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Investing & Super / Commonwealth Direct Investment Account

A cash account that makes trading simple

Settle your trades directly through your CDIA, and benefit from brokerage as low as $5.00 per trade.*

Pay no monthly account-keeping fees1 and get unlimited free electronic transactions.

Transact on your CDIA in real time2 through the CommBank app. Instantly transfer funds seamlessly between all your CBA accounts.

Our free Dividend Direction service makes handling your dividend payments simple. Just opt in online, and any dividends you earn will go straight into your CDIA, helping you earn interest (if applicable).3

What is a settlement account?

A settlement account is linked to your trading account. It acts as an investment wallet, allowing you to pay for or receive money from your trades.

For example, when you buy $100 worth of shares at a cost of $5 (brokerage), $105 will be debited from your settlement account. This process is called T+2 settlement, which takes place two business days after a trade.

When you sell shares, the funds from the sale of your shares, less any brokerage costs, will be deposited into your nominated settlement account.

The Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) is the preferred cash management account for CommSec share traders.

You can use a CDIA as your settlement account for your CommSec Share Trading account or your CommSec Pocket ETFs account. 

Fees & rates

Fee type
Amount
When it applies
Monthly account fee
Free4
No fee applies to a CDIA linked to a CommSec Australian Shares or CommSec Pocket ETFs account.
Electronic withdrawal
Free
No cost for standard online transfers.
Assisted withdrawal
$3
Applies if you need help from staff e.g. in branch or phone assisted withdrawals.5

For more information on other fees and charges that may apply, please read the Transaction, Savings and Investment Terms and Conditions.

 

Who can apply?

  • You can apply if you meet the following:

    • You’re 18 years or older with an Australian residential and postal address; or
    • You have an Australian registered or incorporated company; or 
    • You have an Australian trust; and
    • You’re applying for a CDIA in conjunction with a CommSec Share Trading Account or have an existing CommSec Share Trading Account

  • You may need the following handy:

    • ID e.g. driver’s licence
    • Certified copy of the Trust Deed
    • Company details (if applicable)

Get started

  • New to trading? 

    Bundle your CommSec Trading account and CDIA together by opening a CommSec Australian Shares account in the CommBank app.

    Get started here.

    Once your CDIA is open, you can also link your account to a CommSec Pocket ETFs account.

  • Already got a CommSec account?

    Log in to your CommSec account and follow the prompts to create a Commonwealth Direct Investment Account and link it to your trading account.

Investing in the CommBank app

Once your CDIA is set up, you can invest directly from you CommBank app.

Simply log in, tap the ‘Investing hub’ tile from your app dashboard or Library.

Start investing

CDIA is also a great way to manage your SMSF

Tell me more

FAQs

Using the CommBank app (existing CommBank customers):

  1. Login to your CommBank app.
  2. Go to ‘Pay’
  3. Select ‘Transfer between accounts’
  4. In the 'From' account drop-down menu, select the account you would like to transfer funds from.
  5. Under the 'To' account, use the drop-down menu to select your CDIA linked to your CommSec Trading or CommSec Pocket account.
  6. Enter the amount you wish to transfer and an optional description, then click 'Next'.
  7. A transfer summary will appear, you will have the option to ‘Transfer now’, ‘Transfer later’ or ‘Create a recurring transfer’, select an option and follow the prompts.

Using another financial institution:

  1. Contact your other financial institution
  2. Complete the transfer online or by phone, if available
  3. Provide the BSB and account number of your CDIA

Yes. You can have more than one CDIA  for different purposes, for example you can choose to have a CDIA for share trading and a separate CDIA set up for a SMSF. While you can create multiple CDIAs under your CommSec profile, accounts that are outside of the Target Market Determination (TMD) may be closed in accordance with the Transaction, Savings and Investment Accounts (TSIA) Terms and Conditions.

Yes, you can link your CDIA to multiple CommSec trading accounts as long as the CDIA is in the same name as the trading account. 

Yes. You can access your CDIA and make transactions in NetBank and the CommBank app. Once you have logged in using your NetBank ID, you can also switch to CommSec and navigate easily between both sites. This means you can take advantage of investment opportunities as they arise and access your cash instantly to settle trades.

Without a valid TFN or a TFN exemption applied to your Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA), you may be subject to withholding tax from any interest earned on your account/s.

To provide your TFN for your CDIA, you’ll need to log on to Netbank. You can access NetBank from your CommSec account by selecting the NetBank tab in the top left corner of your screen. Once you’re logged on to Netbank, go to Settings, then select ‘Tax file number’ under Profile.

For entity account types including SMSF, Company and Trust, please contact the Commonwealth Bank on 13 1998 or visit your local branch to update your TFN details.

If you wish to provide your TFN for share trading purposes, you'll need to provide it directly to the relevant share registry.

No, there’s no minimum balance requirement for a CDIA opened through CommSec.

Interest earned on your CDIA is calculated daily and credited to your account on the first calendar day of each month. For CDIAs opened before 1 November 2012, interest is credited quarterly.

You can also check the current interest rate applicable to your CDIA on NetBank, or by calling the Commonwealth Bank on 13 22 21.

We can help

Things you should know

  • * To be eligible for discount brokerage you are required to trade online, be CHESS sponsored and have your CDIA linked for settlement

    1 No fee applies to a CDIA linked to a CommSec Australian Shares or CommSec Pocket ETFs account . A monthly account fee may apply to accounts opened in branch prior to 5 October 2021.

    2 For security reasons we may place a hold on funds transferred to or from your account. For further information refer to the Electronic Banking Terms and Conditions.

    3 There may be instances where some share registries do not reciprocate on this service.

    4A monthly account fee may apply to accounts opened in branch prior to 5 October 2021.

    5 For accounts opened on or before 31 October 2012: please refer to your Offer Confirmation Letter (available on NetBank).

    Investing in the CommBank app has been awarded the Canstar Innovation Excellence Award in 2024.

    The target market for this product can be found within the product’s Target Market Determination, available at commbank.com.au/tmd.

    The Commonwealth Direct Investment Account is issued by Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 AFSL 234945. This product is administered by Commonwealth Securities Limited ABN 60 067 254 399 AFSL 238814 (CommSec), a wholly owned but non-guaranteed subsidiary of the Commonwealth Bank of Australia. CommSec is a Market Participant of ASX Limited and Cboe Australia Pty Limited, a Clearing Participant of ASX Clear Pty Limited and a Settlement Participant of ASX Settlement Pty Limited.

    The CommBank app is free to download, however your mobile network provider charges you for accessing data on your phone. Find out about the minimum operating system requirements on the CommBank app page. Terms and conditions are available on the app. NetBank access with NetCode SMS is required

    The information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. For this reason, any individual should, before acting on this information, consider the appropriateness of the information, having regards to their objectives, financial situation or needs, and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice. You can view the CommBank Transaction Savings and Investment Account Terms and Conditions, and should consider them before making any decision about these products and services.

    Consider the PDS for each ETF prior to making an investment decision.