Westpac 55 Day Credit Card

• $0 p.a. for first year
• 0% p.a. introductory purchase rate for the first 6 months
• Competitive 3.99% p.a. balance transfer offer
• Choose from either MasterCard or VISA
• Average 19.59% p.a. purchase interest rate
• No rewards program

How does the Westpac 55 Day Credit Card compare against a credit card of the national average?

		Purchase Rate	Cash Adv Rate	Annual Fee	Bal. Transfer Rate	Bal. Transfer Rate Period
	Westpac 55 Day Credit Card	19.59%	21.49%	$0	3.99%	6 months
	The Average Credit Card	16.84%	21.27%	$90	2.01%	7 months

Methodology: The Scorecard is based on the interest rates and fees from 305 credit cards from 52 banks and credit unions to give a national average on an ongoing basis. Introductory promotional rates are not included in the calculation.

Disclaimer: The data presented in the Scorecard is intended to be a guide. Some factors may affect data accuracy. We try to present accurate and fresh data, but it is possible that our database may not include every credit card on the entire market and that products may change without us being notified.

If you’re looking to switch credit card providers or want a low-cost card for everyday purchases, then you’re in luck. The Westpac 55 Day credit card is one of the cheapest accounts Westpac offer and is a must-have for anyone who is looking to save money on their credit card bills or is a first-timer looking to build up a credit history.

Pros

Westpac offer all 55 Day credit card accountholders a fantastic 0% p.a. interest rate on all purchases for the first 6 months, thereafter they charge 19.59% p.a. but offer up to 55 days interest free, so long as you pay your closing balance in full at the end of each month.

There are no annual management fees in the first year. This does jump to $30 p.a. in the second year, but is waived if you spend $10,000 or more on purchases over the course of 12 months.

The Westpac 55 Day credit card comes with the choice of a Visa or MasterCard, both of which are accepted at over 28 million locations worldwide – ideal if you spend lots of time abroad.

Westpac put a lot of emphasis on credit card security, and the 55 Day credit card is no exception. The account is protected by Cardshield, which includes an Online Transaction Guarantee, which means that you are not liable for any losses incurred through transactions made without your knowledge or consent. Westpac also monitor accounts 24/7 looking for irregular activity. If a suspicious transaction is detected, a fraud specialist will then contact the account holder to verify it. And if that’s not enough, you can get additional security free of charge by signing up to the MasterCard ‘SecureCode’ programme or the Visa ‘Verified scheme’, which adds an extra layer of protection when you shop online.

The 55 Day credit card also comes with the latest PayPass contactless technology, which means that you can buy low-cost items by simply holding your card against the merchant’s terminal – perfect if you’re in a hurry.

Cons

The Westpac 55 Day credit card has a fairly disappointing balance transfer rate of 3.99% p.a., which although not awful, isn’t the best that you’ll find. Aside from that, the card does what it says on the tin, and is ideal if you want to spend money without incurring huge interest charges.

Conclusion

If you want a credit card for everyday purchases, then the Westpac 55 Day credit card is perfect. With 55 days interest free on all purchases, it is ideal for anyone who wants a low-cost card. This card is also ideal for anyone looking to build up a credit history as the requirement to apply is minimal, you just need to be earning $15,000 or more a year.