Best Everyday Accounts

Fee-free ATM access is supported by a bonus interest rate and special offers

The decision by Australia’s four biggest banks to scrap withdrawal fees at their own ATMs has created a more level playing field among everyday accounts. But ME Bank’s Every

day transaction account, which took out the award last year, goes a step further on fee savings with account holders enjoying free access at over 3000 ATMs. And if you use any other Australian ATM, ME will refund the ATM fee within 30 days.

The Everyday account comes with a “Buck” Mastercard. Account holders can also choose a pink debit card, which will see ME donate 1¢ to the National Breast Cancer Foundation for each purchase.

Both debit cards provide access to special offers available through Mastercard’s Priceless Cities program.

ME Everyday account holders also earn bonus interest of 1.65% on an ME online savings account. Together with the base rate of 1.30%, that means a total return of 2.95% on your spare cash. Conditions apply.

CUA’s Everyday account also took out the non-bank award last year, and it continues to offer value with fee-free access to almost 3000 rediATMs around the country.

The account offers some interesting features. A top-up function lets account holders automatically grow savings every time a purchase of $10 or more is made using the linked CUA debit card.

You just set the amount you want to save – anything from 50¢ to $5 each time you make a card purchase, and Savings Topup transfers the cash on a daily basis to a CUA savings account. It makes saving effortless.

As an extra perk, CUA Everyday account holders can earn bonus interest of 2.65% (plus base interest of 0.05%) on a CUA eSaver Reward account when $1000 or more is paid into the everyday account each month. Your salary counts towards this.