Ratehacker: March’s Best Credit Card, Bank And Home Loan Deals

In our monthly Ratehacker round-up, Jeremy Cabral from finance comparison site finder.com.au highlights recent credit card offer changes, plus the best savings accounts and home loans.

Money picture from Shutterstock

The RBA has decided to hold the cash rate (for now) as predicted by our economists in our RBA Cash Rate Survey. If you want to get savings you’re going to have to start up a comparison to find a better deal. We’ve gathered some of the best offers in market below for you to consider as part of your research.

Credit Cards

Feature: 0% balance transfer & purchases

St.George Vertigo Visa: 0% per annum for 18 months on balance transfers and 0% per annum on purchases. A long 0% balance transfer which reverts to a 13.24% per annum purchase rate. This card also has a low annual fee at just $55.

Feature: 0% balance transfer and no annual fee

Virgin No Annual Fee Credit Card: 0% per annum for 14 months on balance transfers. This card features no annual fee for the life of the card and a long term 0% balance transfer rate. Despite the fact this card is issued by Virgin Money, you won’t be able to earn Velocity points on your purchases.

Feature: 0% purchase rate

Bankwest Breeze Classic MasterCard: 0% per annum for for 13 months on purchases. At the end of the purchase rate offer the rate reverts to a low purchase rate of 12.24% per annum This offer is exclusive to applications made via finder.com.au.

Feature: Bonus points after first purchase

ANZ Frequent Flyer: 50,000 bonus Qantas points. If you make a purchase by 31 March 2015 you will receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points. The annual fee for this card is $95.

Home Loans

Feature: Variable Rate Home Loan

loans.com.au Dream Home Loan Offset Variable (<90% LVR): 4.29% comparison rate. A competitive rate home loan with full range of features, including an 100% offset account and no ongoing fees.

Feature: Introductory Rate Home Loan

Bankwest Super Start Home Loan (: 5.20% comparison rate. Get a discount, introductory interest rate for the first three years with an optional 100% offset account. Available for new borrowings only.

Feature: Fixed rate home loan

UBank UHomeLoan – Fixed Rate (3 years): 4.46% comparison rate. An award-winning home loan with a very competitive interest rate, with no ongoing fees.

Savings Accounts

Feature: High maximum variable interest rate

ING DIRECT Savings Maximiser: 4.00% per annum. To get this great rate, all your need to do is link with an ING Direct Orange Everyday account and deposit at least $1000 each month from an external account. No ongoing fees apply.

Feature: Incentive saver

Bank of Melbourne Incentive Saver: 3.30% per annum. Just make at least one deposit every month with no withdrawals to get the bonus interest. No monthly fees.

Feature: High base interest rate

RaboDirect Notice Saver 90: 3.40% per annum. Plan your savings and earn a competitive, ongoing rate. There is no minimum balance and no fees.

Transaction Accounts

Feature: Cashback on PayWave purchases

Citibank Plus Transaction Account: 5% cashback on PayWave purchases under $100. Get up to $500 per month cashback on your Visa PayWave purchases by depositing at least $2000 per month. No ongoing fees plus fee-free international money transfers.

Feature: No monthly account-keeping fee

ING DIRECT Orange Everyday Account: No account keeping fees. Use every ATM in Australia for free when you deposit at least $1,000 every month. Also, get 2% cash back on Visa PayWave purchases under $100 in Australia.

Feature: Rewards Transaction Account

Bankwest Qantas Transaction Account: 5 Qantas Points per eligible purchase. Earn points for purchases and on your account balances. No monthly fees apply when you deposit at least $2000 per month.

Personal Loans

Feature: Debt Consolidation Loan

NAB Personal Loan Unsecured Variable: 14.26% per annum comparison rate. Borrow from $5000 to $55,000 at a loan term of 1 to 7 years. You can also choose between variable or fixed interest and weekly, fortnightly or monthly repayments.

Feature: Fixed Rate New Car Loan

ANZ Online Secured Car Loan: 8.48% comparison rate. Borrow a minimum of $7,500 over a 1 to 7 year loan period with fixed repayments. A loan establishment fee of $350 applies.

Feature: Low Interest Rate Personal Loan

SocietyOne Low Interest Personal Loan: 9.95% comparison rate. Borrow between $5000 and $30,000 over 1 to 3 years. No early repayment fees apply.

Travel Insurance

Feature: Policy Discount

InsureandGo Travel Insurance: 10% discount on your policy plus free kids cover. Exclusive finder.com.au offer to get a 10% discount on your travel insurance policy with InsureandGo. Features unlimited medical cover on all overseas policies.

Life Insurance

Feature: Discounted Premium

NobleOak Life Limited: 25% discount on your premiums and first month free. Exclusive offer for Life Insurance Finder customers – receive savings on your premium (up to 25%) and you will get one month of cover at no charge.

Jeremy Cabral is the Publisher at finder.com.au which includes popular comparison sites CreditCardFinder.com.au and SavingsAccountFinder.com.au, helping over 4.8 million Australians compare financial products every year. Connect with Jeremy on Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn.


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At Lifehacker, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting.

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