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Commbank Smart Awards Card: Bonus 80k Award Pts or 50k QFF Pts ($4,000 Min Spend in 90 Days), $19/M fee ($0 with $2,000/M Spend)

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Was scrolling through the commbank website and noticed this new card. Could be a good alternative to ultimate rewards due to lower minimum spend and monthly fee? Has the same level of insurance cover as ultimate awards, just a lower points earn. Monthly fee is $19 unless minimum spend of 2000 is met per month. Minimum credit limit is $3k.

I think commbank is attempting to make ultimate awards more like a black card, even though it has a 6k min limit (usually min limit for premium/platinum cards). And this new smart awards card to be their platinum/premium tier (mid range card). Minimum spend requirement is also much more reasonable.

The bonus is somewhat average, however could be good for those who are looking for generous insurance coverage/or in exclusion period for nab/Westpac/anz et al.

And it should be noted that cba have a range of really unique transfer partners. Such as aeroplan, Accor, ihg, etc

T&C’s:
^Offer available on new Smart Awards credit cards applied for between 3 Jun 2023 and 30 Sep 2023. Offer not available on all other card types, existing cards, and switches from other card types and is not available to customers who currently hold, or have held, any activated Awards card types in the 12 months prior as a primary cardholder. You will be ineligible for the bonus Qantas Points or CommBank Awards points if your credit card account is closed, transferred, or in default at any time prior to the points being credited to your account.

To be eligible for the 80,000 CommBank Awards points on a new Smart Awards card, you need to spend at least $4,000 on eligible purchases (excludes balance transfers, cash advances and any purchase that is reversed or refunded) using your new card within the first 90 days of activation.

To be eligible for the 50,000 bonus Qantas Points on a new Smart Awards card, you must opt-in to Qantas Points in your CommBank credit card application or via the CommBank Awards website prior to meeting the spend criteria. You need to spend at least $4,000 on eligible purchases (excludes balance transfers, cash advances and any purchase that is reversed or refunded) using your new card within the first 90 days of activation.

Bonus Points will appear on your credit card statement as ‘Bonus Awards’ within 90 days of you meeting the eligibility criteria.

If you opt-in to Qantas Points in your credit card application, or after applying but before you meet the offer eligibility criteria, you will receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points in place of CommBank Awards points. Points are initially accrued as Awards points in the Program and will be automatically converted at the end of the next statement period, into Qantas Points and transferred to your Qantas Frequent Flyer account after meeting the eligibility criteria. If you don’t opt-in to Qantas Points, or you opt-out of Qantas Points prior to meeting the spend eligibility criteria, you will receive 80,000 bonus CommBank Awards points.

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closed Comments

  • +3

    Interesting, they have got rid of lots of card types and the wealth package only provides 'awards' not even 'smart awards'.

    https://www.commbank.com.au/personal/home-loans/your-home-bu…
    Diamond Awards Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Platinum Awards Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Gold Awards Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Awards Credit Card
    Low Fee Gold Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Low Fee Credit Card
    Low Rate Gold Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Low Rate Credit Card
    Business Platinum Awards Credit Card
    Business Gold Awards Credit Card (no longer for sale)
    Business Awards Credit Card

    For one eligible credit card account in the name of a package holder:
    • No credit card fee - Save from $29 up to $300 per year
    • No additional card holder fee – Save up to $10 per year (where eligible)

    • +1

      I know! Weird right, seems like they’ve totally changed their offering overnight. I think they only released this card 2-3 days ago. I also spotted their commbank neo card, not a compelling option (bnpl) type card but seems like they’re shaking things up (for worse). Still this card seems like a pretty good sweet spot if you’re going to open a card with CBA

  • +2

    FYI
    For those wondering about the value of points
    104,650 points converts to $500 coles egift
    52,150 points converts to $250 coles egift
    20,650 points converts to $100 coles egift
    10,950 points converts to $50 coles egift

    $100 coles egift is the sweet spot for Coles egift point conversion (interestingly)

    • On the other hand, the minimum JB Gift Card you can buy is now $500

      But don't forget MYER allows direct point conversion when purchasing online since last year.

  • -1

    Interesting. This card has better earn rate on the first $5k spend than the ultimate. Might downgrade to this card from the ultimate.

    • How do you figure that?

      The Ultimate is 0.8 for the 'mainstream' purchases instead of 0.6 on this card?

      Smart Awards

      Earn up to 1.5 Awards points or 0.6 Qantas Points per $1 spent at major Australian supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining (cafes, restaurants & fast food) and utilities (electricity, gas & water). Earning these points depends on how the merchant categorises their business and provide us this information (directly or through their financial institution). You’re unable to get these points if you use an intermediary platform such as PayPal for these transactions. Earn up to 1 Awards point or 0.4 Qantas Points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

      Ultimate Awards

      Earn up to 2 Awards points or 0.8 Qantas Points per $1 spent at major Australian supermarkets, department stores, petrol stations, dining (cafes, restaurants & fast food) and utilities (electricity, gas & water). Earning these points depends on how the merchant categorises their business and provide us this information (directly or through their financial institution). You’re unable to get these points if you use an intermediary platform such as PayPal for these transactions. Earn up to 1 Awards point or 0.4 Qantas Points per $1 spent on all other purchases.

      • I think he might refer to Points Boost which capped only 400 qts pts/the first $1k spent

  • "Choose to earn CommBank Awards points or opt-in to earn Qantas Points2 for $60 per year4"

    • bah that kills it for me, $60 just to get qantas points. pass.

      • Yeah, this plus the monthly spend requirement to avoid the fee, kills it as a card to keep around after the bonus.

        For example, if you spend $2000/month to get the no monthly fee, and let's say you meet it at the top tier (supermarkets, etc), then you get the top 0.6 QFF points/$1 earn rate. Then over a year you earn 2000120.6 = 14,400 QFF points. The value of that (I'm using 1.0 cent per point now, was 1.2 cents per point before the pandemic, but since that experience and the subsequent challenges of finding available desirable pointy-end rewards flights to spend them on, I see reduced value in them) is $144. Then subtract the $60 fee, and you've got $84 dollars of rewards value. So you're spending 2000*12 = $24,000 and for that you're getting back a net gain of $84 in Qantas points rewards value. That seems like a whole lot of spend for very very little back as on-going proposition. And if you miss the minimum monthly spend 4 times in a year (due to COVID / flu / travel / life), you cop the $19/month fee 4 times, which basically wipes out all the value to nearly $0. So yeah, not only does this card have very poor ongoing returns, it also comes with the ongoing burden of lots of admin & busy-work. So at best, it's a get-the-points-and-get-out card.

        • But you don't need to keep the card open for 12 months to get the qantas points. I agree the bonus points offered is quite low. The no international transaction fee might be of interest to people planning on travelling soon

          • @sim777: I guess I'm looking for a "keeper" card with a very low/no annual fee, a low credit limit (e.g. $3k is perfect) that earns Qantas points for general spending in Australia - although I accept the earn rate would have to be quite low, such as 0.5 or 0.4 points per dollar. Basically a card to use in-between sign-up bonuses on other cards. This card would fit that criteria, if it didn't have the $60/year Qantas fee, and the $19/month fee if you don't spend enough; would much prefer they got rid of those and lowered the earn rate a bit.

            Reading a bit more, it looks like a "Qantas Travel Money card" debit card might be the closest I can get - it earns 0.25 points per dollar, which is lower than I was hoping for, but at least it has no fees: https://www.pointhacks.com.au/product-guide/qantas-cash-guid…

  • Is the Velocity conversion rate drill 2:1 on this card?

    I’ve always thought this made more sense than aiming for QF points with the ultimate in terms of earn rates, especially with the regular bonus 15%

  • Credit limit is $3k

    • +1

      Updated, got the Ms and limit mixed up. Thanks!

  • Considering to apply for wifey once they post it in qantas website to get more extra 15k from Finder, hopefully within this month

    • Thanks for this tip!

  • +1

    I had the low fee gold MasterCard earlier this year, does that make me ineligible for the QFF points?

    • +1

      Yeah it does, only one offer per 12 months

      • +1

        Thank you

        • +4

          Hey I'm quite sure strongzero is mistaken! Your Low Fee Gold MasterCard was not an awards card. As long as you didn't have any Awards Card (i.e. Awards, Platinum Awards, Diamond Awards or Ultimate Awards) in the last 12 months you should be able to get the points. I've had a Gold Card for the $300 CB and then applied for the Ultimate Awards card and gotten the QFF points promo

          • @AussieDeals: Second this. I asked this same question via netbank message and yes you are eligible even if you have cba credit cards except "Awards" ones

          • +1

            @AussieDeals: Wow, maybe I am mistaken- I didn’t even know this myself. If that is the case that’s huge! I thought it was only ANZ that allowed you to double dip! Awesome

            • +1

              @strongzero: Yes but thats just a message from cba agent via netbank. I did apply for Ultimate last time n got rejected so cant really say from ny own real experience. Will find out as im applying this one as 2k/month is achievable for us

          • @AussieDeals: Nope, read the fine print. Offer not available on all other card types, existing cards, and switches from other card types.

            • @netuser415: I was addressing sssboi whose situation is different to yours (you currently have an existing CBA card and are planning on moving to this card - which would probably be considered a switch while sssboi had a non-awards card type previously and likely cancelled well before this offer commenced on 3/6/23, based on his wording). Therefore sssboi does not have an existing card, is not going through any switching process and has not had an awards card in the last 12 months.

              I have been in the same situation and got both offers without issue, the wording of these lines in the T & Cs have not changed since I applied

  • If i move from the Low Fee Gold to this, will i be eligible for the bonus points or is this only for absolutely brand new customers.

    Nevermind, found the T&C's "Offer not available on all other card types, existing cards, and switches from other card types and is not available to customers who currently hold, or have held, any activated Awards card types in the 12 months prior as a primary cardholder"

    Bummer.

    • +1

      Seems above you can still apply for this though and receive the bonus, so probably worth applying if you don’t mind the hit.

      • Incorrect. Just spoke to commbank and they confirmed I’m not eligible for bonus points as it’s a switch from another card type.

        • +1

          Just close off your existing card, and apply fresh for the new card. This is then not a switch.

        • I can confirm that if you have an existing non-awards Commbank credit card and you apply for an awards earning credit card. You do indeed get the points. My housemate has got his points based on the trial run he did.

  • +1

    Am migrating from the Ultimate to the Smart Awards since the bump to $4k monthly spend is out of my reach - I easily reach $2.5-3k per month but $4k is too much. Anyone done this migration/a credit card migration with Commbank before? The person on the phone spoke quite quickly and mentioned something about pending transactions being charged interest but I wasnt clear if that meant that pending transactions would be counted as a Balance Transfer or if it simply means that pending transactions would be transferred over and the interest applied would be the Smart Awards rate instead of the Ultimate?? TL;DR I just want to make sure that I wont be charged any interest just for switching products within the same bank. Thanks!

    • +2

      When I moved from low fee to low fee gold a couple of years ago there was no interest charged at all on any transactions.

  • Got my card! The paper based fees show there is a 3% of international fee, but online says 0. Anyone notice?

    • +1

      How long did yours take from the day you initiated the migration?

      • +1

        Not migration haha but i applied on Tue/wed last week and card arrived yesterday

        • Were you approved for this exact card? I recall previously people would be approved for a different product instead of the one they applied for..

          • @currentfad: Yep exact card, Smart Access, shown in Netbank too.. the only confusion i have is the international transactions fees

            • @countmein: Hold up, Smart Access is the stock standard bank account and the debit card attached (white in colour) does have international transaction fees.

              Did you also open a bank account with CBA at the same time (or they automatically opened one for you)?

              That letter may be related to the debit card, not the credit card. The credit card is called Smart Awards, and appears to be grey in colour.

              • @currentfad: Apologies for mistypo, its Smart Awards in Netbank. And the human agent via chat confirmed there is no international trx fees

                • @countmein: Great thanks!!

                  • @currentfad: Anyone confirm if gift card purchases are qualifying spends?
                    Cheers

                    • +3

                      @horice: I have always personally found gift card purchases from woolworths, prezee etc are eligible spend from all banks.

    • +3

      I migrated from the Ultimate to the Smart and received my card today - same confusion as you: on the summary page of the welcome brochure says "3% international transaction fee" but on the reverse of the same page on the key benefits section it says "no international transaction fees" lol. Called the bank and guy confirmed that "no forex fees" is correct.

  • I've put in for the smart card. at first I got rejected as I put in too high spending amount (typo) . then I called them and fixed it

  • Has anyone with this card used the airport lounge benefits? (Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass)

    It's not clear to me if the lounge access is free or you still need to pay per visit and if there is a cap on the number of passes (if free)

    • You have to pay per entry - this card only gives you the access to purchase an entry. The Ultimate card is the card that now gives you two complimentary lounge entries per calendar year.

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