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Westpac Bank Debit Cards

Find out what Westpac debit cards have to offer and compare card providers here with Savvy to help you find the best debit card.

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, updated on September 13th, 2023       

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Westpac Bank is one of Australia’s big four banks – and in fact it’s our oldest bank. It offers a wide range of financial services, as you would expect from such a large bank, including several transaction accounts with linked debit Mastercards.

Find out what Westpac offers with its debit cards right here, and how they stack up against the competition. Compare debit cards here with Savvy so you can confidently choose a debit card that fits in perfectly with your spending needs.

*Please note that Savvy does not represent Westpac Bank for their debit card products.

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More about Westpac Bank debit cards

What debit cards are on offer from Westpac?

There’s some confusion as to which type of debit card Westpac Bank offers, as previously the bank was aligned with Visa. However, in 2019 Westpac switched to issuing debit Mastercards as their standard debit card, and subsequently switched their customers from Visa to Mastercard.

Westpac now offers a debit Mastercard with their main transaction account, which is known as a Westpac Choice everyday account. There are also similar Choice everyday accounts for children and young people, and retirees aged 55 years and older, all of which come with a debit Mastercard. A business debit Mastercard is also available with the following accounts:

  • Business One Low Plan
  • Business One Flexi
  • Community Solutions One account

What does a Westpac debit Mastercard offer?

There are no fees to issue a debit Mastercard, although fees may apply to the bank account linked to your card. For example, if you are over 30 years old, a Westpac Choice bank account has a $5 a month account-keeping fee. However, this fee is waived for the following people:

  • those aged under 30
  • full-time tertiary students
  • new migrants to Australia (for the first 12 months)
  • Australian concession or health care card holders
  • those who deposit at least $2,000 a month into a linked Choice account

Daily and spending limits

There’s a $1,000 a day maximum transaction limit which applies to the debit card. This can be increased to $2,000 by application through the Westpac mobile app or online banking. This limit includes all transactions using the debit card, including scheduled payments, cash withdrawals and EFTPOS payments.

Rewards

The Westpac debit Mastercard is not directly linked to any rewards scheme, so if you are looking to earn frequent flyer points or other rewards points you may have to look at another type of card. However, having a debit Mastercard does offer access to Mastercard’s Priceless scheme, which offers savings and special offers in specific cities around the world.

Can you use your Westpac debit card overseas?

Yes, you can use your debit card overseas. If you use an ATM to withdraw funds overseas, there will be no charge as long as the ATM is part of the Global ATM Alliance. If you use a non-Alliance ATM, a $5 withdrawal fee will apply.

A 3% foreign transaction fee will be charged for overseas use of your debit card. This applies to all transaction made in a foreign currency whilst overseas or when online shopping in an overseas store.

Digital wallet compatibility

These are the digital wallets and wearables that a Westpac debit Mastercard are compatible with:

  • Apple Pay
  • Google Pay
  • Samsung Pay
  • Fitbit Pay
  • Garmin Pay

Cardless cash option

In addition, it’s possible to make a cash withdrawal without having your physical debit card with you. You can withdraw cash at ATMs owned by Westpac Bank, St.George, Bank of Melbourne and BankSA using the Westpac App. There’s a limit of three withdrawals per day with a $500 daily limit and a $1,000 weekly withdraw limit.

How do I apply for a Westpac debit card?

Transaction accounts can be opened either through Westpac online banking or through their mobile app.  Just follow the prompts to open an account, choose which account you wish to apply for, and follow the instructions given. Once your ID has been verified, you can then apply to have your debit card issued to you once you’ve registered for online banking and logged in.

To verify your identity, you’ll need two forms of ID to open an account, so choose from:

  • your Australian passport
  • Driver's licence
  • Medicare card

If you are a new arrival in Australia, and have been in the country for less than six weeks, you will need to visit a Westpac branch to open your account and apply for your debit card. You will also need to supply additional identification depending on the type of visa you are on.

What are the requirements for opening a Westpac bank account with a linked debit card?

The requirements for a Westpac debit Mastercard include:

  • You’ll need to be at least 14 years of age
  • You’ll need to have an Australian residential address
  • You’ll need an appropriate Westpac bank account to which you can link your debit card

A Westpac debit Mastercard can be linked to a Westpac Choice account and several other accounts for businesses as detailed above.

The pros and cons of Westpac debit cards

PROS

Issued free of charge

There is no charge to issue a debit Mastercard when you open a Westpac Choice everyday account, although the account itself may cost you $5 a month in account fees

Fraud Money Back Guarantee

Westpac offers a money back guarantee in the unlikely event that a scammer gains access to your account and steals money from you, as long as you’ve notified them as soon as you lose your debit card, and have not contributed to the loss

Cardless cash

If you leave your physical card at home when you’re out shopping, you will still be able to withdraw money from your bank account using an ATM with Westpac’s cardless cash option, which involves a code being sent to your phone from the mobile banking app.

CONS

Account-keeping fee

Westpac charges a $5 per month account-keeping fee for its Choice transaction account, although there are many waivers to this fee.

No rewards scheme

The Westpac debit Mastercard is not directly linked to any rewards scheme, so you may have to look at another debit card or a credit card if you wish to earn rewards points.

Daily spending limit

There’s a maximum daily spending limit of $1,000 which applies to a Westpac debit Mastercard. This applies to all transactions using the debit card, but can be increased to $2,000 upon request.

Compare debit cards today

Compare Australian debit cards with Savvy to help you pick out the best available deal for your needs.

Disclaimer:

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