Help & support
Colonial First State has helped 3 million Australian’s grow their super.
With fees 15% lower than the super funds average, including industry funds, Essential Super helps grow your super faster.1
Choose from a wide range of options to grow your super the way you want, including Lifestage options, Australian shares and Thrive+ Sustainable Growth.
Essential Super provides a range of investment options to suit your needs and preferred level of involvement.
Investments managed for you
As you move through life, your investment needs, financial situation, and attitude to risk can change. With Essential Super, your money is automatically invested in a Lifestage investment option based on your age. As you move from one life stage to the next, the investment mix will adjust accordingly.
Choose your own investments
For more control over how your money is invested, Essential Super offers a range of diverse options from global or Australian shares, as well as a sustainability option. Once you’re a member, you can choose these at any time.
Essential Super fees are 15% lower than the super funds average by giving you the basics, without the extras that keep fees high. See how Essential Super compares with funds average based on a $50,000 super balance1.
^ Chart constructed based on data from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey at 30 June 2024. Other fees and charges may apply.
Essential Super insurance can help provide financial protection for you and your family if you pass away, become terminally ill or are totally or partially disabled and unable to work due to illness or injury.
You may automatically receive a level of Lifestage default Death and Total and Permanent Disablement cover through your account2 or you can apply for a select amount of Tailored Death, Total and Permanent Disablement or Salary Continuance Insurance cover (also known as Income Protection).
As your life changes, so can the level of insurance protection you need.
You can increase, reduce or cancel your cover anytime. Simply log on to NetBank or the CommBank app, select your Essential Super and click on Insurance to go through to CFS. Increases to cover are subject to the insurer’s acceptance.
CFS understands that when making a claim you may be going through a difficult time.
They’ll ensure claims are assessed and paid as soon as possible.
You can also open an account via the CommBank app – just search for ‘Essential Super’.
Read the summary of the product features to decide if Essential Super is right for you and confirm your details are up to date.
In NetBank or the CommBank app, you can:
Superannuation Learning Hub
What is super? How are super contributions taxed? How does investing in super work?
Explore the learning hub to learn more about superannuation.
Ways to boost your super
There are various ways to contribute to your superannuation and making extra contributions can help boost your super balance.
Fund name: Essential Super
ABN: 56 601 925 435
USI / SPIN: FSF1332AU
Choose how your money is invested, track your balance and more.
Find out how to register for NetBank. Once you have registered for NetBank, you can apply for Essential Super online via the website, NetBank or the CommBank app.
Send a message in the CommBank app or call 13 2221, 8am – 8pm (Syd/Melb time). Need to reset your login? Search FAQs.
Call CFS on 13 4074, 8:30am - 6pm (Syd/Melb time), Mon-Fri or +61 2 9197 3000 from overseas. Email CFS at contactessentialsuper@cfs.com.au.
1 The fee comparison is for MySuper products. This fee comparison is based on the Lifestage 1965-69 investment option for a member balance of $50,000 and may vary for different age cohorts. The Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey compares the Lifestage option that is closest to 71% growth assets, which is consistent with the average risk and return profile of most non-lifecycle products. Total fees and costs include administration fees and costs, investment fees and costs and net transaction costs on a gross of tax basis. Fund averages are calculated by Chant West on a weighted average basis. This comparison has been prepared by CFS using data sourced from the Chant West Super Fund Fee Survey, effective 30 September 2024 and is based on information provided to Chant West by third parties, that is believed accurate at the time of publication. Fees may change in the future which may affect the outcome of the comparison. Chant West may make adjustments to fees and costs for comparison purposes and therefore data may vary to other published materials. Whilst care has been taken to ensure that the data provided by Chant West is correct, CFS neither warrants, represents nor guarantees the contents of the information, nor does it accept any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies, omissions or any inconsistencies herein. Additional fees may apply. PDS and Fees and Investments Reference Guide to find out more.
2 Please see the PDS and Insurance Reference Guide for specific terms that apply to insurance cover in Essential Super, including what’s not covered. For at least the first two years of your Lifestage cover, you generally won’t be paid a benefit if it is due to a pre-existing condition (Limited cover). Generally, a pre-existing condition is an illness or injury that you were aware of at any time before your cover commenced or increase. This exclusion will no longer apply if you're capable of working for 30 consecutive days either immediately before the two year period ends or at any time after the two year period ends. Additional exclusions also apply.
Any information provided by CBA may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it. You should read the PDS and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product.
3 The information provided does not take your personal objectives, financial or taxation situation or other needs into account. If you need advice on your personal circumstances, please talk to a financial adviser. Before you make a decision to consolidate your super, you should compare the costs, fees, risks and benefits of your other super funds against Essential Super. It makes sense to consider whether you can replace any insurance cover you may lose upon rolling over, potential costs for withdrawing from other super funds, as well as any investment or tax implications.
Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (referred to as Colonial First State, CFS, ‘we’, ‘us’ or ‘our’) is the Trustee of Essential Super ABN 56 601 925 435 and the issuer of interests in Essential Super. Essential Super is distributed by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia ABN 48 123 123 124, AFSL 234945 (the Bank). The CFS Group consists of Superannuation and Investments HoldCo Pty Limited ABN 64 644 660 882 (HoldCo) and its subsidiaries, which includes CFS. The Bank holds an interest in the CFS Group through its significant minority interest in HoldCo.
This information is issued by CFS and may include general financial product advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances, and so you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your circumstances before acting on it. The Target Market Determination (TMD) for Essential Super can be found at cfs.com.au/tmd and includes a description of who the financial product is appropriate for and any conditions on how the product can be distributed to customers. You should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Reference Guides for Essential Super carefully and consider whether the information is appropriate for you before making any decision regarding this product. Download the PDS and Reference Guides at commbank.com.au/essentialsuper-documents or call us on 13 4074 for a copy.
None of the Bank, HoldCo, CFS, nor any of their respective subsidiaries guarantee the performance of Essential Super or the repayment of capital by Essential Super. An investment in this product is subject to risk, loss of income and capital invested. An investment in Essential Super is via a superannuation trust and is therefore not an investment in, deposit with or other liability of the Bank or its subsidiaries.
The insurance provider is AIA Australia Limited ABN 79 004 837 861, AFSL 230043 (AIA Australia). AIA Australia is not part of the Commonwealth Bank Group or CFS. Insurance cover is provided to eligible members of Essential Super under policies issued to CFS.
Please refer to the Group Privacy Statement and the CFS Privacy Policy for more information about how your personal information is collected, used and shared.
