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Open a Complete Freedom Account & Spend $40 at Coles/Woolworths Per Calendar Month, Get $10/Month Cashback (Max $40) @ St George

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Open a Complete Freedom account online by 30th September 2024 and spend at least $40 on your new Visa Debit Card at Woolworths or Coles and get $10 cashback once per month up to 4 times.

T&Cs:

  • Fees and charges apply.
  • To receive up to $40, you must: open a new Complete Freedom account online between 01/02/24 and 30/09/24 and have a linked St.George Visa Debit Card on the account, and have never held a transaction account with St.George before.
  • You must spend a minimum of $40 per calendar month for the next 4 months at Coles or Woolworths supermarkets excluding subsidiary brands, such as Coles Express, Woolworths Metro, service station outlets or liquor retailers.
  • The offer will commence the calendar month following the successful account opening of your Complete Freedom account. Payment must be contactless or online, using your debit card linked to your Complete Freedom account. The monthly minimum spend must be processed to your account within the calendar month.
  • Refunds or cancelled purchases are ineligible spend.
  • If a mobile wallet is used to make contactless payment, the payment option must be set to VISA.
  • EFTPOS cash out only transactions, the purchase of gift card in a single transaction, grocery delivery services, purchases processed through PayPal, Buy Now Pay Later providers, and purchases settled via a linked credit card or Freedom card are ineligible.
  • If eligible, you will receive $10 into your Complete Freedom account for each month that you complete the minimum $40 spend requirement and the cashback reward will be credited to your account by the end of the following month. The new Complete Freedom account must remain open during this period in order to be eligible for the offer.
  • If the account is closed, you will forfeit the right to the cashback reward that has not been credited to the account.
  • For joint accounts, at least one of the account holders must not have held a St.George bank transaction account before, and the spend on each joint account owners Visa Debit Card will contribute towards the monthly spend requirement, however, only one cashback reward will be issued per account.
  • The offer is not available in conjunction with any other offer and can be withdrawn at any time.​

Related Stores

St.George Bank
St.George Bank

closed Comments

  • I don't have NFC on my Samsung phone (only discovered that after I bought it) so can't use Google Wallet in-store. How do I ensure that using a physical card in-store meets both requirements of being (a) contactless and (b) processed through the Visa network?

      • This way wont be contactless tho?

        • Yes. Good point.

          In other words, it is impossible to do a contactless transaction using a physical St George debit card if you want to force the payment through Visa.

          • @WookieMonster:

            In other words, it is impossible to do a contactless transaction using a physical St George debit card if you want to force the payment through Visa.

            Oh dear

    • -1

      If you tap the physical card on their EFTPOS checkout, that is automatically VISA.

      • +5

        No.

        Coles implemented Least Cost Routing a number of years ago for physical debit cards that support both eftpos and Visa. That means if you tap a St George physical debit card, Coles will route the payment through the network with the lowest fees (which could be Visa, but it could be eftpos).

        • +1

          Good to know, thanks for that info!

        • so what qualify to be contactless transaction? we must add debit card to the google wallet and then use that as payment method at checkout? is that correct?

          • @SydBoy: A contactless transaction is either:

            • Tapping the physical St George Visa debit card against the EFTPOS terminal, or

            • Adding the physical St George Visa debit card to a device with a supported mobile wallet (e.g. Apple Pay, Google Pay) and then tapping your device against the EFTPOS terminal.

            However, with the increasing adoption of Least Cost Routing, the only you can force a contactless payment to always go through Visa for a St George Visa debit card is via a mobile wallet (and ensuring you select Visa as the payment network on your device… assuming you can choose between Visa and eftpos on your device).

        • +1

          What about woolworths? Do you know if they have the same implementation?

          edit: nvm you answered down below
          https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15137264/redir

    • Not to have NFC on your Samsung phone seems unusual. I have a Samsung A20 (SM-A205YN), it was the cheapest Samsung phone I could buy at the Samsung kiosk (now gone) in Southland. I discovered during the Covid 19 pandemic that it did not have a built in QR code reader, people didn't believe me. However, even this model has NFC and will support Google pay as well as Samsung Pay.

      • Not to have NFC on your Samsung phone seems unusual

        Agreed. I took it for granted that it would have NFC, so didn't check before buying. I have learnt from that mistake. It's a Samsung Galaxy A13 bought just under two years ago at Officeworks.

      • Hi, newbie here.

        How do you "force" payment to go through Visa network on Google Pay? Or is it automatic once you tap your phone at Coles?

    • (a) contactless

      that's just tapping (not swipe/inserting)

      (b) processed through the Visa network?

      that's a tricky one. It used to be as above, but a few years ago Coles forced debit cards thru the EFTPOS network. I suppose the g/apple pay are virtualised cards so probably appear as credit cards.

      you need to chat with the bank about that one.

      but you've learnt a hard lesson about checking phone features.

    • How about I add the St George card as a payment card to Everyday Pay in the Woolworths Rewards app. Then I pay at Woolworths by scanning a QR code, which doesn't require NFC and does work on my phone. Might that work? Thoughts?

      • Payment must be contactless or online

        I don’t use the Everyday Pay feature but from what you describing I’m almost certain that it means it would be processed as online? Maybe others who use Everyday Pay can confirm better.

    • If a mobile wallet is used to make contactless payment, the payment option must be set to VISA.

      This reads to me that the VISA requirement is only when you use a mobile wallet, if you're using the card then EFTPOS should be fine.

      @WookieMonster

      • That would suggest one can tap to pay using a physical card in-store in either Coles or Woolworths and that will always be OK for this offer?

        • Theoretically, read below for more info.

          I did end up calling them and they told me that tapping with the card at Coles/Woolworths is fine, but they also said that using the card that way should route through VISA.

      • It is strange for St George to effectively say “you cannot use eftpos from a mobile wallet, but you can use eftpos if you tap a physical card and the merchant chooses to route the payment through eftpos.” In both scenarios, your payment will end up going through eftpos, not Visa. That is problematic for this deal, because St George is most likely partnering with Visa to offer this deal (similar to this recent ubank cashback deal), and Visa is obviously not able to see any transactions that went through a competitor’s network (I.e. eftpos). Keep in mind that tapping a physical dual network debit card historically would see the payment treated as a credit (I.e. Visa) payment, so it likely explains the wording currently in the terms and conditions.

        Arguably, you could tap a physical St George Visa debit card, and if the payment goes through eftpos and you never receive cashback, you could argue with St George that you are entitled to cashback, because you followed the terms and conditions of this offer by doing a contactless payment and did not use a mobile wallet.

        You could always ask St George whether you will still get cashback if you tap a physical St George Visa debit card and the payment is routed through eftpos instead of Visa.

        • I called them and they said it should be fine, but also that Coles and Woolworths should be routing through VISA.

          Any chance the bank can force VISA? Rather than allowing the store to choose EFTPOS?

          I have nothing to lose anyway so once I get my card I'll give it a go.

          • @Hiphopopotamus:

            I called them and they said it should be fine

            Good! I think you are right in saying you have nothing to lose.

            but also that Coles and Woolworths should be routing through VISA.

            My understanding is that Woolworths has not turned on Least Cost Routing for physical dual-network Visa debit cards, so St George is probably correct in that respect. However, this could soon change, because the Reserve Bank has threatened to mandate LCR if payment providers do not speed up adoption of LCR by merchants by June 2024.

            Keep in mind that LCR at Coles means that your payment could be processed through Visa. Coles should have lower-value transactions go through the Visa network, whereas higher-value transactions should go through eftpos. I do not know where the tipping point is though.

            Any chance the bank can force VISA? Rather than allowing the store to choose EFTPOS?

            No, I do not think you can switch off eftpos or switch off Visa on a physical St George Visa debit card. I have actually never heard of any bank letting you do that for physical debit cards.

            • @WookieMonster: I spent ~$93 at Woolworths and on the app it says 'Visa Purchase', on the Woolworth receipt it says Eftpos (maybe generic?).

              If the following month rule applies then I'll need to buy again in May and won't know for sure if it worked until around June, but it appears we're good to tap the card in-store.

              @davedave

    • +2

      I can confirm that just tapping the physical card works, no need to try and force VISA.

      Spent $40 in woolworths on 1st March, got cashback on 23rd March.

      After you receive the card and set the PIN (you can do it online/ in app), insert it in an ATM (any brand) and do a transaction with the PIN, otherwise if your first use of the card is at the supermarket it may be declined or force you to insert into the reader which doesn't qualify.

      • In which month & year did you open your account?

        Trying to find out if we need to wait a month as per T&C

        The offer will commence the calendar month following the successful account opening of your Complete Freedom account. Payment must be contactless or online, using your debit card linked to your Complete Freedom account. The monthly minimum spend must be processed to your account within the calendar month.

  • +1

    get $10 cashback once per month up to 4 times.

    So it's actually up to 4 x $10.

    • Not sure if it is. I’ve tried 3 transactions over $40 but only received $10 once this month

  • If eligible, you will receive $10 into your Complete Freedom account for each month that you complete the minimum $40 spend requirement and the cashback reward will be credited to your account by the end of the following month.

    Meaning if we spend on eligible $40 on April we won’t know if eligible until end of May when $10 will be deposited? Far out thats a stretch.

    • +2

      My $10 cashback from last month spending arrived on 2 Apr

      • In which month & year did you open your account?

        • +1

          Feb this year

  • +1

    so only new customer is eligble or existing cardholder too?

    • ou must: open a new Complete Freedom account online between 01/02/24 and 30/09/24

  • +1

    It's not $50.00 for just opening an account and must have never held a transaction account with St.George before (that counts me out). Still it's not nothing, it's something, up to $40.00 by my maths.

    • Even if it was like over 15 years ago? What about their sister banks like… I forgot already?

  • Great user experience so far with them.

    Tried to sign up last week at least 4 times to get onto Shopback offers. Failed every time.

    Tried again now and succeeded, but on first login I've been presented with this when trying to access https://ibanking.stgeorge.com.au/ibank/initialActivationActi…

    The page you requested could not be found.

    Trying to login again I'm now asked for a Security Number - which was never set nor given to me. Forgotten?

    One or more of the input details are invalid, or you have not met the below specified criteria.

    Can't register, same error.

    Can't call. One option says resetting passwords can only be done online (same error), trying to get through for another reason tells me I need to call from the app - which I can't login to.

    • Yeah the online system is pretty horrible at first. Too many different numbers. App is okay once you get past all that.

    • Did you get it sorted in the end? Stuck on the security number part too.

      • Yeah. Just keep telling the automated phone prompter that you want to speak to someone and a CSR will sort it out.

    • Received the card. Navigate to the Activate Card link. It opens in the app. It doesn't work in the app.
      Seriously can't make up how poor this whole experience has all been.

  • provided all the information they need to open the account and after verifying mobile activation code a new page appeared with three options.

    1. creating profil
    2. opening account
    3. verifying identify.

    now, who in the right mind open account without verifying identity? basically they accepted 1 & 2 and then when it came to 3 it says sorry contact the branch… !!!

    This is probably 10th time they keep asking to visit branch to open account but why would someone waste time visiting branch when they are closing branch?

  • Hi, newbie here.

    How do you "force" payment to go through Visa network on mobile wallet? Or is it automatic once you tap your phone at Coles/WW?

    • +1

      You need to choose the payment method on the mobile wallet before you tap your device against the EFTPOS terminal. St George has instructions on how to do this for Apple Pay and Samsung Wallet.

      However, there are no instructions for selecting a network on the Google Wallet page, so I am not sure whether you can switch between eftpos and Visa on Google Pay for St George Visa debit cards. If you are unable to choose, that should mean the only supported payment network on Google Pay is Visa (but that is something you should confirm first).

      The EFTPOS terminal at Coles or Woolworths will not change the payment network you choose on your mobile wallet when you tap a debit card from your mobile wallet.

  • +1

    I would be concerned not because of the contactless requirements, but by the fact that this bank is within the Westpac, which is notorious for it's rediculous "security" requirements. In fact, that means they can close your account on their own after multiple years of use just because now they don't like your country of origin. Or, for example, if you wish to buy crypto you will have so much headache that you'll regret doing it. Also, rip-off prices for everything non-AUD.

  • How does St George know that you have bought gift cards?

    • +1

      They can't know

      • Which gift card did you buy?

        Did you pay by tapping your card or mobile wallet?

      • @cooni they can't know from the grocery store, but can they know if you bought it online (woolie's for example)? Do they use a different code

        • I recall Woolworths online gift card portal changed their MCC.

          Just go into a store and get a card

  • +1

    Tried 3 times (within a few hours) and got the same error every time. This is after spending time putting in all my details 🤬
    "Sorry, we seem to be experiencing problems. Please try later again"

    • +1

      Try it on mobile. That's what did the trick for me.

      • +1

        Cheers! Worked on the mobile phone as you suggested.

      • mobile browser or mobile app?

        • +1

          Mobile browser is how I got it to work.

    • It works on PC for me but need to go into branch for ID verification.

  • Since they converted VIC users to Bank of Melbourne, can those in VIC still join St George?

    • As a customer of Bank of Melbourne, Bank of SA and St George you can go to any bank in the brand. Literally all 3 bank operated under one banner but might have different promotions.

      As far as retail banking is concern there the same bank just a different product line. It you check St Georges branches it come up as Bank of Melboune in VIC.

  • Can anyone comment on their money transfer speed? Google reviews suggest it’s not instant.

    • I think the first time you transfer to a new account or PayID, it isn't instant. Maybe there's a value below which the first transfer is instant, I haven't used it enough to know.

      For transfers to anyone you have transferred to before, it's instant if it's an OSKO transfer (and below the daily limit of $5000), and it's instant using "pay anyone" to transfer to someone else's StGeorge account (but there is also a daily limit).

      I used OSKO several times while in Japan to transfer from my StGeorge account to my Up Bank account, so I could withdraw local cash from an ATM with my Up Bank card (fee-free with Up at 7-Bank ATMs). The longest I had to wait was a couple of minutes, for the money to appear in my Up account.

      • Cheers, Osko is great. I’m used to put money in Westpac right before making any payments, and some times I’d have left over and I prefer to send it back straightaway.

    • I just opened an account and transferred $1 from my Commonwealth account and another $1 form Westpac. The Westpac one was instant via Osko, the Commonwealth one is expected to take up to 2 days. Probably a security measure as its a new account

      • That’s similar to the experience I had with BankWest initially. Westpac is speedier probably due to their close partnership with them. I don’t get what differences it makes to have the delay for a new account, since everything is digital, it would be either on or off. And if it would take sometime, it would also be definitive and transparent as to how long it takes. Maybe some human processing somewhere due to regulations.

  • have never held a transaction account with St.George before.

    never? like 1984 never?

  • It didn’t work for me on their website. Gone into a branch to have it sorted, and it took a fair bit. You don’t want to scrap your ‘saved application’ and start a new one in the branch, as that voids the opening it ‘online’ condition. In the end, they created the profile and id’ed me, we got into the app and created the account there. Was on par with hsbc experience tbh. Two passwords orz. No instant digital card.

    • from my experience, the bank branch wouldn't touch the application as it is an online only, so well done with your application!

      • Ah that explains it lol I didn’t say anything about online, went in and asked for help to create an account. Half way I mentioned I’m just trying St George since it has the promotion running. The lady then went on and checked the t&c and said it has to be done online etc. She did seem a bit less enthusiastic but patiently did everything to help me out. Compare to the Google reviews of that branch, it was amazing. Maybe you could try a different branch. But the trick is to creat the profile first, get the login details, then you can do it on the app yourself.

  • Does it show anywhere that you are eligible for this offer after you've opened your account?

    • I don’t think it says anywhere, i’ve tried to look. Just showing some good faith til early May see if first $10 gets paid

      • One of the T&C

        The offer will commence the calendar month following the successful account opening of your Complete Freedom account. Payment must be contactless or online, using your debit card linked to your Complete Freedom account. The monthly minimum

        I opened my account in April, so I held off purchasing the gift card until next month.

        • Another T&C

          …the purchase of gift card in a single transaction, grocery delivery services …. Is ineligible..

          • +1

            @lurker365: Yes. One of the replies in this post said purchasing gift card will still receive the cashback, despite the T&C.

            It was true for other similar cashback deals. We will find out in a couple of months.

        • I asked them about this, they said I could start spending the month I got it. But it is a bit dubious looking at the phrasing, will test

        • Opened Account 26 March 2024
          Spent $40.00 at Coles 15 April 2024
          Paid $10 reward 16 April 2024 (next day!)

        • @thangcuoi any confirmation from anyone buying gift card online or in store at woolies or coles?

  • I opened one of these accounts but didn't get a Visa debit card. Do they automatically send them or do you need to request it?

    • The physical card is automatically sent. There isn't a digital version so you can't spend until you receive the physical card

      • Thanks. I will follow them up. It's been 2 weeks.

        • It took about 2 weeks to get mine but I'm in Perth

          • @trixieb: Rang them this morning. They said the card hadn't been ordered. It has now been ordered.

            Comically, the new St George Credit card i was approved for yesterday is being mailed to my home address. The debit card for the Complete Freedom account must be sent to my local branch to collect.

            • @cnrmlj: What a circus!

            • @cnrmlj: Same here. They don't automatically issue you a physical card.

              I am like, this must be the only bank in Aus that doesn't issue card automatically?

              Do they expect you to do banking in branch every time? Rather than using ATMs?

              • @aboteh: LOL. Yeah. It's so odd.

                I have been largely unimpressed with St George. I only took this account out to get a lower fee on the visa credit card to get bonus QFF points which was approved last week after a bit of stuffing around. At this rate, once the points come through it will be adios muchachos.

                Was originally thinking they might be an option to refinance my home loan later this year.

    • @cnrmlj @aboteh The first agent on live chat told me I had to request for a card but there was no function anywhere to request for one.

      As I had an error message with my application, I rang and spoke to a different person who said the card is automatically sent. I didn't request and received the card in 2 weeks.

      It took several phone calls and a few hours to get to the right department as I waited a while and a few agents who answered said not their area and didn't know. I am already a St George customer but didn't have this account

  • +4

    @WookieMonster and everyone, I can confirm tapping the physical card at Coles works for the $10 offer. Got it the next day after $40 spend on groceries. Account was opened end of March

    Tapping the physical card at Woolworths is also eligible
    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/15144970/redir

    • +1

      Thank you, maybe it really is the month after opening. I haven't got anything yet in ~7 days after spending money this month.

      But then again, in the Woolworths comment, it took three weeks.

  • Any confirmation does Google wallet work?

    • Hasn't worked for me, could be because I had a BOM account before, not sure

  • My card was sent automatically to my house after succesfully opening the new acc, meanwhile wife’s card never came after 3 wks so she had to chase it up, and CS said had to be collected at branch (in Perth there’s only CBD).
    Anyway, when she picked it up, was offered a “$10 bonus” which was credited into her acc.
    May be worth asking for some kinda bonus, at least argue “for the hassle of having to come to branch to picking up the card”.
    Who knows you might get lucky 🤩

    • I had a similar experience to your wife, but wasn't as lucky to receive the $10 bonus for my troubles. I complained for about 3 weeks straight.

  • I can also confirm tapping the card instore at Coles works, I spent ~$77 on 9/5 and got the $10 cashback on 14/5.

  • Spent $40 on 11/5, received $10 on 14/5. Nice and quick for me

    • is this spend in the same month you signed up?

      • Nah, month after

    • That was quick…while it was 3-4 days from transaction date, it was just 2 business days from transaction. My second months transaction of $40 was on 20/05 and got nothing till today. On the St G app I can see the transaction is finalized (not pending) and it comes up as Visa Purchase 20May Woolworths Food & Beverage

      Does your transaction look the same?

  • Can’t seem to open account, keeps giving me errors. Tried with different browsers and computers.

  • Anyonw tried Coles online? My instore payment in May was rebated for $10 after the payment was confirmed shortly after.

    My June online paymenr had been confirmed a while while no $10 rebate shows up yet.

    • I have the same problem with Coles Online

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