Community First Student Starter Account

Pay no excess fees while taking advantage of a flexible everyday account designed to help see you through your school years.

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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Shirley Liu

Last Updated Jan 4, 2021

Account keeping fee

ATM withdrawal fee

Overseas ATM withdrawal fee

Overseas transaction fee

of transaction value

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Details

Product Name	Community First CU Student Starter Account
Monthly account fee	$0
Card access	Visa
ATM Withdrawal Fee	$0
International transaction fee	3%
Monthly deposit required to waive account fee	N/A
Contactless Payments	Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay

Minimum Age	17
Joint account availability	No
Minimum opening deposit	N/A

Pros

Fee-free banking with no monthly fees
Linked Visa debit card access
Access to RediATM network

Cons

Only available to students

Review by

Shirley Liu

shirley@finder.com.au

Shirley Liu is Finder's global program manager. She was previously the publisher for banking and investments and has also written comparisons for energy, money transfers, Uber Eats and many other topics. Shirley has a Master of Commerce and a Bachelor of Media, Journalism and Communications from the University of New South Wales. She is passionate about helping people find the best deal for their needs.

Expert review

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.

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.

Availability

The Student Starter Account is only available for individuals between the ages of 17 and 24 who are studying for their first degree or traineeship full-time.

Account access methods

You are able to bank using the phone, internet, your mobile device, ATMs and at a Community First Financial Services Store. A BPAY facility is also available to help take care of your bills, and you can set up direct debits and credits through online banking.

Overdraft

If you qualify you can take advantage of a $500 Visa overdraft to cover any expenses that exceed your account balance.

ATM network

With Community First you are able to manage your account using rediATMs, one of Australia's largest networks with over 3,500 machines around the country.

Debit card

The account is linked to a Visa Debit Card which allows you to make purchases wherever Visa is accepted with the money being drawn directly out of your account. The Visa Debit Card is also used to make ATM withdrawals and deposits.

Visa payWave

A feature of the Visa Debit Card, payWave enables you to make a point of sale purchase of under $100 without having to swipe your card or sign the receipt.

Membership

Community First is a credit union available to individuals residing in Sydney or the Central Coast Region of Australia. There are no employment requirements to become a member, but you will be asked to pay a $2 shareholder fee.

How to apply

Eligibility

If you are already a member, you are able to apply for this account through your internet banking platform. If not, visit the Community First website and you will be able to fill out both your membership and transaction account application online. Certain eligibility requirements do apply, including:

Minimum age. This account is only applicable for individuals between the ages of 17 and 24 who are enrolled full-time in a secondary education institution or traineeship program. You should note that Community First no longer requires that you provide proof of enrollment annually.
Residency requirements. Only Australian residents with an address in Sydney or the Central Coast region are permitted to become members and open the Student Starter Account.

Depository requirements. You will not be asked to make a mandatory minimum opening deposit, other than the $2 shareholder fee.

Documentation needed

Having the following documentation nearby as you fill out the application will help in ensuring that all of the information provided is correct:

Tax file number. You are not required by law to provide your tax file number (TFN) or exemption code, however if you choose not to, Community First is obligated to deduct tax at the highest marginal rate plus the Medicare levy from any of your interest earnings.
Identification. In order to verify your identity you will need to provide the details from a photo identification document such as your Medicare card, passport or driver's licence.

What happens after I submit my application?

After submitting your application you will be notified of the details of your account within a few days, and your linked Visa debit card mailed to the address that you provided.

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2 Comments

NayoungPark
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?

finder Customer Care

Jeni
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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