IMB Christmas Club Review, Rates & Information

Product details

The Christmas Club Account from IMB makes it easy to get all of your presents wrapped under the tree. By starting to save at the beginning of the year, Christmas won’t put you into debt at the end of it. Earn bonus interest on your savings and have that much more to spend filling stockings.

Product Name: IMB Christmas Club

Maximum Variable Rate: 2.00% p.a.

Standard Variable Rate: 0.00% p.a.

Bonus Variable Rate: 2.00% p.a.

Introductory / Bonus Offer Conditions: The IMB Christmas Club account pays a bonus interest rate of 2.00% p.a. in addition to the current base interest rate of 0.00% when there's no any withdrawals between January 1 and October 31.

Monthly Fee: $0

Minimum Opening Deposit: $0

Minimum monthly deposit for bonus interest rate: $0

Internet Banking: Yes

Internet Transaction Fee: $0

Phone Banking: Yes

Phone Transaction Fee: $0

Minimum Age Requirement: 18

Covered by Government Guarantee?: Yes (Up to $250,000 per person, per institution)

What are the features of the IMB Christmas Club?

Without any pre-planning, Christmas time can put a lot of stress on your finances. An account with features that take this into account can be very helpful in making sure that you can deck the halls properly without going into debt. Compare these amongst a variety of Australian financial institutions to help you find the one that will make your holidays most jolly:

Availability. This account is accessible to individuals who plan on using it for personal or domestic purposes. You may also use the account as a trust.
Account terms. This account can be activated as early as 1 January, and once open, you are not permitted to make any withdrawals from this account until the first day of November. If you do need to access your saved money the account will be closed and you will forfeit your interest payment.
Interest rate. The interest applied to this account is at a variable competitive rate.
Interest calculation and payment. Interest is calculated on the daily balance and will be deposited into the account on 31 October. This payment schedule disallows you from earning more in compound interest.
Monthly account keeping fee. There are no monthly charges made by IMB to your Christmas Club Account.
Transaction fees. All transaction fees are waived between the 1st of November and 31st of December.
Deposits. Deposits can be made for free into the account using phone and online transfers or by visiting a branch.
Withdrawal methods. During the two month holiday shopping period you can withdraw your Christmas Club balance at a branch, or with transfers made on the phone or online. There will be no charge to you for using any of these withdrawal methods during the specified time period.

Pros

Earn bonus interest for regularly saving
Prepare for Christmas
No monthly account keeping fees

Cons

Can only access during November and December

How do I apply for the IMB Christmas Club?

Even if you are already a member of IMB, in order to take advantage of the Christmas Club Account, you will need to give them a call or visit a branch to begin your application. If you are not an existing member you will also need to fill out an application to become one. Before beginning, check to make sure that you are eligible to apply for this account:

Minimum age. Membership applications are only accepted by individuals aged 18 and older.
Residency requirements. In order to be considered eligible for this account you must be an Australian resident with a residential address.
Depository requirements. A minimum opening deposit of $0 is required for the account to be activated.

Before making the trip to a branch to begin your Christmas Club Account application make sure you have the following documentation with you to help with completing it in its entirety:

Tax file number. Your tax file number (TFN) or exemption code is used by IMB to apply the correct withholding tax rate to your interest earnings. You are not obligated to provide this, but if you don’t IMB will be forced to charge you at the highest nominal rate.
Identification. IMB requires the information from two of the following documents; a passport, Medicare card or your driver’s licence.

Once your Christmas Club Account has been activated, you will not be permitted to make any transactions other than deposits until the 1st of November. This will help ensure that you have the spending money you need when it comes time to start purchasing gifts.