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Compare Today’s Top Credit Cards:

Low Rate Credit Cards
Citibank Clear Platinum Interest Rate 11.49% 2.99% for 6 Months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free	St.George Vertigo Interest Rate 11.74% 2.99% for 6 Months 55 Days Interest Free
Aussie MasterCard Interest Rate 12.29% 2.99% for 6 months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free	HSBC Credit Card Interest Rate 16.99% 5.99% for 6 months Balance Transfers 55 Days Interest Free
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Citibank Gold Interest Rate 20.49% 2.99% for 12 Months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free	BP Citibank Interest Rate 20.49% 2.99% for 12 Months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free
Citibank Clear Platinum Interest Rate 11.49% 2.99% for 6 Months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free	St.George Vertigo Interest Rate 11.74% 2.99% for 6 Months 55 Days Interest Free
No Annual Fee
HSBC Credit Card Interest Rate 16.99% 5.99% for 6 months Balance Transfers $0 Annual Fee	Woolworths Everyday Interest Rate 18.74% Up to 3 Award points per $ spent at Woolworths $0 Annual Fee
Rewards
BP Citibank Interest Rate 20.49% 2.99% for 12 Months Balance Transfer 55 Days Interest Free	Woolworths Everyday Interest Rate 18.74% Up to 3 Award points per $ spent at Woolworths $0 Annual Fee

Compare all credit cards

There are many free credit card comparison websites available online and it is important to use these websites as a tool for comparison.

The internet can prove to be of great help in this regard. You can use the internet for comparing the charges of various cards, along with various other aspects including balance transfers, low interest rates and rewards. Once compared you can select the card, which suits your needs in the best possible way.

One of the most popular ways to compare credit cards is to visit a search engine, for example ‘Google’ and type in some of the following search phrases ‘credit cards comparison’. This search should return many websites that offer a free comparison service.

Using the internet and internet search engines, you will be able to save a lot of money in the long run and utilise it for other fruitful purposes.

Aussie MasterCard Credit Card, Bankwest Lite Credit Card, St.George Vertigo Credit Card, Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card and ANZ Low Rate Credit Card are some of the most popular credit cards in Australia, and you can compare their charges and other feature, to select the best card for yourself.

Apart from that, credit cards can be used anywhere and you can use it for buying products, which you may not otherwise be able to buy, due to budget constraints. You can pay back as per as per your convenience. Most companies provide an interest free period and if you pay your bills within this period, then in that case, no interest would be charged. Also, in case you do not have enough money to pay the entire bill, the in that case, you may simply pay the minimum amount, which is a fraction of the total bill. These days, you can also use credit cards for withdrawing money from ATMs. All these features make a credit card an absolute necessity in the current times.

However, before you get a credit card, there are a few things that you need to know. Before selecting a card, you must always do some research. For this, you can do some window shopping. Visit the banks personally and know about the various terms and conditions. Do not hesitate in asking questions. Satisfy yourself properly, before you opt for one. You may also surf through the internet, in order to get the best credit card option. Your family and friends can also be a great source of information. As a matter of fact, they would also be the most reliable source of information as well. One of the most important aspects in this regard is the annual percentage rate. Before you select a card, do take a look as to what is the annual percentage rate, at which the card is offered. Another important aspect is that of the annual fees. Check out the annual fee which is applicable for each card, before you select one.

As it is, Bankwest Lite Credit Card, Aussie MasterCard Credit Card, Citibank Clear Platinum Credit Card, St.George Vertigo Credit Card and ANZ Low Rate Credit Card are some of the most popular credit cards in Australia, and you can visit their sites, to have a look at their respective features.

In recent times, there has been a massive rise in the number of default cases in credit card payments. As a result of this, the financial institutions have become very stringent, when it comes to issuance of credit cards. Unlike earlier days, when every Tom, Dick or Harry could get a credit card sanctioned easily, these days, applicants are required to go through a number of formalities and a card is issued only after proper screening of the applicant has been conducted.

In any case, an applicant is required to furnish some information to the credit card companies, in order to get your credit card application sanctioned. The following are some of the information, which you are required to furnish:

1. Identity proof:

One of the most important aspects in regard to the application is pertaining to your own identity. You will be required to furnish the company with valid proof of your identity, since the company needs to know, that you are the same person that you claim to be. Various documents, such as valid Drivers License, valid Passport, Age Card, citizenship documents, etc. are various documents, which are used for establishing your identity. Hence one or more of these can be put to use.

2. Income proof

Another major concern for a company, if it is extending credit to you, is that whether or not, you would be able to pay for it. You are therefore required to provide valid proof of your regular income. This may include your salary slips, tax return statements, or bank account statements. The requirements differ from company to company, however, most of the times, companies ask for records of five to six months.

3. Address proof

A company may also ask fro a valid address proof, which includes documents, such as utility bills (gas, electricity or home/mobile monthly telephone bill), building society statement, as well as bank statements if addressed to your home. Apart from that some companies also accept household/motor policy insurance documents as well.

Apart from these, a company may also ask for other documents as well, depending upon the card that you are selecting.

A credit card differs from a charge card, in which the balance is required to be paid in total every month. In contrast to this, a credit card allows the user to pay the balance, in return for a charge in the form of interest. Credit cards are generally issued by the local banks as well as credit unions. They are supposed to be of the same shape and size, as prescribed by ISO/IEC 7810.

Credit cards get issued to a user, after his/her account gets approved by the credit card issuer. After a card has been issued to him/her, a user can use it for making purchases. When a user buys a product or service, he/she agrees to make payment to the issuer. The user signs a receipt with a mention of the card details along with the amount payable by entering a PIN. These verbal authorisations through telephone as well as electronic authorisation are also becoming very popular.

Every month, the user is offered a statement, which mentions the purchases, which have been have been made with the card, along with the outstanding fees if any, and the whole amount owed. The user is supposed to pay at least the minimum proportion of the bill, which is mentioned by the issuer. If the user feels that some items have been wrongly charged, or an extra charge has been imposed, then he/she can dispute them, as per the provisions of the law.

The history of credit cards in Australia, kick started in 1974, when Bankcard was issued. It was the first credit card and was a shared brand credit card, which was issued by the Australian financial institutions, and functioned only in Australia, New Zealand, and the Cook Islands. The card soon after its release saw a phenomenal rise and dominated the credit card market in Australia, until its transnationals counterparts like VISA and Master Card were released in Australia, during the late 1980’s.

However, like all good things, credit cards too come with a price tag and the company charges you for the services, which it renders in the form of various fees. These are in the form of annual fee and annual interest. The rise in competition has given rise to several malpractices as well. So, unsuspecting people are often caught up with credit cards carrying high interest rates. As a result of this, they are often caught up with huge debt burden, even though they may have made relatively lesser use of their cards.

As it is, most people are content with payment of the minimum repayment amount. The balance gets added to the principle amount and interest is charged on it as well. As it is, a number of developments have taken place in this regard, to rescue people who have been caught up with high interest credit cards. One of the most effective developments in this regard is that of balance transfer. In case of balance transfer, a user can transfer the outstanding balance due to him/her on one card to another card.

Apart from that, quite often, this transferred amount is not subject to charging of interest, for a stipulated period of time, or subject to a minimal interest rate for a particular period of time. Balance transfer can be very effective, as it allows a user to transfer his/her balance from a high interest credit card to a card which carries a lower rate of interest. Apart from high interest rates, there may be several other reasons, for opting for balance transfer. Non-receipt of bills on time, improper billing or inopportune payment dates are some of the common reasons, which may prompt a user to switch over to another card.

In order to avail a balance transfer, the best thing to do, would be to opt for a credit repair executive who would help you in this regard. He/she would charge you a minimal amount and therefore, it is advisable to opt for such service, in case your debts have grown too large. Similarly, you can surf through the internet, to get an idea about the various balance transfer options which are offered by various credit card companies.

It is important for you to realize, that balance transfer can only offer you temporary relief. However, in order to get permanent relief, you will have to bring about a change in your life style.

However, when it comes to credit cards, most people fail to realise that there are no free lunches in this world. Therefore, in return of all the services, that the credit card companies would be charging you some fees. Now, while some cards carry lower charges, others may be accompanied by higher charges. It is therefore advisable to get your self fully satisfied, before you opt for a credit card. The two most important charges in regard to credit cards, are that of the annual fees and the low interest APR i.e. the Annual Percentage Rate. Apart from these, several other charges might be levied as well and you need to take care of them as well.

While some companies may charge you a high annual maintenance fees, they would most likely be accompanied with a lower interest rate. Others may be accompanied with a low annual maintenance fees, but might also feature an exorbitant annual percentage rate. What option you choose, depends entirely on your needs and requirements. If you happen to be a shopaholic, then in that case, a card with a lower APR would suit you the best. In case you are not likely to use your card much then in that case, a card with lower annual maintenance fees would tend to be the best for you. As it is, average percentage rate refers to the average interest rate that a credit card company would charge you for making purchases, with the help of the credit card.

Most credit card companies are related to banks. So, they borrow money at a lower rate for paying the merchants and charge you a higher rate for the same amount. This way, they make a profit after they make their payments. The annual percentage rate is the actual amount that you as a creditor would be paying to your credit card company.

It is quite important that you make sure that your credit score is in excellent shape. For that, you will be required to pay your bills on time. This would save you from late fees and would relieve you from a lot of burden that you might face, in case you do not pay back the company on time. Apart from that, you should always make it a point, to see to it, that you do not restrict you into paying the minimum amount payable. This is because, the balance amount would get added to the principle amount and you will have to pay an interest on this amount as well. As it is, people with good credit score generally get a favorable annual percentage rate. Hence keeping your credit score in excellent shape, is very much important.

There are several types of reward programs. One of them is frequent flyer reward. This is used by airlines which give points to customers for every flight they undertake. These points could be exchanged for free flights or some other rewards. This works wonderfully for those who fly on a regular basis. Another reward program is known as cash back program, where out of the total purchase you make using your card, a percentage of it will be returned back. Then there are rebate reward programs, where you are entitled to rebate on your further purchases. Gasoline companies also run their reward programs, where you are rewarded for gasoline purchased from that particular brand.

Before you join a particular reward program, its best to first of all analyse how you use your card. If you tend to use cards for almost all of your purchases, join a program which gives you points for each purchase you make. You should also find out what kind of reward the program offers, and whether you are really interested in those rewards. It’s also important to know whether there is any cost involved in joining the program. A further question you should ask is how much money you have to spend to collect one point. This will really help you in gauging the worth of the reward program. Before joining any reward program, you should also try to find out the life span of your points, i.e., how long does it take before they expire.  Rewards points should have a reasonable life span so that you are able to collect a decent amount, which you can redeem.

If we keep these points in mind before joining a reward program, we can easily make the most out of it and also get a better worth for our money

There are several features which Gold or Platinum card offers. Many cards offer free travel insurance. The features of the cover differ from card to card. Nevertheless, it eliminates the hassles involved in arranging a separate cover. Many cards also come with reward programs, which generously give points for your every expenditure through your card. These cards also allow you to spend more as they have a higher spending limit than other cards. At some places, the card holder is also given preference while booking a seat on a flight or a hotel room. They also ensure security over your purchases and give refund assurance. Many of the card providers also provide some other services such as, ordering taxi, discount on restaurant meals, free or discounted tickets for entertainment shows, etc..

Because of the extra facilities they provide, owning a Gold or Platinum card has become a status symbol. However if you are not using all the facilities provided by your card, your money is probably being wasted, as most of these cards come with high annual fee and interests rates. There are so many organisations offering a gold/platinum card that it becomes a bit confusing to select the best deal. The thumb rule is to avoid those organisations which offer to modify or remove your bad credit history. Do not trust any offer without analysing it in detail. Go through the brochures, read the fine prints, and ask as many questions as you want to, which can clear your doubts. Double check on all the promises the card provider is making, also try to find out if there are any hidden cost involved which you have to pay later. Compare the offerings of different organisations. If your card is offering you any kind of insurance, try to know what the extent of the cover is and whether you are eligible for it.

Owning Gold or Platinum card can be a double edged sword. Though these cards offer innumerable benefits, if you do not use all the facilities provided, then probably your money is being wasted. To get the most of your card, it’s important that you pay your dues on time, to avoid paying high interests, and avail all the benefits given by your card provider, to get the full value for your money

Many times people use only a business card to market their product or service. For this reason the card should be designed in a manner which creates a favourable impression in the mind of prospects. There are different types of cards which one can use. One can choose any of them, depending on his requirement. Many people prefer to use a simple business card, with a no nonsense design. This design works for those who just need a functional card. Some other people choose to have a picture card, with their pictures on it.  There is also an increase in the number of people who use unconventional material such as wood to design their cards. Designing a Business card can be a work of art, and
anyone can come out with an ingenious design.

No matter how we choose to design the card, it should fulfil the requirement for which it is being made. There are many tips one can use to make his card stand out. The card should be different so that the prospect is able to retain you in his mind. Any person gets tens of cards every day, most of them are thrown away. Your card should be such that not only people feel compelled to retain it, but also share it with others. You should use a judicial mix of colours and pictures to make the card attractive. However an overuse of colours should be avoided. Many people also design their cards in unusual shapes to make it look interesting. However, caution should be exercised in this respect, because a shape which is too unusual makes the card looks frivolous. Your card should represent the product or service you are selling, e.g., a dentist can use teeth impressions on his card, someone related with food industry can print a recipe behind the card, or someone dealing in arms can burn a bullet hole on his card.

Finally, when you have designed your card and get it from the printer, don’t keep the news with yourself. Spread it around. People will be glad to accept your new card. However don’t spam people by throwing thousand of cards at their face, not only you will waste your money, but you will also turn them off. A business card can bring new business, provided, we know how to use it.