accommodation expenses depending on the lender. For example, some lenders partner with either Qantas’ frequent flyer program, Virgin’s Velocity program, or with American Express Travel.
Similar to rewards cards, a cashback credit card allows you to earn ‘points’ for every dollar spent. However, unlike rewards cards where you can redeem your points for vouchers and travel purchases, with a cashback card you can redeem your points for cash.
This card allows you to make purchase with your card and avoid paying interest if you repay the balance within the interest-free period.
As well as card types, there are also payment platforms which lenders can partner with. This includes:
As well as card types, there are also payment platforms which lenders can partner with. This includes:
Like any financial product, it’s important to consider the pros and cons to determine whether a product is suitable for you.
When comparing credit cards, you might not only want to compare products such as Rewards cards versus Low Fee cards, but also the underlying features*. Here’s a brief list of some basic product features worth comparing:
This is the rate of interest charged on the outstanding balance of your card at the end of each statement period. Rewards cards typically come with higher interest rates than low fee credit cards.
If you opt for a ‘0% interest’ card then typically interest will be waived for a set period. You might want to check out what the interest rate will revert to once this set period finishes.
These are the days where interest won’t be applied to purchases. Interest-free days typically relate to specific pre-defined days in your billing period, and don’t typically begin when a purchase is made.
Annual or monthly fees, rewards program fees, late repayment fees, cash advance fees, overdraft fees, and fees for using your credit card overseas
This is the least amount of credit a bank or lender will offer you. Different cards come with different minimum credit limits , ranging anywhere from $500 to $6,000 depending on the product ,provider and your eligibility.
Some cards come with rewards programs such as AMEX rewards and Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards. Be sure to align with a card that has a rewards program that you’re likely to actually get benefit from.
If it’s a rewards card, this refers to how many points you accrue per $1 spent
Rewards cards can come with bonus points upon signing up, and these points can often be redeemed for retail vouchers.
To apply for a credit card with iSelect, simply begin comparing cards on offer from our range of providers below, and then click the “Go To Site” button where you can then begin formally applying for your new credit card with a lender*.
Unfortunately there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ or ‘best’ credit card. What makes a product suitable for you can depend on a range of factors, including things such as your lifestyle, income, and spending habits.
When searching for a suitable product, it’s worthwhile to compare a range of options, and carefully assess the features as well as the terms, conditions, and fees*.
It’s always a good idea to compare a variety of products on offer from a variety of lenders to ensure you’re making an informed financial decision*. It’s also worthwhile taking into account how you plan to use your credit card.
For example, someone looking for a credit card to accrue frequent flyer points may have different ideas on what constitutes a ‘good deal’ than someone looking for a low-interest card to assist in paying for monthly bills and groceries.
Different lenders may also be running special offers on certain products, so it’s worthwhile looking at these too to ensure you’re not missing out on a good deal.
When submitting an application for any financial product, such as a credit card, personal loan, or home loan, the lender will typically perform a credit check. This allows the lender to get an idea of how risky a customer is based on their credit history, as well as whether or not they’re likely to make repayments on time.
If the lender does perform a credit check and sees that your credit score is lower because you’ve missed payments on bills or other financial products in the past, or even defaulted on a loan, then this could negatively affect your credit card application.
Typically credit cards don’t come with conditions on how you spend funds money. However, credit cards often come with set limits, such as $3,000 or $5,000. These set limits could determine the kinds of things you use your credit card for.
For example, a credit card with a monthly limit of $3,000 could allow you to pay for everyday expenses such as groceries, fuel, and utilities and phone bills. However, it’s probably not going to be sufficient to finance the purchase of a new or secondhand car.
In short, a credit card can be used for almost any purchase, subject to the account limits.
That being said, credit cards are generally better used for short-term funds, rather than big purchases you want to pay off over a longer time. This is because credit card interest rates tend to be higher than other kinds of credit, such as personal loans.
Similar to a loan, credit cards come with interest that is charged on amount of money you use (or ‘borrow’) from the lender. Interest can be thought of as one of the ways the lender charges you for using their money.
How much interest you may have to pay can depend on the type of card you choose and the interest rate, as well as the types of purchases you make, and when you make repayments.
With a credit card, you’re only typically required to make the minimum repayment each statement period to avoid incurring any additional late fees. However, if you don’t repay your full balance, then interest can be charged on this balance. The size of your interest repayments can depend on both the size of the outstanding balance, as well as the interest rate on your card.
However, if you do repay the full balance of your account before the end of the statement period, you can avoid incurring interest, so this would be a smart way to use your credit card.
A credit card cash advance is where you use your credit card to access cash, instead of making purchases with the card.
Examples of a cash advance payment include:
Using your credit card to obtain a cash advance does come with a few downsides, such as:
Whether or not you can successfully obtain a credit card is at a lender’s discretion. What constitutes ‘bad credit’ could depend on a range of factors, and different lender’s may weigh these factors differently based on their own individual risk modelling.
When assessing your application for a credit card, lender’s will perform a credit check from one of several credit reporting agencies. These agencies will provide a comprehensive credit report which can include things such as:
Things that may impact your credit score can include:
Additionally, whenever you apply for a loan, lenders will use the maximum balance of any credit cards you have to determine if they can lend to you. Because of this, having too many credit cards can have negative impacts, even if you always make your repayments on time.
Several factors could affect your credit card application, including:
Credit cards can come with a range of fees, including:
It’s worthwhile to keep these fees and charges in mind when comparing credit cards to ensure you avoid any surprises.
If your application for a new credit card is rejected, that generally means you failed to meet the lender’s credit lending criteria.
This could be due to any number of reasons, including a perception by the lender that you’d be unable to make repayments due to your income, lack of savings, employment status, past bankruptcies, or a history of loan defaults and late/missed credit repayments.
Generally you should try and discover the reasons why a previous application was rejected before you apply for a new credit card, as multiple failed credit applications could further damage your credit score.
One of the easiest and simplest ways to avoid paying interest on your credit card is to pay the full balance each month. Typically, interest is charged on the amount outstanding at the end of the statement period.
Other tips include:
The main difference between a credit card and a debit card is whose money is being used. With a debit card you’re usually drawing upon your own personal funds, whereas with a credit card you’re accessing a lender’s line of credit to make purchases. With a credit card, you’re charged interest at a set rate on the balance outstanding at the end of each statement period, whereas with a debit card, because you’re using your own personal funds and therefore not ‘borrowing’ any money, no interest payable.
For more information on credit repair, please refer to the MoneySmart website here.