What is a debit card?

A debit card comes attached to an everyday bank account and allows you to access your money in the account. Unlike a credit card, a debit card only allows you to spend the money that you've got in your account - no more. You can use your debit card to withdraw cash at ATMs, make purchases in stores, shop online and overseas.

What's the best debit card for students?

If you're a student you'll probably want a debit card with as few fees and charges as possible. Luckily, some banks will waive the monthly account keeping fee for full time students or customers under a certain age, such as 25. Just keep in mind that once you reach the age limit, your account will remain open but you'll start to be charged fees (if the account does charge a monthly account fee). Something else to consider if you're a student is the minimum monthly deposit required. Many bank accounts won't have a minimum monthly deposit condition at all, but some do have this in order to avoid the monthly fee. If you're considering a debit card that does have a monthly deposit condition, make sure it's something you can realistically meet each month otherwise you risk being stung with fees.

What fees do debit cards charge?

Debit cards, and the attached bank account, have a range of fees and charges for different things. The most common fees are monthly account keeping fees (although most banks no longer charge these), ATM withdrawal fees, international transaction fees and fees for assisted transactions inside a bank branch.

What's the difference between a Visa and Mastercard debit card?

There is very little difference between a Visa and Mastercard debit card. They're just the brand names, but the debit cards work exactly the same way.

Can I have multiple debit cards?

Yes, you can have multiple debit cards. If you have a few different bank accounts you'll have a different debit card for each one. Some banks allow you to have multiple debit cards with the one bank account, too, which could come in handy to help you manage your different spending. If you have a joint bank account with someone else you'll both receive your own debit card each.

Best Debit Cards in Australia March 2026

Finder's best debit cards

Best debit card overall: Macquarie Bank Transaction Account
Best debit card for travelling: HSBC Everyday Global Account
Best debit card for budgeting: Suncorp Bank Everyday Options Account
Best debit card for cashback: ING Orange Everyday Account
Best no fee debit card: Ubank Spend Account
Best debit card for customer satisafaction: Up Everyday Account

Finder Score	Monthly fee	Own network ATM fee	International transaction fee	International ATM Fee
Best debit card overall
Finder score 9.7Excellent Macquarie Bank Transaction Account Finder AwardApple PayGoogle Pay	Finder score 9.7Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee 0%	N/A	Earn 2.25% p.a. interest on your transaction account balance. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it The Macquarie Transaction Account is one of the best bank accounts in the market if you're wanting to also earn interest on your balance. Your bank account balance will earn 2% p.a. interest with no conditions to meet, helping you save more money. It also has no account keeping fees, no international ATM fees and pays a refund on any local ATM fees charged. Pros Earn interest on your balance No ATM fees No international purchase fees No monthly account keeping fees Convenient on-the-go banking with the mobile banking app Cons No branch access
Best debit card for travelling
Finder score 9.3Excellent HSBC Everyday Global Account Finder AwardApple PayGoogle Pay10 Currencies	Finder score 9.3Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee 0%	N/A	Earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases. T&Cs apply.	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it The HSBC Everyday Global Account is one of the best bank accounts for travelling. It has no account keeping fees, no international transaction fees and access to free ATMs around the world. You can hold up to 10 different currencies in the one account, which allows you to top up on a currency while the exchange rate is good, then spend in that local currency while you're overseas. Plus, earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases (T&Cs apply). It won the 2026 Finder Award for Best Global Debit Card. Pros Earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases under $100, up to $50 in cashback per month (subject to terms and conditions) $0 monthly account fees and international account fees Buy, hold and spend in up to 10 currencies with the HSBC app Apple Pay and Google Pay available Cons You can only pre-load up to 10 currencies Fees apply to deposit foreign currency notes into the account
Best debit card for budgeting
Finder score 9.1Excellent Suncorp Bank Everyday Options Account Apple PayGoogle PaySamsung Pay	Finder score 9.1Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee N/A	N/A	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it The Suncorp Bank Everyday Options account is one of the best debit cards to help you budget. You can link up to 9 smaller sub-accounts to your main account to help you manage different expenses. For example, you could have one sub-account for bills, one sub account for emergencies and one for your fun 'splurge' purchases. Plus, there are no account keeping fees to pay on any of the accounts. Pros No account keeping fees Link up to 9 sub-accounts Use the sub-accounts to help you save for individual goals Make contactless purchases with Google Pay and Apple Pay Cashback at partner retailers
Best debit card for cashback
Finder score 9.8Excellent ING Orange Everyday Account Apple PayGoogle Pay	Finder score 9.8Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee 0%	N/A	Go to site View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it ING offers customers 1% cashback on eligible gas, electricity and water bills. You could get up to $100 cashback per year (T&C's apply). Plus, all international transaction fees are rebated when you meet the account conditions. Pros No account keeping fees Earn 1% cashback on utility bills (T&Cs apply) No international transaction fees No ATM fees charged by ING Link to a Savings Maximiser and earn a competitive bonus interest rate Deposit money via Bank@Post for free Cons ING doesn't have any branches or ATMs
Best no fee debit card
Finder score 9.8Excellent Ubank Spend Account Apple PayGoogle PaySamsung PayGarmin Pay	Finder score 9.8Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee 0%	N/A	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it The Ubank Spend account is one of the best bank accounts for no fees. Pay no account keeping fees, no local ATM fees at all major bank ATMs, no overseas ATM fees and no foreign transaction fees plus see your other bank accounts, super and investments all within your Ubank app for free. Pros No account keeping fees No overseas ATM fees or foreign transaction fees Spending tracking tools Access thousands of ATMs in Australia for free Apple Pay and Google Pay available
Best debit card for customer satisafaction
Finder score 9.8Excellent Up Everyday Account Most LovedApple PayGoogle PaySamsung PayGarmin Pay	Finder score 9.8Excellent	Monthly fee $0	Own network ATM fee $0	International transaction fee 0%	N/A	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading	Why we like it Up took the top spot in Finder's 2025 bank account customer satisfaction awards. . Customers particularly liked the features and benefits offered with Up's bank accounts designed to help you budget better and easily track your spending, like the 'Spendable Balance' feature which shows you how much you have available to spend taking upcoming bills into account. Pros Spending insights Bill detection and reminders Available on Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Garmin Pay No International ATM fee at most major bank ATMs Cons Card delivery time

Expert best debit card picks selected by Alison Banney – money editorial manager

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How do we choose our debit card top picks?

When you compare debit cards it's good to keep in mind there's no one debit card that is best for everyone, as we all use our money in different ways.

We use our annual Finder Banking Awards to help choose our top debit cards for travelling, customer satisfaction and best overall. For the other categories of best for budgeting, no fees and cashback we looked at the offers available in our panel and selected the card we felt best suited the category.

We're confident our picks are always strong offers. However, keep in mind these top picks may not be the best pick for you personally and it's always important to compare your options.

How to choose the best debit card

A debit card comes with an everyday bank account, so you need to look at the whole account when choosing which debit card is right for you. Here are a few things to consider when choosing.

The monthly fee.

A lot of debit cards will come with no monthly account keeping fee, which is great. If it does have a fee, check if you're getting any extra benefits or perks by paying this fee. For example, some accounts charge a fee but also offer discounts on partner brands or unlimited in-branch transactions.

The international fees.

A debit card that provides unlimited fee-free access to your money in Australia may be ideal when you're at home, but if it charges high overseas transaction fees, then it could leave a big hole in your balance on your next international holiday. That being said, if you rarely go overseas you might not be too fussed about this fee.

Payment options.

Check that the account offers the different payment options you like to use, for example Apple Pay, Google Pay and Garmin Pay. If you want to make instant transfers using your phone number, make sure the account offers PayID.

Cashback and perks

Some bank accounts offer cash back when you open your first account, and some debit cards offer cash back on each purchase you make. It's an incentive to choose their account over others in the market. Others may offer different perks like discounts on partner brands, discounts on bills or the ability to earn points.

Linked savings account.

You might be eligible for bonus interest on your savings if you opt for a savings account with the same bank as your debit card.

Mobile banking app.

Some debit cards come with a mobile app that has tools to help you easily keep track of your spending and regular payments. Fetures like spending categorisation to show you where your money is going can be helpful to maintain good spending habits.

Best banking apps for customer satisfaction in 2024

Bank	Overall satisfaction	Trustworthy/reliable
	★★★★★ 4.61/5	97%
	★★★★★ 4.35/5	97%
	★★★★★ 4.34/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.32/5	100%
	★★★★★ 4.26/5	94%

These banking apps were judged as part of Finder's annual customer satisfaction awards.

Our expert says: You can have multiple debit cards

"You could consider having multiple debit cards for different purposes. For example, you might have one that you use for travelling because it has no overseas fees. Then you might have another that you use for day-to-day spending in Australia, because it offers cashback or other perks.

As long as you're choosing accounts with no monthly account fees it won't cost you anything extra to have more than one debit card (in fact, it might actually save you money). "

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Frequently asked questions

If you're a student you'll probably want a debit card with as few fees and charges as possible. Luckily, some banks will waive the monthly account keeping fee for full time students or customers under a certain age, such as 25. Just keep in mind that once you reach the age limit, your account will remain open but you'll start to be charged fees (if the account does charge a monthly account fee).
Something else to consider if you're a student is the minimum monthly deposit required. Many bank accounts won't have a minimum monthly deposit condition at all, but some do have this in order to avoid the monthly fee. If you're considering a debit card that does have a monthly deposit condition, make sure it's something you can realistically meet each month otherwise you risk being stung with fees.
Yes, you can have multiple debit cards. If you have a few different bank accounts you'll have a different debit card for each one. Some banks allow you to have multiple debit cards with the one bank account, too, which could come in handy to help you manage your different spending. If you have a joint bank account with someone else you'll both receive your own debit card each.

Thank you for your feedback!

Written by

Alison Banney

Editorial Manager, Money

Alison is an editor at Finder and a personal finance journalist with over 10 years of experience, having contributed to major financial institutions and publications such as Westpac, Money Magazine, and Yahoo Finance. She is frequently quoted in media outlets like SmartCompany and SBS, offering expert insights on superannuation and money management. Alison holds a Bachelor of Communications in Public Relations and Journalism from the University of Newcastle, and has earned three ASIC RG146 certifications in superannuation, securities and managed investments and general financial advice, ensuring her expertise is fully aligned with ASIC standards. See full bio

Alison's expertise

Alison has written 668 Finder guides across topics including:

Superannuation
Savings accounts, bank accounts and term deposits
Budgeting and money-saving hacks
Managing the cost of living

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2 Responses

StewartDecember 2, 2025

All of these options are attached to credit companies like Visa and Mastercard.
Both of which have the ethics of,.. It’s hard to find an analogy here, that’s how bad they are.
Are there any products available that function in ATM’s and EFTPOS, but Do Not have association with Visa or Mastercard? Just a straight up savings account, no apps, no tap and go, just insert the card, pin number, payment made.

Finder

SarahDecember 8, 2025Finder

Hi Stewart,

You might want to look at the Wise travel card, which can actually be used as a debit card within Australia. You’ll receive a plastic debit card, which you can use for in-person payments anywhere that a Mastercard or Visa is accepted, and you can withdraw cash from ATMs. Hope this helps!

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