In 1972 a small group of educators started their own financial institution as an alternative to the big banks, and they named it the Victoria Teachers Mutual Bank.
More than four decades on it has more than 110,000 customers, $2.32 billion in assets and has been renamed Bank First.
Bank First is owned by its customers, and profits are reinvested into the bank.
Although it still focuses on education, anyone in Australia can bank with Bank First.
Benefits
Drawbacks
Australian Credit Licence 240960Fees & charges apply
9.59%
9.59%
55
$99
Australian Credit Licence 240960Fees & charges apply
12.54%
12.54%
55
$0
Unlike the big banks that offer a huge variety of credit cards, Bank First has a small selection:
The fees and rates vary between the credit cards offered.
The Bank First standard VISA credit card is a basic credit card that has no annual fee and a moderately low interest rate. It would suit a customer who was looking for a low-cost credit card but didn’t want rewards or perks. The interest-free days are moderate and it also comes with a balance transfer option.
The Platinum Visa credit card offered by Bank First has a very low interest rate and a moderate annual fee. It has a moderate number of interest-free days on purchases and also has a balance transfer option. The Bank First Visa Platinum credit card has perks including:
The credit card selection offered by Bank First is very slim compared to the big banks that have a credit card to suit almost every customer.
Instead, Bank First offers two types of cards that would suit customers looking for a no-frills credit card, like pensioners or those looking to get their first credit card, or customers who are looking for a low interest rate card that has a few perks.
Unlike platinum credit cards offered by many other financial institutions, Bank First’s platinum credit card does not come with any rewards or cashback schemes. Instead, it offers a competitive interest rate and a few perks like free international travel insurance. The annual fee on Bank First’s platinum credit card is also lower than many of its competitors offering a similar card.
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