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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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.)
Finder Score 8.3 Great Bendigo SmartStart - Defensive Index Fund	Finder Score 8.3 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +6.72%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.93%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +2.51%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +3.55%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $328	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.4 Excellent Bendigo MySuper - Growth Index Fund	Finder Score 9.4 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.07%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.81%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +7.83%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.83%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $338	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.9 Great Bendigo SmartStart AP - Bendigo Conservative Index Fund New	Finder Score 8.9 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.31%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +9.13%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +4.95%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +5.56%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $428	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.1 Great Bendigo SmartStart AP - Sandhurst Strategic Income Fund (Class B) New	Finder Score 8.1 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +4.98%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +5.41%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +3.59%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +2.99%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $443	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.4 Great Bendigo SmartStart AP - Bendigo Defensive Index Fund New	Finder Score 8.4 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +7.5%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +6.78%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +2.82%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +4.03%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $428	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.1 Great Bendigo SmartStart AP - Cash Account New	Finder Score 8.1 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +3.89%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +4.15%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +2.81%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $208	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.2 Excellent Bendigo SmartStart AP - Bendigo Balanced Index Fund New	Finder Score 9.2 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +11.12%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +11.49%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.94%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +7.07%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $428	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.7 Great Bendigo SmartStart Super - Balanced Index Indexed investment	Finder Score 8.7 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.95%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.11%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.2%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +6.42%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $328	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 7.9 Great Bendigo MySuper - Conservative Index Fund	Finder Score 7.9 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +8.33%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +8.03%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +4.41%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +4.99%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $328	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.6 Excellent Bendigo SmartStart AP - Bendigo High Growth Index Fund NewHigher risk	Finder Score 9.6 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +13.49%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +14.99%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +10.13%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +9.53%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $448	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.7 Great Bendigo MySuper - Balanced Index Fund	Finder Score 8.7 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +9.95%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +10.11%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +6.2%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +6.42%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $328	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 8.2 Great Bendigo SmartStart Super - Sandhurst Strategic Income	Finder Score 8.2 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +4.22%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +4.58%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +3.05%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +2.54%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $343	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9.5 Excellent Bendigo SmartStart AP - Bendigo Growth Index Fund New	Finder Score 9.5 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.38%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.42%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +8.73%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.56%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $438	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 9 Excellent Bendigo SmartStart Super - High Growth Index Indexed investmentHigher risk	Finder Score 9 Excellent	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +12.07%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +13.18%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +9.09%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) +8.78%	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $348	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading
Finder Score 7.7 Great Bendigo SmartStart - Cash Account	Finder Score 7.7 Great	Last 1 year performance (p.a.) +3.3%	Last 3 year performance (p.a.) +3.52%	Last 5 year performance (p.a.) +2.39%	Last 10 year performance (p.a.) N/A	Fees on $50k balance (p.a.) $108	View details Compare product selectionCompare	loading

Showing 15 of 15 results

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 December 2025

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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 - 59	Aged 60+
Investment option	Bendigo Growth Index Fund	Bendigo Balanced Index Fund	Bendigo Conservative Index Fund
Risk Level	High	Medium to High	Medium
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 option	Risk level	Asset allocation
Bendigo Defensive Wholesale Fund	Low	Growth assets: 20% Defensive assets: 80%
Bendigo Defensive Index Fund	Low	Growth assets: 20% Defensive assets: 80%
Bendigo Conservative Wholesale Fund	Low-Medium	Growth assets: 40% Defensive assets: 60%
Bendigo Conservative Index Fund	Low-Medium	Growth assets: 40% Defensive assets: 60%
Bendigo Balanced Wholesale Fund	Medium	Growth assets: 60% Defensive assets: 40%
Bendigo Balanced Index Fund	Medium	Growth assets: 60% Defensive assets: 40%
Bendigo Growth Wholesale Fund	Medium-High	Growth assets: 80% Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo Growth Index Fund	Medium-High	Growth assets: 80% Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo Socially Responsible Growth Fund	Medium-High	Growth assets: 80% Defensive assets: 20%
Bendigo High Growth Wholesale Fund	High	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.

Sources

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Written by

Alison Banney

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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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 SmartStart Super

Finder Score for super funds

Key features of Bendigo SmartStart Super

Bendigo SmartStart Super investment options

Option 1: Bendigo MySuper

Option 2: Choose your own investment

Insurance

How do I join Bendigo SmartStart Super?

Sources

Alison Banney

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Ask a question

More guides on Finder

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 SmartStart Super

Finder Score for super funds

Key features of Bendigo SmartStart Super

Bendigo SmartStart Super investment options

Option 1: Bendigo MySuper

Option 2: Choose your own investment

Insurance

How do I join Bendigo SmartStart Super?

Sources

Alison Banney

Get rewarded $$ for switching with Finder Rewards

Ask a question

More guides on Finder

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