Bankwest Breeze Mastercard

Roland Bleyer

Credit Card Expert with over 15 years card experience and the founder of Creditcard.com.au. Ask Roland a Question about this card.

The Bankwest Breeze Mastercard

The Bankwest Breeze Mastercard focuses on helping cardholders save on existing and future interest costs. Keeping things nice and simple, this card provides a 0% p.a. purchase and balance transfer introductory offers, standard security features, and up to 55 days interest-free on purchases for an affordable annual fee (which is also waived for the first year).

What we love...

Headlining the Bankwest Breeze Mastercard is its 0% p.a. introductory offer on purchases and balance transfers. This card is designed to act as a low rate credit card, so it also provides low ongoing purchase and balance transfer interest rates. New customers can get 0% p.a. for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, making it a suitable choice for those who want to pay off their existing debt and save on interest on new purchases at the same time.

That means, if you are approved, you could move over a balance from an existing credit card to your new Breeze card, to then pay it off faster. During this offer period, if you also want to use the card to make one big purchase or small everyday purchases, it won’t incur interest, allowing you to save money in the process.

To be eligible for this offer, you must be a new cardholder, transferring a balance from non-Bankwest credit cards. It’s worth pointing out that even though Bankwest is owned by CommBank, you may still be able to transfer a balance from a CommBank credit card. Transferred balances can be up to 95% of your approved credit limit.

It is important to note, however, that any purchase and transferred balance left unpaid at the end of the promo period will start accruing standard interest rates. Make sure you clear both balances before the offer period expires to make the most of the 0% p.a. intro offer.

Next off, is the $0 annual fee for the first year offer. New cardholders pay no annual fee for the first year, keeping their card costs down so they can focus more on clearing their balance. After the offer period, the standard annual fee of $49 will then kick in.

While it may be low on extras, the Bankwest Breeze Mastercard does offer one particularly neat feature that cardholders may find incredibly handy indeed. The Bankwest Halo payment ring is a fairly new feature offered by Bankwest, providing contactless technology in the form of a ring you can wear on your finger.

For a fee of $15, Bankwest will create your ring according to your sizing specifications. Then when you’re at the checkout, simply tap your ring against the payment terminal, just as you would your card. If it’s under $200, you can tap-and-go, and if it’s over $200, simply input your PIN. While it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it can reduce hassle, allowing you to leave your wallet at home.

What’s not so great...

The first thing to keep in mind with the Bankwest Breeze Mastercard is that it’s meant to be a no frills card. We figure that the ‘Breeze’ in its title refers to the fact that it’s so simple and uncomplicated, it is a ‘breeze’ to use. While this may not be for everyone, the card’s simplicity may work for others, especially those who want to focus on low rates.

Why should you choose this card?

As a simple card, the Bankwest Breeze Mastercard could suit cardholders looking to pay off existing debt and make new purchases at the same time without paying interest as well as those who want to save on interest should they carry a balance month-to-month. While it may not offer a plethora of features, it could help cardholders focus on paying off their balance, instead of say, adding to their balance by spending to earn rewards.

Instead of offering extras and features, Bankwest seems to be offering low rates. Nevertheless, if you want to add any additional cardholders to the account, you may add up to three at no additional cost.

Aside from the standard security features found on every Mastercard, the Bankwest Breeze Mastercard provides extras in the form of a low $1,000 minimum credit limit, as well as free worldwide emergency card replacement.

Overall Rating

The Bankwest Breeze Mastercard is a simple card, designed to offer a low purchase rate, alongside its 0% p.a. purchase and balance transfer offers and extras such as the Bankwest Halo payment ring (fee required) and up to 55 interest-free days.