Credit card rewards schemes devalued as interchange fee changes come into effect
With the RBA’s interchange fee regulations set to come into effect on July 1, the value of credit card rewards schemes may be about to tank.
In May 2016, the RBA announced new regulations which capped interchange fees charged on Australian-issued Visa and Mastercard credit cards at 0.8%, and which are about to come into effect on July 1 2017.
While this is good news for merchants - who will no longer pay hefty fees for accepting credit cards over the counter - it means banks make less profit from credit card transactions. The likely remedy to what could be a blow to the banks’ bottom lines? Reduced value on rewards credit cards.
A number of major players, including all four big banks, began to slash the value of their rewards schemes after the RBA’s changes were announced. Now, as the July 1 deadline looms, we’re likely to see more credit card providers follow suit.
Compare rewards credit cards - last updated 24 April 2024
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Apply By 28 May 2024
American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
Qantas Frequent Flyer
$450
60,000
1.25 points up to 100,000 points/year, then
1 point uncappedReceive 60,000 Bonus Qantas Rewards Points when you apply online by 28 May 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available for New American Express Card Members only.
CompareCompareQantas Ultimate Card
Receive 60,000 Bonus Qantas Rewards Points when you apply online by 28 May 2024, are approved, and spend $3,000 on your new Card within the first 3 months. T&Cs apply. Available for New American Express Card Members only.
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Annual fee
- $450
- Bonus points
- 60,000
- Earn rate per $1
- 1.25 points up to 100,000 points/year, then
1 point uncapped
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Amex, up to 100000 points per year, then
1 point per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 60,000
- Sydney to Melbourne
- 8000.0
- Sydney to London
- 110400.0
- $100 Gift card
- 20010.0
- Card Benefits
- Account alerts by SMS,
Card Purchase Cover ,
Travel Inconvenience Cover
- Rewards Bonus Points
- 1.25 points per dollar on everyday purchases. Earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at government bodies, earn 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spend on selected Qantas products and services.Exclusions apply. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Points per $1 spent.* For Card Members who applied for the Card between 1 July 2023 – 9 January 2024, this change will come into effect from 10 July 2024.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the American Express Qantas Ultimate Card
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G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card
Qantas Frequent Flyer
$299
50,000
1 point up to 20,000 points/month
Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card within 90 days. T&Cs apply. Available to new G&C Mutual Bank Card Members only. Earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points annually. T&Cs apply. Access Platinum Visa Concierge. Add an additional cardholder at no extra cost.
CompareComparePlatinum Visa Credit Card
Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card within 90 days. T&Cs apply. Available to new G&C Mutual Bank Card Members only. Earn 10,000 bonus Qantas Points annually. T&Cs apply. Access Platinum Visa Concierge. Add an additional cardholder at no extra cost.
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Annual fee
- $299
- Bonus points
- 50,000
- Earn rate per $1
- 1 point up to 20,000 points/month
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- 21.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 50
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to 20000 points per month
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 50,000
- Sydney to Melbourne
- 8000.0
- Sydney to London
- 110400.0
- $100 Gift card
- 20010.0
- Card Benefits
- Concierge
- Rewards Bonus Points
- 1 bonus points on selected Qantas products and services.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card
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NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card
Qantas Frequent Flyer
$250 $150 in the first year
70,000
0.66 points up to $3,000/month, then
0.33 points up to $6,000/month70,000 Bonus Qantas Points. Offer applies to a new NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card when you spend $2,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days.
CompareCompareQantas Rewards Premium Card
70,000 Bonus Qantas Points. Offer applies to a new NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card when you spend $2,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days.
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Annual fee
- $250 $150 in the first year
- Bonus points
- 70,000
- Earn rate per $1
- 0.66 points up to $3,000/month, then
0.33 points up to $6,000/month
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.74% p.a. (3.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 0.66 points per dollar on Visa, up to $3,000 per month, then
0.33 points per dollar on Visa, up to $6,000 per month
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 70,000
- Sydney to Melbourne
- 8000.0
- Sydney to London
- 110400.0
- $100 Gift card
- 20010.0
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Rental Vehicle Excess in Australia Insurance
- Rewards Bonus Points
- Bonus points on selected Qantas products and services, including eligible Qantas flights.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card
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American Express Qantas Premium Card
Qantas Frequent Flyer
$249
20,000
1 point uncapped
Receive 20,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Premium Card within 3 months of Card Membership. T&C’s apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
CompareCompareQantas Premium Card
Receive 20,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply, are approved, and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases on your new Qantas American Express Premium Card within 3 months of Card Membership. T&C’s apply. Available to new American Express Card Members only.
- Rewards program
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Annual fee
- $249
- Bonus points
- 20,000
- Earn rate per $1
- 1 point uncapped
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 23.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- -
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $30.00
- Points earning
- 1 point per dollar on Amex, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- Never
- Bonus points
- 20,000
- Sydney to Melbourne
- 8000.0
- Sydney to London
- 110400.0
- $100 Gift card
- 20010.0
- Card Benefits
- Account alerts by SMS,
Card Purchase Cover ,
Travel Inconvenience Cover
- Rewards Bonus Points
- Earn 0.5 Qantas Points per $1 spent at government bodies, earn 2 Qantas Points per $1 spend on selected Qantas products and services.
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the American Express Qantas Premium Card
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NAB Rewards Signature Card
NAB Rewards
$295 $145 in the first year
160,000
1.25 points uncapped
Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within the first 60 days of account opening and 40,000 bonus points when you keep your card for over 12 months (T&Cs apply). Enjoy a reduced annual card fee (from $295 to $195) for the first year. Up to 44 Interest free days on purchases (T&Cs apply). $15,000 minimum credit limit. 0% p.a. on standard balance transfer (BT) rate for 12 months (3% BT fee applies).
CompareCompareRewards Signature Card
Earn 100,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within the first 60 days of account opening and 40,000 bonus points when you keep your card for over 12 months (T&Cs apply). Enjoy a reduced annual card fee (from $295 to $195) for the first year. Up to 44 Interest free days on purchases (T&Cs apply). $15,000 minimum credit limit. 0% p.a. on standard balance transfer (BT) rate for 12 months (3% BT fee applies).
- Rewards program
- NAB Rewards
- Annual fee
- $295 $145 in the first year
- Bonus points
- 160,000
- Earn rate per $1
- 1.25 points uncapped
- Intro rate
- -
- Ongoing Purchase rate
- 20.99% p.a.
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 12 months and then 21.74% p.a. (3.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Foreign exchange
- 3.00%
- Late payment
- $15.00
- Points earning
- 1.25 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped
- Reward point expiry
- 36 months
- Bonus points
- 160,000
- Sydney to Melbourne
- 15600.0
- Sydney to London
- 239200.0
- $100 Gift card
- 20410.0
- Card Benefits
- Concierge,
Travel Insurance,
Extended Warranty,
Purchase Protection,
Rental Vehicle Excess in Australia Insurance
- Rewards Bonus Points
- -
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the NAB Rewards Signature Card
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Mozo Data Manager, Peter Marshall, said there are three main ways banks will be likely to recoup the lost profits from interchange fees; reducing points earn rates, introducing stricter caps and expiry dates on points, and hiking annual fees.
Reducing the amount of points earned per dollar is one of the more common strategies. Credit card giant Citi dropped the earn rate on five of its cards, while CommBank, NAB and Westpac reduced the earn rate on AMEX companion cards - by up to 2.5 points per dollar spent, in one case.
“Spenders who rely on their AMEX companion card to bump up their rewards earn have been left out in the cold a bit, but on the other hand, cards issued directly by AMEX were some of the only options that saw points earn rates increase this year,” Marshall said.
RELATED: Credit card providers shaking up the way you pay with interest free offers
ANZ also scaled back its rewards program considerably, ditching AMEX companion cards all together and introducing new points caps and tiered earning.
For example, the ANZ Rewards card used to earn cardholders 1.5 points per dollar on AMEX and 0.75 points per dollar on Visa, uncapped. Now, the AMEX companion card is no more, and shoppers can earn 1 point per dollar on Visa, up to $1,000 per month, and 0.5 points per dollar on spends after that threshold.
Suncorp and Virgin Money also introduced lower points caps. Suncorp capped points on its Clear Options Platinum Qantas card at $8,000 a month, while Virgin Money Velocity High Flyer cardholders will now earn 1 point per dollar up to $8,000 per month, down from a cap of $10,000 per month (still with an earn rate of 0.5 points per dollar afterward).
“Points caps and tiered earn rates like this mean cardholders need to be aware of how much they spend each month. If you usually spend under the monthly threshold, then it might not bother you. But if you’re a big spender, the fact that you’ll be losing out on rewards value on a portion of your spend each month is something to consider,” said Marshall.
RELATED: New Qantas rewards credit card: all you need to know about points, fees and bonuses
The annual fee was also adjusted on 14 credit cards this year and of those, 8 were increases while in 6 cases the fee was reduced.
“Some card providers may be raising annual fees to make up for lowered interchange profits, but it’s by no means a market-wide trend,” said Marshall.
“The thing to keep an eye on is whether you’re paying a higher annual fee while receiving the same or lesser value from your card. If so, it might be time to look for a new card.”
Want better value from your plastic? Make sure you’re carrying a rewards card that will net you the best bang for your buck by comparing options using our Rewards Revealer tool.
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