Overseas students

Welcome to the Commonwealth Bank

If you're an overseas student studying in Australia, the Commonwealth Bank can help make managing your money and your everyday transactions much easier. As a result, you can get on with enjoying your studies.

If you're studying full-time, opening an account with the Commonwealth Bank offers a number of great benefits:

• The security of banking with one of the largest financial institutions in Australia
• Access to Australia's largest bank branch and ATM network, with over 1,000 branches and 3,100 ATMs nationwide, including more within university campuses than any other bank
• A Streamline account with zero monthly account keeping and withdrawal fees while you remain a full time tertiary student when you use our banking network (excluding access fees and NetBank service fees)¹
• The ability to easily transfer money to and from overseas
• A convenient keycard to use in ATMs and EFTPOS terminals
• 24 hour, 7 day a week access to your Streamline account from around the world via internet and telephone banking
• ATM access to your funds from Cirrus ATMs around the world

 

Before you arrive in Australia

To assist you in moving to Australia, the Commonwealth Bank offers a unique International Customer Service Centre. Our team of professional, multilingual service officers can help you set up your new banking relationship with the Commonwealth Bank in Australia while you're studying.

Best of all, you can now apply for a bank account with the Commonwealth Bank prior to your arrival in Australia. To apply, simply complete the online application form. Once submitted, your application will be processed and you will be contacted by the Commonwealth Bank International Customer Services team who will provide you with your account details and advise you which branch you will need to attend on arrival in Australia to provide your identification to access your account.

If you would like to deposit funds into your account prior to leaving your home country, we can also provide you with the Commonwealth Bank's SWIFT code for International Money Transfers.

Once you arrive in Australia

When you first arrive, money from other countries can be exchanged at any one of over 1,000 Commonwealth Bank branches across the country. We accept and exchange travellers cheques and more than half of the world's currencies. Use our foreign exchange calculator for the latest foreign exchange rates.

When you visit a branch for the first time, bring in your passport and proof of enrolment in your study course.

Already in Australia?

If you have been in Australia for less than six weeks, your passport is the only identification we need to open an account for you. To have the normal monthly account keeping and withdrawal fees on your account waived, bring in your proof of enrolment as a full time tertiary student (including your course start and end dates). This waiver will remain valid as long as you remain a full time tertiary student in Australia.

We can open your Streamline account for you immediately, and you will be able to deposit and withdraw money from the account straight away. We will also provide you with your account number so you can arrange for transfers of money to or from your home country.

Alternatively, while you're in Australia you might want to put your money away into an account that will return you a great rate of interest. NetBank Saver is a flexible, high interest online savings account. Open a NetBank Saver now.

Australian money

Australian currency is the only legal tender in Australia. Australia uses a system of decimal currency with 100 cents in the dollar.

The notes in use are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100.

Coins used are the silver 5 cent, 10 cent, 20 cent and 50 cent and the gold $1 and $2.

Save on bank fees

Banks in Australia generally charge monthly account keeping fees and transaction fees on their bank accounts - these fees can add up to $10 or more per month. The Commonwealth Bank offers full time tertiary students special discounts with our Streamline account.

Make the most of ATMs

Australian banks generally charge fees for using the ATMs (Automatic Teller Machines) of another bank, so it is wise to choose a bank that operates a lot of ATMs of its own. The Commonwealth Bank operates more ATMs and branches than any other Australian bank.

Other electronic banking services

Many department stores, supermarkets and specialist shops have electronic transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where, at the merchant's discretion, cash withdrawals can also be made in addition to purchasing goods when using your Commonwealth Bank Keycard.

We also offer internet banking and telephone banking 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in the world.

Any questions?

If you require further assistance, please contact our International Customer Services team:

Phone:	+612 9762 0920
Freecall from Australia:	1800 188 888
Freecall from Canada:	1866 547 0817
Freecall from China:	00 800 3368 8866
Freecall from Fiji:	00 800 2526
Freecall from Hong Kong:	001 800 3368 8866
Freecall from India:	000 800 650 1412
Freecall from Indonesia:	001 803 0612 128
Freecall from New Zealand:	0800 229 888
Freecall from Singapore:	800 6162 219
Freecall from South Africa:	0800 980 339
Freecall from South Korea:	0079 8612 1062
Freecall from UK:	0808 234 8969
Freecall from United States:	1800 793 4199
Freecall from Vietnam:	1800 1507

Email:	ics@cba.com.au
Fax:	+612 9151 8399

 

Important information

• 1. Access fees apply to all transactions (including balance enquiries) using non-Commonwealth Bank ATMs here and all ATM's overseas and EFTPOS transactions overseas

The advice on this website has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs, Because of that, you should, before acting on the advice, consider its appropriateness to your circumstances. Please view our Financial Services Guide.

You must have a Streamline Account to open a NetBank Saver Account.

Terms and conditions  for Streamline account and NetBank Saver issued by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia are available here or from any branch of the Commonwealth Bank and should be considered before making any decision about these products. Fees and charges apply.