CommSec CDIA review

Should you trade shares from CommSec’s CDIA or stick with your own cash account? We compare the difference.

Kylie Purcell's headshot

By

Kylie Purcell

Edited by

Joelle Grubb

Updated

Fact checked

If you've looked into opening a CommSec Share Trading Account, you may have come across the Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA).

We've taken a deep dive into what it is, pros and cons of the account and how it compares with our own cash account.

Our verdict

The CDIA is the preferred cash account for CommSec and can be used to settle trades with low brokerage and no ongoing fees.

In simple terms, it's a straightforward cash account that can be used to fund your CommSec trades without having to move your money in and out of a trading account.

If you're an existing CommSec share trading account holder, or looking to apply, you can open a CDIA account at no cost.

Even if you hold an account with another bank, transferring funds to CommSec CDIA for the purposes of trading is little effort and can save you a lot on brokerage fees.

If you prefer to keep funds sitting in another account, you'll just need to ensure you have enough cash in the CDIA should you want to have the freedom of placing trades at a moment's notice.

Also through CommSec, you can use CommBank's ATM network and the NetBank online banking system to access your CDIA account. You can also enjoy unlimited electronic transactions.

Good for

  • If you settle your share trades directly through your CommSec CDIA account, then you'll pay as little as $5.00 per trade as opposed to $29.95 per trade.
  • Balances are automatically recognised by CommSec so when you see a trading opportunity, you won't have to worry about transferring funds first.
  • CommSec offers a free dividend direction service for CDIA account holders, meaning that they'll be automatically paid into your account where you can start earning interest immediately.
  • There are no subscription or account keeping fees on the CDIA account.

Not so great for

  • One more bank account. While you have to fund your share trading somehow, if you're not already a member of the Commonwealth Bank, then an extra account is a hassle.
  • Interest rates aren't particularly competitive.

What is a CDIA account?

The Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) is much like any other transaction account except that it’s designed to let you trade shares via CommSec.

In order to settle trades via an online share trading platform, you’re required to have a linked cash management account. You could use any transaction account for this purpose, but the CDIA gives you a few key benefits.

Here are its main functions:

  • Buy and sell shares. After transferring funds into the CDIA account, you can use it to trade shares and store any additional cash.
  • Transact. Like any other cash account, you can use the CDIA to make everyday transactions, and you can access your cash via an ATM through an optional Debit Mastercard.
Susannah Binsted's headshot

"I've had a CommSec CDIA account for around 7 years now and I use it to fund trades made in my CommSec Share Trading Account and CommSec Pocket account. It gives me a much lower brokerage fee than I'd get otherwise and it's easy to set up regular transfers to align with my regular investments. "

Susannah Binsted
Finder crew member

What are the benefits of using the CDIA?

Low trading fees. The main highlight of using the CDIA to trade shares through CommSec is the cheaper brokerage fees. If you buy shares using the CDIA account, you’re charged a brokerage fee of as little as $5.00, compared to $29.95.

Earn interest. In addition to cheaper shares, you'll be able to earn interest on cash in your account, though the rates aren't particularly competitive.

The rate you receive will increase based on the amount you have in your account, with the highest rate offered to accounts with $500,000 or more.

CDIA account balanceInterest earned
$500,000 or more2.45% p.a.
$250,000 - $499,9991.4% p.a.
$100,000 - $249,0001.8% p.a.
$50,000 - $99,999 p.a.
$20,000 - $49,9990.65% p.a.
$10,000 - $19,999 p.a.
$5000 - $9,999 p.a.
$0 - $4,999 p.a.

*Must be linked to a CommSec Share Trading Account

Online banking. If you already have a CommBank account, your Commsec CDIA account will appear in your main Internet banking window, making it easy to transact between accounts online.

Transaction account. The CDIA has an alternate function as an everyday transaction account, with the option of a debit Mastercard, making it all the more functional. Interest on cash in the account is calculated daily and paid monthly.

How do the fees differ

The biggest difference between using the CommSec CDIA account and another account is the brokerage fees. Here’s a breakdown of the brokerage fees that you can expect when using the CDIA versus using your own account.

Trade amountCDIA account broker feeNon-CDIA broker fee
Up to $1,000$5.00$29.95
$1,001 - $3,000$10.00$29.95
$3,001 - $10,000$19.95$29.95 (Up to $9,999.99)
$10,001 - $25,000$29.950.31%
from $25,0010.12%0.31%

What fees can you expect from a CommSec CDIA account?

There are no monthly fees for CDIA accounts linked to the CommSec Share Trading Account and there are unlimited fee-free electronic withdrawals.

This means that you have complete access to the cash in your trading account at all times, something that isn't always possible with brokers that use external bank accounts.

How do I open a CommSec CDIA cash management account?

Customers that already have a CommSec Share Trading Account can apply by logging in through the CommSec website and navigating to Products > Cash > Apply Now.

If you wish to apply for a CommSec Share Trading Account, you can apply for a CDIA during the application process.

Sources

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Joelle Grubb as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Investments Analyst
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Kylie Purcell is an experienced investments analyst and finance journalist with over a decade of expertise in a wide range of financial products, including online trading platforms, robo-advisors, stocks, ETFs and cryptocurrencies. She is a sought-after commentator and regularly shares her insights on the AFR, Yahoo Finance, The Motley Fool, SBS and News.com.au. Kylie hosts the Investment Finder video series and actively contributes to the investment community as a judge and panellist. She holds a Master of Arts in International Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, and ASIC-recognised certifications in securities and managed investments. See full bio

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Kylie has written 164 Finder guides across topics including:
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13 Responses

    jennifer's avatar
    jenniferDecember 10, 2025

    Im a total beginner here and I’d like to invest a starter figure of $1001 into Nvidia. I will transfer the funds from another bank acc. Im not a customer of Commonwealth Bank.

      Sarah Megginson's headshotFinder
      SarahDecember 11, 2025Finder

      Hi Jennifer,

      Congrats on taking some steps towards investing! It can be confusing trying to get started, but this guide about investing for beginners might be helpful. We also have a number of Finder Rewards, which are deals you can only get through Finder, so it’s worth checking these out. At the moment, we are live with digital visa gift cards worth up to $120 with a few different trading platforms (these change regularly). Best of luck with it!

    Carol's avatar
    CarolOctober 28, 2025

    I have a CDIA account with a current dividends balance. If I transfer that balance out to a higher interest Goal Saver account, wondering if I am required to keep track of any such transfers from CDIA for eg tax statement purposes or does it not matter and the individual holdings annual dividend statements are sufficient for tax purposes.

      Sarah Megginson's headshotFinder
      SarahOctober 29, 2025Finder

      Hi Carol,

      No, you’re not required to keep track of the transfer itself for tax purposes, but you will be taxed on the dividends earned in the CDIA before the transfer. You should keep track of the interest and dividends earned for your tax return, and your bank will provide you with a tax statement for this income.

    bob's avatar
    bobSeptember 30, 2025

    how do i get a debit card for my cdia account

      Kylie Purcell's headshotFinder
      KylieOctober 1, 2025Finder

      Hi Bob, you’ll need to reach out to CommBank directly to apply for the card.
      Good luck

    Paul's avatar
    PaulSeptember 28, 2025

    Can a CBA – CDIA be held in joint names of a husband and wife

      Alison Banney's headshotFinder
      AlisonSeptember 30, 2025Finder

      Hi Paul,
      Yes you can open this as a joint account.
      Thanks,
      Alison

    kv's avatar
    kvMay 27, 2016

    how do i transfer my existing share in commsec account to CDIA account

      Shirley Liu's headshotFinder
      ShirleyMay 30, 2016Finder

      Hi KV,

      Thanks for your question.

      To better answer your question, can I clarify if you’ve sold the shares?

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