Extra expensive at ANZ

ANZ will start selling a new transactions account next week, offering a raft of banking and non-banking extras for an $18 monthly fee.

Banks have given away a lot of revenue on retail transaction banking since dropping or reducing overdrawn account, late payment and other exception fees last year.

ANZ, which charges a flat rate of $5 a month on its standard transaction accounts, is hoping it can persuade customers to trade up to ANZ Extras, costing $18 a month, with an offer that includes dining and shopping discounts, bonus rates on savings accounts, emergency services and insurance.

ANZ's general manager deposits, Mandy Simpson, said the bank's research showed that customers liked the peace of mind of a flat fee account.

Simpson said: "The other thing they tell us is that they are busy and they like the idea of a package of services that are good value and are covered by one fee."

The transaction account is operated with a Visa debit. Customers are given a fee free overdraft up to $1000 (the fee is usually $6 a month).

If customers open a linked online savings account they get 20 basis points on top of the base rate (currently 4.5 per cent).

Customers can also have a fee-free credit card - ANZ First (18.99 per cent on purchases and no rewards program).

The $18 fee covers premiums on mobile phone insurance, domestic travel cover and a small amount of accidental death cover.

Non-financial benefits include 20 per cent discounts on meals in designated restaurants (15 in the program so far) and discount shopping with Top Wines, Always on Sale, Travel on Sale and others. There is also 24-hour roadside assistance and two free callouts a year for home emergencies such as broken windows or power failures.