Alison Banney

Newcastle

Banking and Investment Editor at Finder

Banking & investment editor 💰 Tweet about personal finance, politics, sustainability & social justice issues. Views my own.

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Articles

Women and superannuation

3 days ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney |Sarah Megginson

Women have, on average, 20% less superannuation than men. The main reasons for this include the gender pay gap and the fact women take more time out of paid work for caring responsibilities. It’s important to ensure you’re in a low-fee fund, and to make extra contributions if you can. The average super balance for women over 15 is $150,922, while for men it’s $189,892, according to ASFA data. That’s a superannuation gap of 20.5%.
What’s Wizitcard? All the essentials you need to know

4 days ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

Heard about Wizitcard but not sure how it can work for you? Here are 4 key things you need to know before you apply. Sponsored by Wizit, offering flexible and convenient alternatives to traditional credit cards and personal loans. Wizit products include Wizitcard and Powerup. These days a standard credit card isn't the only option for getting more flexibility with your spending. There are a number of products available designed for this, with Wizitcard being one of them.
Millions of Aussies will get a pay rise in July: Are you one of them?

4 days ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

The minimum wage will increase by 3.5% in the new financial year, which will primarily benefit healthcare, hospitality, retail and admin roles. The Fair Work Commission has today announced its decision to increase the national minimum wage by 3.5% from 1 July 2025. The Commission reviews the national minimum wage once per year and usually delivers its decision for the upcoming year in June. The national minimum wage will increase from $24.10 per hour to $24.95.
ING's market-leading savings rate slashed - time to switch?

1 week ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

ING has quietly revealed it will be cutting the interest rate on its popular Savings Maximiser account by a big 0.40% p.a.ING has revealed to customers it will be cutting the interest rate offered on its hugely popular high interest svaings account, one week after the RBA cut the official cash rate. While the RBA cut the cash by 25 basis points during its May meeting, from 4.10% p.a. to 3.85%, ING will be cutting its total Savings Maximiser rate by as much as 40 basis points.
Savings accounts vs term deposits

1 week ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney |Sarah Megginson

Savings accounts and term deposits are both safe, low-risk deposit products that offer a small return on your cash in the bank. Savings accounts offer 24/7 access to your funds and potentially higher interest rates, but with conditions to meet. Term deposits offer fixed interest rates with no ongoing conditions, but your money is locked away. A savings account is a type of bank account that offers interest on your balance to help it grow.
First Option Bank Save Account

1 week ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

Key features Introductory bonus rate of 4.85% p.a You’ll earn a bonus rate of 4.85% p.a for the first 4 months after opening the account, with no conditions to meet. Ongoing variable rate of up to 3.05% p.a. This account offers an ongoing variable rate of 3.05% p.a. after the 4 month introductory period ends. There are no monthly or ongoing conditions to meet to earn this rate. You can make withdrawals. You can make withdrawals from your savings and still earn interest.
5 essential credit card features for anyone who loves to shop

1 week ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

Love a bit of retail therapy? Here's what to look for in a credit card. Whether you prefer the traditional bricks and mortar in-store experience or you'd rather browse online from the comfort of your couch, the right credit card can elevate your shopping experience. We take a look at some of the key perks of the Premiere Credit Card and the Prestige Credit Card from David Jones that make them perfect for serious shoppers. Sponsored by David Jones.
RBA rate cut: Who has the best savings account rate now?

2 weeks ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

The RBA has cut the cash rate for the second time this year, so you can expect to see your savings account rate drop lower as a result. As widely expected, the RBA has today cut the cash rate by 25 basis points from 4.10% down to 3.85%. It's the second cut to the cash rate this year, follow February's 25 basis point cut which was the first in several years.
Fix before they fall: Best term deposit rates for May 2025

3 weeks ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney

Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles. We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Superannuation in your 30s and 40s

1 month ago | finder.com.au | Alison Banney |Richard Whitten

The median super balance for people in their early 30s is $37,061, and $87,648 for those in their early 40s. In your 30s and 40s you still have decades for your super to grow and benefit from compound growth. Focus on reducing your fees, investing in more growth assets and making extra contributions while you're young. The median super balance for 30-34 year olds is $37,061.50. Men in this age group have slightly more super than women, at $39,796 versus $34,327.