CommBank Essential Super: Performance, features and fees

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CommBank Essential Super options

20 of 21 results

Finder Score	Last 1 year performance (p.a.)	Last 3 year performance (p.a.)	Last 5 year performance (p.a.)	Last 10 year performance (p.a.)	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - 2000-04 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.79%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.8%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.59%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super MySuper - Lifestage 2005-09 New	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.07%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - 1995-99 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.68%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.78%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.61%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $390	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - Global Shares Index NewHigher risk	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +16.53%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $160	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.7 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - 1985-89 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 9.7 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.58%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.83%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.56%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $395	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.6 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - 1975-79 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 9.6 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.96%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.34%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.17%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $390	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - High Growth Index NewHigher risk	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.52%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $165	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - Lifestage 2005-09 NewHigher risk	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +14.07%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.3 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - Balanced Index New	Finder Score 9.3 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.24%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $165	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - 1965-69 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.54%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.53%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.3%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $395	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.1 Excellent Commonwealth Essential Super - Australian Shares Index Higher risk	Finder Score 9.1 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.15%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +12.71%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.4%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.74%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $150	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.5 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - Global Property Securities Index NewHigher risk	Finder Score 8.5 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +7.52%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $175	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.1 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - 1960-64 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 8.1 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +10.28%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.76%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.42%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +5.56%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $385	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - 1955-59 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 8 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.75%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.52%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.63%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $375	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - Cash Deposit	Finder Score 8 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +4.21%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +3.78%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +2.38%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +1.79%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $80	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - 1950-54 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 8 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.73%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.52%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.66%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +4.76%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $375	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 7.9 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - 1945-49 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score 7.9 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.66%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.49%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +5.61%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +4.8%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $380	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 7.3 Great Commonwealth Essential Super - Thrive+ Sustainable Growth NewEthical	Finder Score 7.3 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.37%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $475	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score Not yet rated Commonwealth Essential Super - 1980-84 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score Not yet rated	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.36%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.64%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.5%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.06%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $390	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score Not yet rated Commonwealth Essential Super - 1990-94 Lifestage Lifestage	Finder Score Not yet rated	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.62%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.76%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +11.54%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.16%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $390	More info Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 20 of 21 results

Finder Score for super funds

Finder Score makes comparing superannuation products easier by scoring products out of 10 after assessing their performance, fees and features.

We assess products from over 40 providers based on their risk profile.

Read the full methodology

The information in this table is based on data provided by SuperRatings Pty Limited ABN 95 100 192 283, a Corporate Authorised Representative (CAR No.1309956) of Lonsec Research Pty Ltd ABN 11 151 658 561, Australian Financial Services Licence No. 421445. In limited instances, where data is not available from SuperRatings for a product, the data is provided directly by the superannuation fund.

*Past performance data and fee data is for the period ending June 2025

Key things to know about CommBank Essential Super

MySuper product. The default Lifestage option is a registered MySuper product.
Lifestage investment option. The Lifestage investment option does all the work for you, investing your balance in a mix of assets appropriate for your age.
Four ways to invest. Members can choose from four different ways to invest their super balance.
Partnership with Colonial First State. Commbank has partnered with Colonial First State to offer Essential Super products.

CommBank Essential Super investment options

If you didn't make a choice when joining the fund, you would have been placed in the Lifestage option, which is the default MySuper product. This option invests your super in a diversified portfolio that's appropriate for your age and stage of life.

The fund managers will adjust your asset allocations each four to five years, so your portfolio moves from higher risk when you're young to more conservative as you approach retirement.

Here's an example:

Investment option	Risk level	Target asset allocation
Lifestage 1975-79 (This is what you'd be invested in if you were born between 1975 to 1979)	High	Cash: 2% Fixed interest: 6% Property, infrastructure and multi-asset: 20% Australian shares: 36% Global shares: 36%

The asset allocation will change slightly depending on what year you were born.

Other investment options

Once you've signed up you have the option to invest your super in different ways based on your goals and appetite for risk.

What default insurance cover does Essential Super offer?

All members will receive default Death and Total and Permanent Disablement (TPD) cover when joining. You can choose to opt out of insurance when joining or any time after joining.

Compare other products from Commonwealth Bank

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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 655 Finder guides across topics including:

Superannuation
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What is MySuper? Prime Super: Performance and fees

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4 Responses

CKAugust 10, 2023

Hi !
I am not aware of the troubles with the poor performaning & miserable Combank Essential Super, my I know how to switch over to another super such as Hostplus ?
Thank You
TEE

Finder

AlisonAugust 15, 2023Finder

Hi, you can learn how to change super funds in 4 steps in or guide here: https://www.finder.com.au/super-funds/how-to-change-super-funds
Thanks.

NavneetNovember 1, 2017

Hi there. Actually I wanna claim my essential super and I just wanna know my essential super fund number. Can u please help me to find out? Thanks.

Finder

JhezelynNovember 1, 2017Finder

Hi Navneet,

Thank you for your comment.

To claim, please contact Commonwealth Bank of Australia for Essential Super or visit the nearest branch.

Regards,
Jhezelyn

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