Bendigo SmartStart Super | Performance, features and fees

Bendigo SmartStart Super is a retail fund that offers several low-fee investment options, including a MySuper product which adjusts your investment mix in line with your stage of life.

Bendigo Bank

Bendigo SmartStart Super

You'll automatically be invested in the Bendigo SmartStart Super Growth - Index Fund while you're under 55 years old, which is the default option. You can change your investment choice at any time after joining.

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Product 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.)
Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Bendigo SmartStart - Defensive Index Fund
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+4.64%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+2.8%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+2.98%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+3.03%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$313
More info
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Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Bendigo MySuper - Growth Index Fund
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.19%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.64%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+9.23%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+6.51%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$338
More info
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Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+5.93%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.03%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.19%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+5.35%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$328
More info
Compare product selection
Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Bendigo MySuper - Conservative Index Fund
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+5.18%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+4%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+5.12%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+4.2%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$318
More info
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Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Bendigo MySuper - Balanced Index Fund
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+5.93%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+5.03%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+7.19%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+5.35%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$328
More info
Compare product selection
Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+4.92%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+3.89%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+2.78%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+2.39%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$343
More info
Compare product selection
Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+6.37%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+6.22%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+10.79%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
+7.29%
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$343
More info
Compare product selection
Bendigo Bank logo
Finder Score
Bendigo SmartStart - Cash Account
Finder Score
Last 1 year performance (p.a.)
+3.77%
Last 3 year performance (p.a.)
+3.18%
Last 5 year performance (p.a.)
+1.92%
Last 10 year performance (p.a.)
N/A
Fees on $50k balance (p.a.)
$108
More info
Compare product selection
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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 Finder Score 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 March 2025

Key features of Bendigo SmartStart Super

  • MySuper investment product. Bendigo MySuper is the default investment option, which invests your balance in a range of asset classes based on which age group you're in.
  • Low fees. Bendigo MySuper has low fees than many other retail super products in the market.
  • Lots of investment options. There's a wide range of pre-mixed investment options to choose from as well as the MySuper product.
  • Socially responsible option. One of the pre-mixed options is a socially responsible investment option, which takes a responsible investment approach.

Bendigo SmartStart Super investment options

Bendigo SmartStart Super offers two ways to invest, depending on how "hands-on" you wish to be with your fund. These two options are detailed below.

Option 1: Bendigo MySuper

This option is the default investment option when opening the fund, if you do not wish to choose your investment strategy. This option is an authorised MySuper product, enabling employers to make compulsory superannuation guarantee contributions to employees who don't select their own fund.

Your investments are completely managed for you and follow a lifestage investment strategy, as described below.

Under 55 years Aged 55 - 59Aged 60+
Investment option Bendigo Growth Index FundBendigo Balanced Index FundBendigo Conservative Index Fund
Risk Level HighMedium to HighMedium
Target asset allocation
  • Growth assets: 80%
  • Defensive assets: 20%
  • Growth assets: 60%
  • Defensive assets: 40%
  • Growth assets: 40%
  • Defensive assets: 60%

Option 2: Choose your own investment

If you want to choose your own investments and prefer a "hands-on" approach, this option allows you to choose between 11 different investment options. These include a variety of managed funds including a newly launched socially responsible investment option.

You can choose from the investment options below as well as the three investment options listed above in the MySuper fund. You can also choose to invest in a cash product.

Investment optionRisk levelAsset allocation
Bendigo Defensive Wholesale Fund Low
  • Growth assets: 20%
  • Defensive assets: 80%
Bendigo Defensive Index FundLow
  • Growth assets: 20%
  • Defensive assets: 80%
Bendigo Conservative Wholesale FundLow-Medium
  • Growth assets: 40%
  • Defensive assets: 60%
Bendigo Conservative Index FundLow-Medium
  • Growth assets: 40%
  • Defensive assets: 60%
Bendigo Balanced Wholesale FundMedium
  • Growth assets: 60%
  • Defensive assets: 40%
Bendigo Balanced Index FundMedium
  • Growth assets: 60%
  • Defensive assets: 40%
Bendigo Growth Wholesale Fund Medium-High
  • Growth assets: 80%
  • Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo Growth Index FundMedium-High
  • Growth assets: 80%
  • Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo Socially Responsible Growth FundMedium-High
  • Growth assets: 80%
  • Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo High Growth Wholesale FundHigh
  • Growth assets: 97%
  • Defensive assets: 3%
Bendigo High Growth Index Fund High
  • Growth assets: 97%
  • Defensive assets: 3%

Insurance

Automatic Death and Total Permanent Disablement (TPD) insurance is applied to your account when joining. You can opt out of this if you wish either when you apply or after your account is opened, or tailor it to better suit your needs. You can also apply for Income Protection cover if needed, or transfer cover over from your previous policy. All insurance premiums are deducted from your super account directly.

How do I join Bendigo SmartStart Super?

If you've decided this is the super fund for you, you can apply online in less than 10 minutes. Please note you must be over 18 years old to apply online.

You will need to supply:

  • Personal details. You'll need to provide you personal contact details including your Australian residential address.
  • Previous super fund details. If you'd like to roll over your existing fund into the new fund online, you will need your current fund details.

You will need to select:

  • Investment option. You'll be asked to select your investment option out of the two options detailed about, so have a think about this before beginning your application.
  • Insurance instructions. You'll be asked if you'd like to opt out of or tailor the default insurance policies.
DISCLAIMER: This article may contain general advice. You should consider your own personal circumstances before deciding if a superannuation product is right for you. Superannuation is a long term investment and past performance is not indicative of future performance.
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Written by

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

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Alison has written 653 Finder guides across topics including:
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