Online-only banks in Australia: Online accounts

Updated Feb 10, 2021

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Most of our regular banking transactions can be carried out online today. Some banks are even 100% online banks. These banks don’t operate any branches and offer their products completely online via an app, which gives them the potential to provide big discounts and savings to their customers.

However, almost all banks in Australia allow you to manage your account online via Internet banking or a mobile banking app.

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HSBC Everyday Global Account

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Name	Contactless Payments	Instant Payments	ATM Withdrawal Fee	Monthly account fee
HSBC Everyday Global Account Finder Award	Google Pay, Apple Pay	N/A	$0	$0	Earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases. T&Cs apply. Enjoy no minimum ongoing balance or transaction requirements and the flexibility to hold up to 10 currencies. Apple Pay and Google Pay available.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Macquarie Transaction Account	Apple Pay, Google Pay	PayID	$0	$0	Earn a variable base rate of 1.5% p.a. on your transaction account balance with no conditions to meet. $0 account keeping fees. This interest-earning transaction account charges no account fees, no international fees and gives refunds on all Australian ATM fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Westpac Choice	Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Digital Card	Osko, PayID	$0	$5	Use your Westpac Digital Card in the Westpac App to make contactless purchases 24/7 with no physical card. No monthly account keeping fee for customers under 30 or if you meet the deposit conditions. Shop safely online with Westpac Digital Card. Your 3-digit security number refreshes every 24 hours to keep your details safe.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
MyState Bank Glide Account	Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay	Osko, PayID	$0	$0	Simplify your everyday banking with these sleek digital features. $0 monthly account fee. Choose the way you pay with access to Google, Samsung and Apple Pay plus Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. Send and receive money in less than 60 seconds with PayID.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Westpac Choice Student	Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay	Osko, PayID	$0	$0	$0 account keeping fee for students and customers under 30 Make purchases 24/7 using your Westpac Digital Card in the Westpac App. Students will pay no monthly account keeping fee with no deposit conditions to meet. Pay with your phone or wearable device anywhere and anytime, and access cash without your debit card using Cardless Cash.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Global Currency Account	Apple Pay, Samsung Pay	Osko, PayID	$0	$0	Earn up to 1.2% p.a. interest on your AUD balance. $0 monthly account fee. Enjoy one linked debit card to hold up to 10 currencies and receive foreign currencies for free.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Great Southern Bank Everyday Edge Account	Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay	Osko, PayID	$0	$0	Refund of international ATM withdrawal fees and international card transaction fees (conditions apply). $0 monthly account fee. Unlimited fee-free everyday transactions. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay available. Savings Top Up tool automatically transfers to linked savings account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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What is an online-only bank?

As the name suggests, online-only banks are operated entirely online. This means that you can apply for and manage your bank accounts over the internet via your computer or mobile, or even take out a home loan 100% digitally.

With no branches to operate, online-only banks have fewer overhead expenses to offer. For example, they have fewer staff to pay and don’t have to pay leasing costs on each of their branches. In theory, this reduction in ongoing expenses allows an online-only bank to pass on those savings to customers by charging fewer fees, offering lower home loan interest rates and providing better products than bricks-and-mortar banks.

Some online-only banks specialise in offering savings and transaction accounts, while others also offer credit cards and home loans. In the case of home loan lenders, some providers employ mobile lenders who are able to meet with borrowers who prefer to have some face-to-face contact with their bank.

Online-only banks in Australia

Here's a few of the most-popular online banks, with products and services offered via a mobile banking app.

Bank	Products and services offered
ING	A division of ING Bank (Australia), ING offers everyday transaction accounts, savings accounts, term deposits, business savings accounts, commercial mortgage accounts, home loans, superannuation accounts, self-managed super funds (SMSF) cash accounts and SMSF term deposit accounts.
ME Bank	Owned by industry super funds, ME Bank offers transaction accounts, online savings accounts, term deposits, credit cards, personal loans, home loans, and business savings accounts and term deposits.
Ubank	A division of National Australia Bank, ubank offers home loans, savings accounts, combined savings and transaction accounts, term deposits and SMSF accounts.
Rabobank	The online-only arm of Holland’s RaboBank, Rabobank is a savings specialist and offers high-interest savings accounts, regular savings accounts, notice savings accounts, term deposits, and SMSF accounts.
86 400	Now owned by NAB, 86 400 is a bank built and operated entirely via a mobile app. It offers a bank account, savings account and home loan which you can apply for and manage online.
Up Bank	Up Bank is similar to 86 400 in that it's a digital bank built and operated via an app. It's now owned by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, but still doesn't have any physical bank branches.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of online banking?

The benefits

You can bank 24/7. Online-only banks allow you to manage your finances at a time and place convenient to you — no more need to waste precious time queuing at your local branch. You can access your account on your computer or on-the-go on your smart device.

You can expect lower or zero fees. Because they have fewer overhead expenses than bricks-and-mortar branch networks, online-only banks can often afford to offer accounts with minimal or no fees.

You can get a getter interest rate. Lower operating expenses also mean that many online-only banks can offer more attractive interest rates, either in the form of lower home loan interest rates or higher interest rates on savings accounts.

Customer service. Online-only banks regularly provide extended customer service hours and a range of options for accessing help whenever you need it. Many online-only banks even offer 24/7 customer service.

The drawbacks

There's no face-to-face contact. Some people simply prefer being able to manage some of their banking transactions face-to-face. If you prefer face-to-face banking, an online-only bank may not be right for you.

How to choose an online-only bank

There’s a wide range of factors you need to consider when comparing the online-only banks in Australia. Make sure to consider:

The products and services they offer. The products and online-only bank offers will obviously have a big bearing on whether or not it’s the right bank for you. For example, if you want to grow your savings through a high-interest online savings account, you may need to choose a different bank to a customer who is looking for a no-frills online home loan. Research the individual products and services each bank offers and then compare them side by side to see how they stack up against one another.

Fees and interest rates. As we touched on above, one of the main advantages of an online-only bank is the discounts and savings they are able to offer. With this in mind, look closely at how the fees and interest rates compare to the competition. Is their variable home loan rate competitively low? Do they offer a great interest rate on their online savings account? Are there any hidden fees and charges that could hurt your bank balance?

Terms and conditions. It’s always worthwhile to check whether there are any terms and conditions attached to an online-only bank account. For example, in order to open a high-interest online savings account, are you required to open a linked transaction account with the same bank?

Their online and mobile banking platforms. If you’re going to be carrying out all of your banking transactions via your computer, mobile phone or tablet, it’s important that the bank’s online and mobile banking platforms are easy to use. Check out reviews of each bank’s offerings and if possible, try them out for yourself before you make a choice about the right bank for you.

Supported devices. It’s also a good idea to make sure you can easily access your bank’s app or internet banking portal via your phone, tablet and computer. Any unexpected compatibility issues can be a huge inconvenience.

Their reputation. As online-only banking is still a relatively new sector of the industry, it’s important to be sure you end up choosing a bank you can trust. Research how long each bank has been in business, who they’re backed by, and whether or not they have established a good record of always meeting their customers’ expectations.

Their customer service. Another important issue to consider is the quality of the customer service a bank offers. Because you can’t just walk into a branch and ask for help, you need to know that you will easily be able to access the support you need whenever you need it. Look for phone, email and live online chat support, including the hours during which they are available, plus it’s also helpful if the bank has a detailed online help centre.

If you’re not put off by the idea of managing all of your finances digitally, it’s definitely worth considering the products and services available from Australia’s online-only banks. If you compare your options, you could find a provider that offers an affordable solution to your banking problems.

Thank you for your feedback!

Shirley Liu

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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.

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Online banks in Australia