Frequent flyer rewards users may bear brunt of proposed changes by RBA
Frequent flyer credit card customers in Australia could miss out on rewards points if the RBA’s proposed credit card surcharge fee changes take effect. The RBA released a paper yesterday called “Review of card payments regulation” which called for a lower cap on interchange fees.
An interchange fee according to MasterCard online, is a “fee paid between a merchant’s bank and a cardholder’s bank to balance the costs in the payments system”.
The RBA speculated that because credit card providers will have to charge less in fees, they’ll recoup their losses by limiting rewards card perks.
“The reduction in interchange fees, especially the cap on the highest credit card rates, is likely to result in some reduction in the generosity of rewards programs on premium cards,” said the RBA in the report.
As the RBA stated in the report, interchange fees are currently capped at 0.50% for credit and 12 cents for debit for each transaction. But the credit card enquiry could bring that down to an average of 8 cents per transaction for debit and credit cards.
Australia’s central bank received 40 submissions from financial institutions, merchants, and consumer groups for the credit card enquiry.
The report the enquiry produced proved positive for businesses who have plastic payment facilities for their products and services. This is because fees charged by their banks will be capped at a lower rate.
The Bank promised to work closely with Treasury and the ACCC towards a reduction in excessive credit card surcharges in the weeks ahead.
Are you looking for a new rewards credit card? Use Mozo’s rewards revealer tool to see which cards offer the biggest rewards points for your situation.
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Bendigo Bank Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
11.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)$45-Low Rate Credit Card
0% p.a. balance transfer for 18 months (Reverts to 11.99% p.a). Low annual fee of $45 and no fees for additional cardholders.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 18 months and then 11.99% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 13.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $45
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 0.50%, Min $3.25
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate Credit Card
Bankwest Zero Mastercard
No annual fee and up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Get a notification before your minimum payment is due by setting up Easy Alerts in the Bankwest app.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
17.99% p.a.2.99% p.a. for 9 months and then 17.99% p.a.$0-Zero Mastercard
No annual fee and up to 55 days interest free on purchases. Get a notification before your minimum payment is due by setting up Easy Alerts in the Bankwest app.
- Purchase rate
- 17.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 2.99% p.a. for 9 months and then 17.99% p.a.
- Cash advance
- 21.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 2.95%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $25.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $4.00
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Zero Mastercard
- Hot DealLimited time cashback offer
Westpac Low Rate
Enjoy 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for the first 24 months. Get $200 cashback with $1k minimum spend on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval. 55 interest free days and low on-going rate of 13.74% on all purchases.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
13.74% p.a.0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)$59-Low Rate
Enjoy 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for the first 24 months. Get $200 cashback with $1k minimum spend on eligible purchases within 90 days of card approval. 55 interest free days and low on-going rate of 13.74% on all purchases.
- Purchase rate
- 13.74% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 24 months and then 21.49% p.a. (1.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.49% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $59
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $2.50, Max $150
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Low Rate
ME frank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
11.99% p.a.No current offer$0-frank Credit Card
Meet Frank, a low rate credit card with up to 55 interest free days and no annual fee. If simple, hassle free spending is your goal, you and Frank might be a match made in heaven.
- Purchase rate
- 11.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- No current offer
- Cash advance
- 11.99% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 55
- Intro fee
- -
- Foreign exchange margin
- 2.30%
- Annual card fee
- $0
- Late payment fee
- $10.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $4.00
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the frank Credit Card
NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 110,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
Purchase rate
Balance transfer rate
Annual fee
Rewards program
19.99% p.a.0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)$395 $295 in the first yearQantas Frequent FlyerQantas Rewards Signature Card
NABs fastest way to earn Qantas Points. 110,000 bonus Qantas Points when you spend $3,000 on everyday purchases within 60 days of account opening and keep the card open for 12 months. 7 complimentary insurances when you meet eligibility criteria including Overseas Travel Insurance.
- Purchase rate
- 19.99% p.a.
- Intro purchase rate
- -
- Balance transfer rate
- 0% p.a. for 6 months and then 21.74% p.a. (2.00% balance transfer fee)
- Cash advance
- 21.74% p.a.
- Interest free days on purchases
- 44
- Intro fee
- 295.0
- Foreign exchange margin
- 3.00%
- Annual card fee
- $395 $295 in the first year
- Late payment fee
- $15.00
- Cash advance fee
- 2%, Min $2.50
Read our Mozo Review to learn more about the Qantas Rewards Signature Card
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