Two Great Alternatives to Bendigo Bank - Ready Credit Card - $0 Annual Fee, 0% International Fee, Travel Insurance

HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 19:23
Last edited 03/10/2024 - 23:11

Moved to Forum: Original Link

Just posting two great alternatives to the Bendigo Bank - Ready Credit Card - $0 Annual Fee, 0% International Fee, Travel Insurance.

Many OBers have complained about being unjustifiably unsuccessful or the painful application process or the long time to receive an approval or the fact Bendigo bank granted them a much lower credit limit than they had on thier previous credit card.
Yes some OBers got through without a hitch and congratulations to all of you that did. You were certainly the LUCKY ONES!

The main draw card of the Bendigo Bank Ready (Platinum) Credit card is that is a great alternative to the now very much less attractive Latitude 28 Degrees MasterCard and the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard..

In fact the Bendigo Bank Ready (Platinum) Credit card WAS IDENTICAL in almost every way to the BankWest Zero Platinum MasterCard before Bankwest stripped out all its wonderful Platinum Insurances, including the Complimentary Travel Insurnace.
All thats left now is zero annual fee and fee-free foreign exchange transactions which is standard on many decent MasterCard and Visa debit cards
eg HSBC Global Visa debit card, uBank Visa debit card, Macquarie Platinum Debit card and BankWest Platinum Debit Card.

Latitude Financial have now introduced an $8/mth monthly fee whilst thier interest rate is whopping 27.99% making it probably the highest in Australia. Two great reasons to ditch Latitude and switch to another card with no annual fee and offering complimentary travel insurance amongst some other attractive features.

So other than the Bendigo Bank Ready (Platinum) Credit card, what are your other options for a zero annual fee (ongoing) credit card that offers complimentary travel insurance amongst some other nice benefits?

Thats the question everyone wants to know, right?

  1. HSBC Premier World Mastercard
    This one is rather limited in accessibilty because you must have at least A$150,000 invested with HSBC (in any currency) or depositing $9,000/mth into one of their bank accounts for at least 6 months - i.e. you must qualify as a "HSBC Premier Customer"…

If you do, this is what you get:
- Zero annual fee
- Full suite of Platinum credit card insurnaces including Complemtary Travel insurances
- Choice of HSBC Rewards Plus or Qantas Rewards programs
- Minimum $10,000 credit limit
- up to 55 days interest free
-19.99% interest rate
- 2 airport lounge passes every year with Mastercard Travel Pass
- over 4,500 ways to save when you get the HSBC Instant Savings app
- easy, straight forward application process for HSBC Premier Customers
Other than the very tall qualification criteria, the only draw back is that you pay the 3% Foreign exchange fee.
But no problem because HSBC will give you a free Visa Global Debit card with thier Everyday Global Account - which actually comes with Zero Foreign exchange fees!

OK The HSBC Premier World Mastercard is not for me I hear you say.
What else have you got?

  1. The BankVic Qantas Visa card
    NB: BankVic is formerly the Police Credit Union VIC
    Apparently this credit card is for exclusively for TPAV and VAU members (Victorian police and ambulance Union members).
    However money.com.au in thier review for this credit card say…
    "Low rate with no fee is a rarity. You can have this card even if you don't work for the Victorian Police which is a win for customers looking for a low-cost card"
    See here: https://www.money.com.au/credit-cards/travel-credit-cards/cr…

I suggest you apply for a BankVic everyday bank account first, and if successful then apply for this credit card.

NB:During the application process…
Say "NO" to being a BankVic member if you aren't.
Then in the drop down box for how you are eligible select: "Public Service"
In applying for a BankVic transaction account you are then prompted to agree to buy shares in the BankVic for $10 (once off).
Your application should be straight forward from there.
(Sorry I havent fully applied yet so cant confirm success, sorry)

This is what you get with this card:
- Zero annual fee
- Complemtary International Travel insurance
- Qantas Rewards program
- Minimum $5,000 credit limit
- up to 55 days interest free
- 18.95% interest rate
Other than the Vic police and ambulance employee requirements (maybe not) the only draw back is that you pay a (lower) 2% Foreign exchange fee. So just pair up with one of the debit cards mentioned above which include free foreign exchange transactions.(there are probably more)

P.S. NAB have just increased thier foreign exchange fee to 3.5%. Probably the other major banks will follow suit.

Please let us know your thoughts and if you have been successful in your application for this BankVic Qantas Visa card.

Financial Credit Card

Related Stores

BankVic
BankVic

Comments

  • Gdsamp on 03/10/2024 - 19:31
    +5

    Probably should be a forum thread……

    • Gdsamp on 03/10/2024 - 19:44

      yeah Godspeed to the travel insurance
      the Bankwest Easy Transaction account has no overseas transaction fees, no account fees either.

    • SBOB on 03/10/2024 - 22:33
      +2

      In true op fashion, agreeing with you because it's the first post, and adding similar words that don't add much content like 'this post should definitely not be posted as a bargain'

      I think I did it right.

      • 2025 on 04/10/2024 - 00:26

        I think I did it right.

        Nailed it

      • brendanm on 06/10/2024 - 20:40

        Perfection.

  • Lucille Bluth on 03/10/2024 - 19:32
    +2

    Forum post.

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:27

      The original Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card post is listed as a LONG RUNNING "DEAL"
      Hence as this is retated it was posted as an "alternative deal"

      I dont mind whether its a forum post or deal

      Minor technicality - easily rectified if need be

  • MS Paint on 03/10/2024 - 19:33
    +9

    This is a PSA or forum thread.

    OBers

    A wall of text and you couldn't spell out ozbargainers? Please.

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:31

      You know what I am talking about so the abbreviation used (which is commonly used here) is correct.

      Now pls stick to the subject.

      Your contribution and wisdom as a regular poster would be most appreciated.

      • MS Paint on 03/10/2024 - 22:39
        +1

        (which is commonly used here)

        Really. The last time it was used in these forums, according to the search function, was in February.

  • askbargain on 03/10/2024 - 19:51

    Disagree

    If you don’t need travel insurance included in card: BankWest

    If you do: ING with 6k credit limit. Small hoop to avoid international transaction fee

    Or just use a debit card? If you have big holds, just use AMEX (ask a friend to be an additional user)

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:32

      Link to the ING card and brief outline pls
      Sounds like it could be another good alternative

    • soan papdi on 03/10/2024 - 22:34

      ING is 40 days travel insurance but Bendigo is 90 days. May not matter to most but worth remembering. Also Bendigo is $500 person spend requirement. So family of four means $2000 to trigger the insurance cover

  • ruprectaus on 03/10/2024 - 20:26
    +7

    the only draw back is that you pay the 3% Foreign exchange fee.

    Wtf ? It's not anywhere like the same then? It's like saying the Macquarie Black Card has zero foreign exchage fees, points earned for free gift cards, travel insurance etc but the only "drawback" is $295 a year fee, which is waived if you have a home loan with them.

    • 2025 on 04/10/2024 - 00:56

      Don’t forget the conditions - the first card is deposit 9k each month for 6 months or have 150k deposited at HSBC.

      And the second, you gotta be a cop or ambo in VIC lol.

      I’m actually wondering which is the smaller/bigger population here, ppl with 150k @ HSBC or Victorian Cops/Ambos

  • MS Paint on 03/10/2024 - 20:53
    +3

    I wonder if OP will come back in 24hrs and reply to the top thread of their own post with an executive summary of the replies in an attempt to appear smart. Actually I have no friggin' idea why they do it.

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:35

      Read the heading of the post.

      You are too busy being critical and instead of making a valid contribution to the discussion in an "attempt to appear smart".

      Do you have something to say about these alternatives or do you have a recommendation to consider?

      • MS Paint on 03/10/2024 - 22:38
        +3

        I'll wait for your executive summary in 24 hours before I form an opinion on alternatives.

        • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 23:00
          -2

          Read the heading of the post.

          • MS Paint on 03/10/2024 - 23:08
            +2

            @HeWhoKnows: Here's a deal.

            I'll read the heading of the post if you stop replying to the top thread of nearly every forum post.

            Let's shake on it.

  • soan papdi on 03/10/2024 - 20:59
    +3

    Two Great Alternatives to Bendigo Bank

    Both of which have international transaction fees. For HSBC you have to remember to use the debit card instead. So not same at all.

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:50
      -1

      Not all cards are the same.
      So yes, they are not the same at all as I clearly pointed out.
      I said these were great "alternatives"

      The main feature of all these credit cards is the complimentary travel insurance for zero annual fee.

      However both of the alternative credit cards ALSO include highly sought after REWARDS programs which the Bendigo card doesn't have
      Again for ZERO ANNUAL FEE in case you missed that very important point.

      There are plenty of cards that offer no foreign exchange/transaction fees. In fact they are "a dime a dozen" as they say.

      And I have listed some debit cards that offer no foreign exchange/transaction fees, all of which are free!
      These are all linked to transaction accounts and you will definitely need one of those too.

      So your point is ??????

    • 2025 on 04/10/2024 - 00:10

      Excellent point @soan papdi

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 03/10/2024 - 21:19
    +3

    TL:DR.

    • HeWhoKnows on 03/10/2024 - 22:55
      -1

      If you were interested in the discussion/subject you would.read everything

      This is not a ramble on about irrelevent facts pertaining to nothing.
      Or a long story short that is as long as a book.

      Wise OBers want to know all the facts when it comes to such credit cards and they read the fine print too.

      But thx for looking.

      • SBOB on 03/10/2024 - 23:06

        OBers

        Stop trying to make fetch Obers happen

        • cashless on 04/10/2024 - 07:23

          In Dutch ober means waiter.
          Quite what that has to do with zero fee bank cards, I don’t know. Maybe Hewillknow.

    • 2025 on 04/10/2024 - 00:35
      +2

      TLDR: If you want fee free international transactions on your CC, look elsewhere and ignore the title of the thread.

      But, wait there’s more, looks we’re being asked to lie on the application if we aren’t a current or retired member of The Police Association of Victoria or a member of the Victorian Ambulance Union…

      Then in the drop down box for how you are eligible select: "Public Service"

  • 2025 on 04/10/2024 - 00:15
    +3

    So is this you formally recommending the HSBC card and listing its conditions, a few weeks after you blew up at @Russ for pointing out the conditions? Really?

  • parisian on 04/10/2024 - 08:21
    +3

    So you recommend a 'travel' credit card but no you cannot use it internationally as 3% is charged per international transaction as transaction fees so you recommend a fee-free debit card.

    Makes no sense.

    Just need to be patient with Bendigo - end of the thread.

  • Shadowsfury on 04/10/2024 - 08:45
    +3

    The HSBC Visa Debit card uses their own exchange rates which are worse than cards which use Visa or MC rates. Not quite 3% worse like you'd be hit with paying the otherwise common forex fee, but still can do better.

  • onetwothreefour on 04/10/2024 - 08:49

    As a real OBer you should know there needs to be a tldr

    • montorola on 04/10/2024 - 09:21
      +2

      TLDR; excludes 99% of us lol

  • Remorhaz on 04/10/2024 - 15:49
    +2

    Note that the HSBC Visa Debit is not exactly Zero Foreign exchange fees when compared with cards which use MC or Visa FX rates - it uses HSBC's own exchange rate which is not quite as good as Visa or MC rate (anecdotally it's perhaps the equivalent of a 1% FX fee)

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