The Student Starter Account is specially designed to help Australian students keep up with their finances during their studies. The account offers convenient ways to bank while avoiding any excessive fees and charges. You will not be required to maintain any minimum balance, but you will get the flexibility of being able to shop for your books using a linked Visa Debit Card.
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Community First Student Starter Account
- Account keeping fee
- $0
- ATM withdrawal fee
- $0
- Overseas ATM withdrawal fee
- $5
- Overseas transaction fee of transaction value
- 3%
Our verdict
Pay no excess fees while taking advantage of a flexible everyday account designed to help see you through your school years.
You can open this account if you’re aged between 17 and 24 and you’re a full time student. It offers all the same features of an everyday transaction account, without the monthly account keeping fee.
If you’re under 18 years old, you can also take a look at the Community First Junior Saver Account . This account charges no account keeping fee either, and also has the added benefit of paying interest on the money in the account.
Pros
-
Fee-free banking with no monthly fees
-
Linked Visa debit card access
-
Access to RediATM network
Cons
-
Only available to students
Details
Key details
| Product Name | Community First Bank Student Starter Account |
| Monthly account fee | $0 |
| Card access | Visa |
| Own network ATM fee | $0 |
| International ATM Fee | $5 |
| International transaction fee | 3% |
| Monthly deposit required to waive account fee | N/A |
| Contactless Payments | Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay |
Eligibility
| Minimum Age | 17 |
| Joint account availability | No |
| Minimum opening deposit | N/A |
| Residency status | Permanent Australian residents with an Australian address |
Key features
Monthly fees
You will not be charged a monthly account keeping fee with the Student Starter Account.
Transaction fees
With this account you are free from transaction fees regardless of how many you make each month.
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Alison Finder
Editor
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Jeni Velasco Finder
May 15, 2018
Hi Nayoung,
Thank you for getting in touch with Finder.
You may visit the Community First website and you will be able to fill out both your membership and transaction account application online. Please note that for you to open an account, you will need to become a shareholding member of the Credit Union before they can issue the Community First Credit Union Account and Access Facility to you. To become a member, you will need to:
- complete a membership application form; and
- subscribe for a member share in the Credit Union.
In most cases you can prove your identity by showing us one of the following photo identity documents:
- a State or Territory drivers licence or proof of age card
- an Australian current passport or one that has expired within the last 2 years;
- a photo drivers licence issued by a foreign government;
- a passport issued by a foreign government, the United Nations or a UN agency;
- a national ID card, with photo and signature, issued by a foreign government, the United Nations, or a UN agency.
If you do not have a photo ID, please contact them directly to discuss what other forms of identification may be acceptable.
If you want to know other banks that would allow you to open an account before arriving in Australia, please refer to our list of bank accounts available to foreigners. Please use our comparison table to help you find the account that suits you. When you are ready, you may then click on the “Go to site” to proceed with the application or get in touch with their representatives for further inquiries you may have.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions.
I hope this helps.
Have a great day!
Cheers,
Jeni
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Nayoung
May 14, 2018
I am an international student who is planning to arrive in Australia in July.
I am interested in issuing this card but I don’t know how.
I have no bank account in Australia and I don’t know which bank account I should make to get this card. Please let me know the steps to issue this card included bank info.
And does this product have the minimum amount of deposit to keep this card active?
How much is the fee when I receive money from my home country to this card?
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