Bankwest Credit Card Travel Insurance: Cards, Coverage, and How to Activate
Does your Bankwest credit card have travel insurance? Discover which cards still offer complimentary cover, the activation rules, and what it covers.
CommBank has a varied range of credit cards which are designed to fit different customer needs. You can choose a low rate or low fee card, or go for a card which may have higher monthly costs but which can help you maximize the rewards you get when you spend.
This guide walks through the best CommBank credit card options for different customer needs, so you can decide what may be a good fit for you. You can also learn more about the Wise card, an easy way to stretch your dollars when paying in foreign currencies.
The CommBank credit cards available range from low cost cards which focus on minimising the fees and rates, through to premium products which have higher monthly fees but broad reward earning opportunities. This means that there are different cards to fit varied customer needs, whether you’re trying to keep your costs down or looking for a card to earn airmiles, cashback or other rewards.
CommBank reward earning credit cards either allow you to earn CommBank reward points, or pay an annual fee to earn Qantas points as you spend instead. The reward earning rates - and your redemption options - depend on the specific card you pick. We’ve got the full detail on different card types coming up in just a moment.
Here are some questions to ask when deciding which CommBank credit card is best for you:
What’s the monthly fee and is it possible to waive this? The CommBank cards we’ve featured here all have monthly fees, but in some cases this can be waived with a minimum monthly spend. This allows you to pick the card which best suits your spending habits.
How long is the interest free period? Credit cards often give you a grace period on purchases, only charging interest after a set number of days. CommBank cards have interest free periods of either 44 or 55 days, depending on the card you select.
What rewards or perks do I get? CommBank issues its own reward points and also works with Qantas to allow some cards to earn airmiles directly. There are also CommBank perks like in app travel bookings and cash back with partner merchants which can be valuable for customers.
Can I use my CommBank credit card overseas without incurring extra fees? If you intend to use your card abroad, check the foreign transaction fee carefully. While some premium CommBank cards waive this cost, it sits at 3.5% for cards which charge for foreign spending - which means your travel could be more expensive than you expect.
Let’s look at some popular cards to help you decide which CommBank credit card is best for your specific needs. We’ve picked out 5 different card choices, including some with low rates and fees, and some which optimize the reward earning opportunities, so you can decide what may fit your spending habits.
| Card | Monthly/Annual fee | Interest Free Period | Rewards type | Other perks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low Rate credit card | 6 AUD | Up to 55 days | No awards points issued | In app travel booking, complimentary warranty insurance |
| Low Fee credit card | 0 AUD or 3 AUD | Up to 55 days | No awards points issued | In app travel booking, complimentary warranty insurance |
| Awards credit card | 8 AUD | Up to 44 days | CommBank Awards | In app travel booking, complimentary warranty insurance |
| Smart Awards credit card | 0 AUD or 19 AUD | Up to 44 days | CommBank Awards or Qantas Frequent Flyer | In app travel booking, travel insurance option, lounge access |
| Ultimate Awards credit card | 0 AUD or 35 AUD | Up to 44 days | CommBank Awards or Qantas Frequent Flyer | In app travel booking, travel insurance option, lounge access |
*Details correct at time of research - 15th December 2025
Best for: Lowest rate card, with comparatively cheap monthly fees
The CommBank Low Rate credit card offers a mix of low monthly fees and a relatively low interest rate, making this a comparatively cheap way to access credit services. The key drawbacks are that this card doesn’t qualify for the CommBank or Qantas reward earning opportunities that some other credit cards offer, plus you’ll pay a foreign transaction fee if you use your card when you travel.
Key benefits:
- Up to 55 days interest free
- Low interest rates - 10.99% p.a. to 15.99% p.a. at the time of research
- Cash back offers through the CommBank app
Fees:
- Monthly fees: 6 AUD
- Cash advance fee: 4 AUD or 3%⁸
- International transaction fee: 3.5%
Best for: Easy to waive monthly fees, good for customers who repay in full monthly
The Commbank Low Fee credit card has a low monthly charge of 3 AUD, which is waived if you spend 300 AUD a month. The interest rate is higher than the low rate card, which may mean this is a better pick if you intend to repay your bills in full monthly so you can avoid this additional interest charge. Foreign transaction fees apply if you spend overseas.
Key benefits:
- Low monthly spend needed to have full monthly fee waived
- Complimentary travel booking service through CommBank app
- Cash back offers through the CommBank app
Fees:
- Monthly fees: 3 AUD, waived if you spend 300 AUD/month
- Cash advance fee: 4 AUD or 3%
- International transaction fee: 3.5%
Best for: Low monthly fees with access to the CommBank Awards program
The CommBank Awards credit card allows you to start earning CommBank reward points which you can then redeem for travel bookings, vouchers or cash back in the CommBank app. One trade off with this card is that you don’t get travel insurance included - it’s also worth noting that the rewards earning rate drops off once you’ve spent 2,000 AUD in a month, which may mean this is more suited to customers spending below that amount.
Key benefits:
- 1 Awards point per dollar spent, up to 2,000 AUD with 0.5 Awards points per dollar after that
- Unlimited annual points earning opportunity
- Installment plan available to pay off your bill in chunks
Fees:
- Monthly fees: 8 AUD
- Cash advance fee: 4 AUD or 3%
- International transaction fee: 3.5%
Best for: CommBank Qantas credit card - with extra travel perks and no foreign transaction fee
The CommBank Smart Awards credit card allows you to choose to either earn CommBank awards, or Qantas airmiles. If you choose miles you’ll need to pay an additional 90 AUD annual charge. This card has some handy travel perks on top of miles, including complimentary travel insurance and no foreign transaction fee, but costs still apply if you use your card at an ATM abroad.
Key benefits:
- Earn up to 1.5 Awards points or 0.6 Qantas Points for every dollar spent up to and including 5,000 AUD/month (0.5 Awards points or 0.2 Qantas Points per dollar after this)
- Points boost opportunity to earn more on some big ticket items
- Travel perks - insurance, lounge access and no foreign transaction fee
Fees:
- Monthly fees: 19 AUD, waived if you spend 2,000 AUD/month
- Cash advance fee: 4 AUD or 3%
- International transaction fee: 0%
Best for: Highest reward earning CommBank frequent flyer credit card, with 1.2 Qantas points per dollar
The CommBank Ultimate Awards credit card offers the highest reward earning opportunity of all CommBank cards, and gives you the choice to earn CommBank points or pay a fee to earn Qantas points directly instead. There’s no foreign transaction fee with this card which may make it a good choice for overseas use. Bear in mind that the monthly fees are high at 35 AUD, waived if you spend more than 4,000 AUD in a month.
Key benefits:
- Earn up to 3 Awards points or 1.2 Qantas Points for every dollar spent, up to and including 10,000 AUD/month (0.5 Awards points or 0.2 Qantas Points per dollar after this)
- 2x annual lounge passes available
- Complimentary travel insurance options, plus no foreign transaction fee when you’re abroad
Fees:
- Monthly fees: 35 AUD, waived if you spend 4,000 AUD/month
- Cash advance fee: 4 AUD or 3%
- International transaction fee: 0%
CommBank does a good job at differentiating its credit card products so that different cards have unique perks and trade offs, which means that there's not really one single best CommBank credit card out there. The right choice for you will depend on your transaction habits, including your likely monthly spend, your travel plans and whether you intend to repay your card in full every month. This guide gives you all you need to compare your CommBank credit card options and decide which is the best pick for your plans.
While credit cards can provide some perks, it often comes with annual fees and high foreign transaction fees, making it costly for overseas use. If you're heading abroad, here's a smart way to spend overseas to keep costs down. The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 7x when you're spending internationally. You can spend in 150+ countries at mid-market rate — basically the rate you see on Google. With no foreign transaction fees and low, transparent pricing, Wise usually gives you the best value for your money.

Simply create a Wise account for free, order a card and top-up AUD to get started. Having a physical Wise card allows you to make chip and pin payments, as well as make some free ATM withdrawals each month for when you're abroad. You can get digital cards and add to your Google or Apple Pay wallet for instant use. Spend directly with the Wise account in AUD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. You can hold and exchange 40+ currencies in your Wise account and spend the currencies you hold for free.
Wherever your travel takes you, the Wise card makes spending money abroad cheaper and easier.
This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://payout-surge.live/au/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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