Debit card news and advice

More than one in three Australians (35%) would ‘happily’ say goodbye to using coins and notes in as little as a year, new research from ME has found.

For decades it’s been the norm for Australians to reach into their wallets for a plastic debit card to withdraw cash or make a payment at the counter, but that’s about to change for customers of one bank.

Commonwealth Bank customers can get a digital copy of their receipts sent straight to their smartphones under a new partnership between the major bank and Sydney-based fintech Slyp. 

The outbreak of COVID-19 has necessitated a different approach to the way Australians pay for their goods and services and we’ve already seen this play out through an increased use in contactless payment options and a move to online shopping. 

From Zoom conference meetings to doing morning workouts in the garage, many Aussies have had to make adjustments to their regular routines over the last few weeks, including the way we pay. 

Down down, prices are, wait... up? 

Flights, accommodation, food and sightseeing - the list of expenses for an international trip can really add up, so the last thing travellers will want to see on their bank statements is a list of fees for using their debit card abroad. 

It’s a lazy Saturday night and you’ve got no plans. You’ve refreshed your Facebook feed for the third time with no new updates, so you’re forced to stare at the ceiling… until you decide to pull out your laptop and do some online shopping.

There are some people that can’t wait to do it and others who’d rather do anything else. I’m talking about grocery shopping. But regardless of how you feel about heading to the supermarket, there’s no denying that it often doesn’t take much for spending to get out of hand.

Summer holiday travel season is fast approaching, but while you may be fixated on getting the best price on your flights and accommodation for that trip to Europe or South America, have you ever seriously thought about the fees you’re likely to fork out while overseas?