Not sure whether an offset account is the best choice for your mortgage structure? The details provided in this article will help you decide.

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Mortgage offset accounts have steadily increased in popularity since they were first introduced in Australia in the late 1980s. A recent study by the University of Sydney found that around 40% of Australian mortgage holders use offset accounts. Although they are obviously financially beneficial in many cases, their widespread acceptance does not mean that they are automatically the right choice for everyone. It’s worth taking a close look at the facts.

A simple definition of mortgage offset accounts

A mortgage offset account is a transaction or savings account linked to a mortgage held with the same financial institution.

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Discover whether digital wallets or credit cards offer better protection in Australia, including security, fraud and ePayments Code coverage.

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Contactless payments are becoming the norm in Australia, with phone and smart watch payments commonly replacing plastic credit cards. But is paying with Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay really safer than tapping your credit card?

Both methods are convenient and protected by Australian consumer law, but one offers an extra layer of defence against fraud and data theft. Here’s how they compare.

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In this article, we provide practical, actionable tips to keep your digital wallet secure, from enabling biometric authentication to avoiding public Wi-Fi. Plus, learn what steps to take if your device is lost or stolen, so you can confidently protect your financial information!

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It’s Monday morning, and you’re running late. You skip breakfast, grab your phone, and head out the door. You head to the café and order your usual coffee with a quick tap of your phone.

Later that day, you pop to the shop to grab some lunch. Again, another quick tap of your phone.

As you scroll through social media on your lunch break an ad pops up—your favourite store is having a sale and that item you have been eyeing off is 25% off! You add to cart and checkout using the credit card saved in your digital wallet.

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In this article, we dive into the risks associated with digital wallets while highlighting the built-in security features that help protect your financial data. Discover how these technologies work and why understanding them is the first step to keeping your digital wallet safe! This article is part one of a two part series.

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Digital wallets, like Apple Pay and Google Pay, along with mobile banking apps have fast become the go-to solution for making payments and managing money. Whether you're paying for groceries, splitting bills with friends, or shopping online, these apps simplify your financial life.

Their convenience is unmatched—no more fumbling for cards or cash, just a quick tap or swipe on your phone, smartwatch, or even your fitness tracker and you’re good to go. However, with convenience comes responsibility. In 2023, the National Anti-Scam Centre, run by the ACCC, reported losses of over $26.5 Million from hacking and phishing scams alone, highlighting the importance of device security measures.

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This article highlights the staggering number of Australians impacted annually by scams. It lists easy steps we can all take to keep our bank accounts safe and where to find help if we do fall victim to scammers.

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According to the ACCC’s Scamwatch statistics, Australians reported a total of $568.6 Million lost to scams in 2022, which makes for big business for scammers, and a cause for concern for all Australians.

According to research by the Commonwealth Bank (CBA) (September 2022), 60% of Australians reported having personally been a victim of a scam, or knew someone who had, and 57% of Australians reported becoming more concerned about scams over the last 12 months.

This is unsurprising given the constant flow of suspicious emails, texts, phone calls and more that Australians are bombarded with.

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This article explains the key differences between a savings account and a term deposit, exploring their potential benefits and downsides, along with bank fees and tax implications.

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Depositing cash in a savings account or a term deposit are the most common ways to invest your money. But, how do you know which is right for you?

First, let us explain their main differences and impact on your money.

What is a savings account?

A savings account is a deposit account held at a bank or other financial institution that earns interest.

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Neobanks are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as people look for different avenues to manage their money. The banking royal commission has also led people to look for solutions outside the big banks for financial products.

What is a neobank?

Neobanks are digital banks. They don't have any bricks and mortar branches, and you interact with the bank almost entirely on your smartphone through the neobank's app. The presence of neobanks has grown rapidly in Australia since 2018 when the government passed legislation allowing neobanks to obtain a restricted authorised deposit-taking institution (ADI) licence for two years as they build up their business.

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This article explains the laws regulating credit cards and includes a discussion around credit card debt management.{tab Introduction}

The name John Biggins may not sound familiar, but the banking industry has much to thank him for. Mr Biggins, a Brooklyn banker, was the brains behind the very first credit card in 1946. Known as the Charg-It card, it led to Diners Club membership cards and store cards, revolutionising the way everyday people shopped.

Australia began with store cards, Diners Club and American Express, but in 1974 when the Bankcard was launched, we really jumped on board.
Today we have almost 16 million credit cards in circulation, a fact that has caused successive governments to regulate, and further-regulate, their use.

In order to protect card users, credit card providers are subject to stringent rules.
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This article makes your clients more aware of identity theft with reports showing the astonishing rates of personal fraud. It provides some good tips to help your readers protect themselves from this immense threat.

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We are constantly hearing reports about the rise of personal fraud in Australia, but have you ever looked at the figures? The federal government’s website dedicated to monitoring and reporting scams, Scamwatch, reports that  .......... Australians were scammed out of $.... million dollars in 2017!

........... thousand were victims of identity theft. These people had their personal details stolen which were then used to borrow money or incur debt in their names.

Avoiding identity theft not only causes financial loss, but can severely affect your credit rating into the future. Securing your identity is usually a matter of common sense but there are some other additional ideas that will help to keep your money safer:

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This article alerts your readers about the perils of not managing credit cards and provides simple suggestions to turn them into an effective money management tool.

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Credit cards certainly make life easier – they are simple to use, accepted almost everywhere, and help you to buy what you want, when you want, particularly online. So much so, that living close to the credit limit has become the norm for many people and spending can quickly get out of hand. To make your credit card work in your best interests, it’s important to fully understand their function.

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