Australia's big four waive monthly fees and open in-branch; Up Bank is fully online. Documents for students and newcomers, the role of the TFN, and remote options.
Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and NAB broadly have no minimum deposit and no monthly maintenance fee on basic accounts, with in-person ID checks at branches. For students and newcomers this is the safest start: many branches, card usable immediately.
The big four are conditionally open to non-residents — students and newcomers with a valid visa and passport usually succeed, while purely overseas applicants are often asked to open after arrival.
Up (Bendigo Bank) has no minimum deposit and no monthly fee, opening in minutes in-app, with strong spending insights and savings pods. The prerequisite is again Australian status or an address.
A common combination after landing: a big-four account as the main account (salary, large transfers) and Up for everyday spending.
For branch visits: passport, visa (or CoE), an Australian address (lease or bill), and a phone number. Ask for the debit card and online banking setup in the same visit.
Apply for your TFN free with the ATO after landing; without it, interest is withheld at the top marginal rate. Opening the account does not depend on it, but applying early pays off.
Watch for: proof of address in the wrong language, visas with too little validity left, and assuming a fee-free account is unconditionally free. Ask three questions when opening: the waiver conditions, foreign-transaction fees, and activation deadlines for online banking and the card.
Yes. Bring your passport and student visa (or CoE) to a big-four branch; most offer fee-free student accounts, and some let you pre-apply online before arriving and activate in-branch.
A Tax File Number. It is not required to open an account, but without one the bank withholds interest tax at the top marginal rate. Apply free with the ATO after arriving.
Rarely. The big four are conditionally open but usually in-branch; Up (Bendigo Bank) is fully online yet requires Australian status or an address. Most people open after landing.