Best bank for backpackers Australia: the big four compared

Which bank is best for backpackers in Australia?

You need an Australian bank account to get paid. Almost every employer pays wages by bank transfer, and so does the ATO when you get a tax refund.

For most working holiday makers it comes down to CommBank or Westpac. Both let you open an account online up to 14 days before you land, and both waive the monthly fee for new arrivals for the first year. NAB lets you start the application before you arrive, but the account only opens once you visit a branch. ANZ says you set up your account after you arrive.

If you’ll spend a lot of time in farm towns, CommBank is a common pick because of its ATM network. If you’re over 30, look closely at the fee rules below, because the age-based waivers differ a lot between banks.

Big four bank accounts compared for working holiday makers

This is what each bank’s own website said in November 2026. Fees and offers change, so check the official page before you apply. All amounts are in Australian dollars.

Can you open an Australian bank account before you arrive?

Yes, with some banks, but none of them is fully working until your ID has been checked in Australia. Before that you can’t withdraw money.

• CommBank: apply online up to 14 days before you land, then collect your debit card at a CommBank branch. You have 20 days from opening to show ID at a branch, or the account closes automatically. Bring your passport and your tax number from home.
• Westpac: apply online no more than 14 days before you arrive. You confirm your mobile number with an SMS code, then verify your ID after landing. People from India, China and New Zealand can verify online. Everyone else shows photo ID at a branch.
• NAB: start the online application if you arrive within the next 30 days. The account isn’t opened until you visit a branch, and you need to do that within 30 days of starting.
• ANZ: its new-arrivals page says you set up your account once you’ve arrived. Moving from New Zealand? ANZ has a separate process, so check its NZ page.

Which bank is best for farm work and regional towns?

In a small farm town, the closest branch or free ATM can matter more than a $5 fee. CommBank describes its ATMs as Australia’s largest bank-owned ATM network, and withdrawals at CommBank ATMs are free for its customers. Machines run by independent operators may charge a fee.

All four big banks have promised not to close regional branches until at least mid-2027, and CommBank and Westpac have extended that promise to 2030. That still doesn’t mean every small town has a branch. Before you head out, look up the town on your bank’s branch and ATM finder. Plenty of country shops and pubs also give cash out with a card purchase.

Remember you may need a branch to activate a new account. Do that in a city or big town before you head bush.

Wise and digital banks for moving money in and out

Big banks aren’t the cheapest way to bring savings over from home or send your earnings back. A Wise account shows you the exchange rate and fee before you send. It also gives you Australian account details, so you can move money in before your bank account is working.

Plenty of backpackers use both. Wages go into a big-four account, and Wise handles the money going between countries. ANZ Plus and other app-only accounts have no monthly fee, but they need an Australian address and mobile number, so check you’re eligible before you rely on one.

Getting paid: TFN, payslips and your bank

• Apply for your Tax File Number (TFN) free on the ATO website once you’re in Australia. Never pay a website to do it.
• Give your TFN to your employer, or tax is withheld at the top rate.
• Give it to your bank too. If you don’t, the bank may withhold tax from any interest you earn.
• Check every payslip against what lands in your account. You should be paid for every hour you work, plus super on top.
• Never let anyone else use your account or your card, even a “friend” offering easy money. Moving other people’s money through your account can get you into serious trouble.

Closing your Australian bank account and getting your super back

Don’t close your account the day you fly out. Your last pay, your tax refund and your super can all take a while to arrive.

Your employer pays super into a fund for you. Once you’ve left Australia and your visa has ended, you can claim it back as a Departing Australia Superannuation Payment (DASP). It is taxed at a high rate for working holiday makers, but it’s still your money.

Before you go, update your contact details with your bank and super fund. Then ask the bank how to close the account from overseas once everything has been paid in, and move what’s left home with Wise.