Setting up an Australian bank account
What to bring, what to expect, and how to avoid monthly fees on a new account.
3 minute read · Last updated 5 October 2026
Before you go in
Banks ask for proof of identity, usually a passport or a driver's licence plus something showing your address in Australia. A new arrival often needs a second document, because a local address is new. Ask the bank what it will accept before you queue.
Comparison is free and worth ten minutes: check each bank's monthly account-keeping fee, its ATM fees, and whether it waives the fee if you deposit your pay there.
What a good first account looks like
No monthly fee if you meet a simple condition, free withdrawals from a wide ATM network, a debit card that works with your phone, and no minimum balance. A tax file number is not required to open the account, but giving one later avoids extra tax being withheld on interest.
Give your employer the account's BSB and account number for your pay, and set up a small automatic transfer to savings on payday — even A$20 a week builds a buffer.
Keep it current
Update your address with the bank when you move, and keep your contact details current. Never share your PIN or one-time codes, and remember that no bank will ask for them.
Fee schedules and ID rules change, so this guide tells you what to check rather than what the number is today. Verify with the bank.
The one thing to take away
Confirm the current ID requirements with the bank itself — rules and fees change.
Official sources
Always check the official source. Rates, fees and rules change.