St George Banking

St. George Bank, owned by the Westpac Group, is the largest retail and consumer financial institution in Australia. It was founded in 1937 as a home loan provider and remained so until 1992 when it gained status as a full bank. St. George claims it reached its number one position by following three key strategies: providing excellent customer service, participating in the community, and giving customers the services they desire. A full range of St. George banking services is available to its customers. These services include bank accounts, loans, credit cards, investments, and small business services.

St. George Bank Accounts
St. George bank accounts are available to accommodate the needs of everyone to keep on top of their financial situation. All regular bank accounts are protected by the Australian Government Deposit Guarantee.

• Complete Freedom – This account offers unlimited transactions and Visa debit card. No service fee is required for accounts with a balance of $2000 or greater.
• Express Freedom – Express Freedom offers online and phone banking for a low fee. This account is best for those who never need the services of a live branch.
• St. George SENSE – This is a transactional account linked to a savings account for maximum flexibility.
• Complete Freedom Student – This account is made affordable for students on a limited income.
• Retirement Access Plus – Pensioners and others age 55 or older are eligible for this no-fee account.

St. George Loans
Those who choose to bank with St. George may be eligible to receive a variety of different loans. Loans available include home loans, personal loans, and margin loans.

• Home loans are available for many situations such as a first home, second home, or renovating. Refinancing is also available from the institution providing the widest range of home loans in Australia.
• Personal loans from St. George come in secured and unsecured varieties. Secured loans are mostly used for purchasing automobiles. Unsecured loans can be used to consolidate debt or just for a few extra dollars during the holidays.
• Margin loans are used invest in the market. Margin loans can be secured with cash, existing investments, or other assets.

St. George Credit Cards
St. George Bank offers several different credit cards for people with varying credit ratings and to offer a choice in features.

• Amplify – This reward card features a .99% APR for six months and can be linked to Qantas points.
• Vertigo – Vertigo has a low variable rate for purchases that starts out at 2.99%.
• Platinum – The platinum card from St. George bank offers shopping and travel benefits with an introductory 3.99%.
• Gold Low Rate – The low rate of the Gold card is available for a $79 fee.
• No Annual Fee – Those with excellent credit can receive this no-fee card.

St. George Investments
One of the greatest aspects of St. George banking is their investment options.

• Super – The Superannuation retirement fund is one of their most popular offerings. BT Financial group has partnered with St. George to give people complete control and access of their super fund online.
• Directshares – This online service allows customers to make trades online starting at $21.95. Managed funds, warrants, options, and shares can all be traded. Any existing St. George transactional account can be linked to Directshares.
• Insurance – St. George insurance is available to protect customer’s investments.