Save Money on your Banking

These tips will help you save money on your banking.

• Choose the right account
• Consolidate your banking
• Plan ahead when you're doing your banking
• Check your balances regularly
• Use your credit card

Remember, the general rule is the more you use automated ways to bank the more you save compared to writing cheques or making transactions over the counter at a branch.

Automated options include Online Banking, Touchtone Phone Banking, money machines, EFTPOS, automatic payments and direct debits.

Choose the right account

There's no point paying for more features in a bank account than you need.  Make sure you have the right account.  If you're not sure, ask our staff , view our everyday accounts comparison, or call us on 0800 18 18 18.

If you are at school or in tertiary education, starting your first job or graduating or thinking about going on your OE, we have special packages and accounts that will almost certainly help you save on bank fees - School Plus, Tertiary Plus, WorkStart Plus and Graduate Plus.

If you receive National Superannuation you may be entitled to our Freedom Years package for your everyday banking. Ask at your branch, or call us on 0800 18 18 18.

Consolidate your banking

Every account with every bank means more fees.  Review your accounts and consider closing ones you don't need.

Many of our savings accounts offer tiered interest rates, so higher balances earn you more interest.  Check our day to day account pages.

Planning ahead can save on fees

If you're paying by EFTPOS remember to withdraw any cash you need at the same time.  You will only pay a fee for one transaction.

Consider registering for Online Banking where you can see your balances and transactions on screen.

Check your balances regularly

Make sure you always have enough money in your account to cover the payments you make.  Then you will avoid paying dishonour fees or excess overdraft charges.

Consider applying for an overdraft (our normal lending criteria apply) or reviewing your limit if your existing arrangement doesn't meet your needs.

Online Banking, Mobile Phone or Touchtone Phone Banking, give you the option to check your balances regularly in a way that best suits you.

Mini-statements from National Bank Cashpoint money machines are a simple, no-charge way to keep track of recent transaction.

Use your credit card

You can take advantage of up to 55 days free credit with a Thoroughbred Card, Gold Thoroughbred Card, Low Interest Visa, or Visa Classic, and up to 44 days free credit with Platinum Visa, and there are no transaction fees on credit card purchases.

With a Thoroughbred Card, you'll also receive up to 1% cash back for the first $30,000 (Thoroughbred Card) or $50,000 (Gold Thoroughbred Card) you spend on eligible credit card purchases each year. And because the amount of your CashBack Reward depends on your level of annual spend, putting all your day-to-day purchases on your credit card means you can benefit from an even bigger reward.

With a Platinum Visa, you'll receive two Platinum Points for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases with a great range of premium rewards to redeem them on. There is no limit to the amount of Platinum Points you can earn so putting all your day-to-day purchases on your Platinum Visa card means you can benefit from even more rewards.

If you'd like to talk to someone about making changes to your banking, call us on 0800 18 18 18 or ask the staff at any branch.  We'll be happy to show you ways you can take advantage of lower cost ways of banking.

Cash advances and the purchase of cash substitutes (e.g. travellers' cheques and gaming chips) will not qualify for a CashBack Reward or Platinum Points. For full details see the Thoroughbred, Visa and Freestyle Conditions of Use or the Platinum Visa Conditions of Use available through any branch of The National Bank.