Members Equity InterestME Savings Account PRODUCT DISCLOSURE STATEMENT Effective from 01 July 2005 Issued by: Members Equity Bank Pty Ltd ABN 56 070 887 679 AFS Licence: 229500
Product Disclosure Statement Contents Features at a glance 1 Welcome 2 (A) GENERAL INFORMATION Significant benefits of the account 3 Significant risks 3 Table of significant features, benefits and risks 3 Additional important information 6 Costs and fees 7 Significant tax implications 7 Dispute resolution procedures 7 (B) SCHEDULE OF INTEREST RATES, FEES AND CHARGES 8
Features at a glance Account type Affordable banking Account access Availability of funds The account is a combined savings and transaction account that is available to individuals and trustees. The account is for personal use only and cannot be used for business purposes. No account keeping fees No fees for using Internet or Phone Banking Free direct debits and credits Free BPAY 15 free EFTPOS transactions per month ($1 for each additional EFTPOS transaction for that month) Fee of $1 for each ATM, giropost or cheque transaction For other fees and charges that may apply, see the Schedule of Interest Rates, Fees and Charges. You can access the account using the following services: EFTPOS ATM giropost (Australia Post offices displaying the giropost logo) direct debit and direct credit personal cheque facility bank cheque Phone Banking Internet Banking BPAY No notice is required to withdraw funds from the account Minimum opening balance $0 Interest The account offers high interest rates that are tiered. Current interest rates are available by: visiting our website www.membersequitybank.com.au calling us on 13 15 63 Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm or on Saturday between 9am and 5pm (Melbourne time). Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly. Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518 1
Welcome This Product Disclosure Statement ( PDS ) is an important document that contains the product information for the Members Equity InterestME Savings Account (the account ). This information can help you decide if the account will meet your needs. It also helps you compare the account with other similar products. This PDS consists of the following: A. General Information section; and B. Schedule of Interest Rates, Fees and Charges (the Schedule ). You should consider this PDS before making any decision about whether to open an account. If you decide to open an account, you should keep this PDS for future reference. The following terms and conditions apply to the account: Members Equity InterestME Savings Account Terms and Conditions; and Members Equity Electronic Access Terms and Conditions. If you apply for an account, copies of these terms and conditions will be provided to you before you start using your account. If you would like a copy of these terms and conditions or any further information about the account: call us on 13 15 63 from Monday to Friday between 8am to 8pm and Saturday between 9am to 5pm (Melbourne time); write to Manager Savings Administration GPO Box 1345, Melbourne, VIC 3001; send a fax to (03) 9605 6999; or visit our website www.membersequitybank.com.au. We will be happy to provide you with any further information that you need. This PDS was prepared on 16 June 2005 and is effective from 1 July 2005. 2
(A) GENERAL INFORMATION Significant benefits of the account Affordable banking. The account offers you affordable banking options. See the Features at a glance table for more information. High interest rates. The account offers high interest rates. Interest calculation and payment. Interest is calculated daily by applying the daily interest rates to the closing balance of the account on that day. Interest is credited to your account on the last day of each month so you receive the benefit of your savings monthly. Account access. You may transact on your account using a variety of services. See the Features at a glance table for more information. For more information on the benefits of these services, see the table below. Significant risks Decreasing interest rates. The interest rates are variable and may decrease as prevailing market rates decrease. Transacting on the account. There are risks associated with the services that may be used to transact on the account. For further information on these risks see the table below. Table of significant features, benefits and risks The following table details the significant features, benefits and risks associated with the services that may be used to access the account. Service Significant Features and Benefits Significant Risks Debit card A Members Equity Bank debit card is a If you fail to protect the security of your card and card that may be used together with your PIN, there is the risk than an unauthorised PIN to perform transactions on your account. person may access your account. The operations that can be performed Depending on the circumstances, you may with your debit card and PIN are set out be liable for unauthorised use of your debit below. card. For instance, you may by liable if we prove on the balance of probability that you contributed to any such loss through your fraud or by failing to protect the security of your card or PIN. Where it is not clear whether you have contributed to the loss caused by an unauthorised transaction, your liability will be limited to a maximum of $150. 3
Table of significant features, benefits and risks (continued) Service Significant Features and Benefits Significant Risks Electronic Funds Using your debit card and PIN at any approved See the risks associated with the use of a Transfer at Point EFTPOS terminal within Australia, you can: debit card listed above. of Sale (EFTPOS) make a withdrawal to pay for goods or services; and make a cash withdrawal. Automatic Teller Using your debit card and PIN at any See the risks associated with the use of a Machine (ATM) approved ATM within Australia, you can: debit card listed above. make a cash withdrawal; and obtain account balance information. giropost Using your debit card and PIN at any giropost See the risks associated with the use office, you can: of a debit card listed above. deposit cash and cheques into your account; make a cash withdrawal from your account; and obtain account balance information. Please note that you can only deposit cheques at giropost if: the name on the cheque matches the name on your debit card; or the cheque is made payable to Members Equity Bank. Cheques made payable to joint names cannot be accepted at giropost. Cheques A cheque facility enables you to withdraw funds Your cheque book, cheque forms or a bank from your account by drawing a cheque. cheque you purchase may be lost or stolen. You should always keep your cheque book, You may also make withdrawals from your any cheque forms and bank cheques secure account by purchasing a bank cheque. and contact us if these are lost or are stolen. A cheque will ordinarily be dishonoured if you do not have sufficient cleared funds in your account. We charge a cheque dishonour fee in these circumstances. If cheques are written for more than the balance of your account and we honour the cheque, your account will be overdrawn. We charge an overdrawn account fee in these circumstances. To avoid overdrawing your account or a cheque being dishonoured, you should check the amount of available funds in your account each time you write a cheque. 4
Table of significant features, benefits and risks (continued) Service Significant Features and Benefits Significant Risks Direct Debit By setting up a Direct Debit Request ( DDR ), If you specify the wrong BSB or account you can make a deposit into your account number for the nominated account your by requesting that: request may not be actioned. To avoid this, a single amount be debited from an you should check the nominated account account held with a financial institution details against a recent statement. specified by you in the DDR ( the nominated If you have insufficient funds available in your account ) and credited to your account; or nominated account, the direct debit may be a fixed amount be debited from the dishonoured and the financial institution that nominated account at regular intervals holds the nominated account may charge (e.g. weekly) and credited to your account. you a dishonour fee. To avoid this, you should make sure you have sufficient funds in your nominated account to cover the direct debit. Direct credit By setting up a Direct Credit Request ( DCR ), If you specify the wrong BSB or account number you can make a withdrawal from your account for the nominated account your request may by requesting that: not be actioned or the funds may be deposited a single amount be debited from your account into the wrong account. To avoid this, you should and credited to your nominated account; or check the nominated account details against a a fixed amount be debited from your account recent statement. at regular intervals (e.g. weekly) and credited If you have insufficient funds available in your to your nominated account. account, the direct credit may be dishonoured. We charge a direct entry dishonour fee in these circumstances. To avoid this, you should make sure you have sufficient funds in your account to cover the direct credit. Phone Banking Phone Banking allows you to make enquiries and If you fail to protect the security of your codes effect transactions using a touch dial telephone. used to access Phone Banking, there is the risk that an unauthorised person may use your codes to transfer money from your account using Phone Banking. Depending on the circumstances, you may be liable for unauthorised use of Phone Banking. For instance, you may be liable if we prove on the balance of probability that you contributed to any such loss through your fraud or by failing to protect the security of your codes. Where it is not clear whether you have contributed to the loss caused by an unauthorised transaction, your liability will be limited to a maximum of $150. 5
Table of significant features, benefits and risks (continued) Service Significant Features and Benefits Significant Risks Internet Banking Internet Banking allows you to perform a See the risks associated with Phone Banking above. range of banking operations via a computer There are also inherent risks associated with the security of online transactions. To minimise these risks, we employ an industry approved 128-bit cryptographic algorithm (triple DES) to assist in ensuring all communication between a customer and Members Equity Bank is secure. BPAY BPAY allows you to pay your regular bills using If you enter the wrong information (e.g. incorrect Internet Banking or Phone Banking by making biller number), you may pay the wrong account payments directly from your account to a BPAY or overpay a bill. To avoid this, you should biller. A BPAY biller is an organisation that tells always take care when entering information you that you can make payments to it using BPAY. to make your BPAY payment. Depending on the circumstances, you may be liable for unauthorised use of BPAY or for mistaken BPAY payments. Additional important information Tiered interest rates. The account offers interest rates that are tiered. This means that interest is based on set dollar ranges. You are paid interest on that part of your account balance that falls within each range, at the rate applicable to that range. The interest rates are variable. We may vary the interest rates and will tell you about any changes to the rates by writing to you or by advertising in a national newspaper. Eligibility. The account can be opened by: - individuals; and - trustees. The account is not available to businesses. The account is for personal use only and cannot be used for business purposes. Changes to this PDS. This PDS may be updated or replaced by us from time to time. If you open an account you agree that we may notify you of changes in writing or, in respect of certain changes, by advertising in a national newspaper. Changes to terms and conditions. We have the right to change any of the terms and conditions that apply to the account, including introducing new fees or varying existing fees. We must give you notice before any changes become effective. Payments to staff. All Members Equity Bank staff receive a salary. Some Members Equity Bank staff are also eligible for bonus payments based on a number of factors, including performance against product sales targets. These payments do not impact on the amount of return provided to you. 6
Costs and fees In addition to the fees listed under Significant benefits of the account other fees and Government charges or duties may apply. Fees and charges that are payable will be debited to your account as outlined in the Schedule. See the Schedule for more information on account costs and fees. Significant taxation implications Depending on your particular circumstances, you may have to pay income tax on any interest earned on the balance of the account. You are not obliged to quote your Tax File Number ( TFN ). However, if you do not quote your TFN, we are required by law to deduct tax at the highest marginal rate from the interest paid, unless you are exempt from this requirement. If you are not an Australian resident for tax purposes you may have withholding tax deducted from interest earned on your account. You should obtain your own independent professional taxation advice specific to your individual needs. Dispute resolution procedures If you have a complaint, or believe an error or unauthorised transaction has occurred on your account, you need to notify us by calling us on 1300 654 998. Our staff will review the situation and, if possible, resolve it. If we can t resolve your concern we will ask you to put your complaint in writing and send it to: Manager Savings Administration Members Equity Bank Reply Paid 1345 Melbourne Vic 8060 Once we receive your complaint we will investigate it based on available evidence. If you are not satisfied with our decision, you can ask to have it reviewed by our Service Quality Manager. If after giving us the opportunity to resolve your complaint, you feel that we have not resolved it satisfactorily, you may wish to lodge a written complaint with the Banking and Financial Services Ombudsman at: GPO Box 3 Melbourne Victoria 3001 Telephone: 1300 78 08 08 Facsimile: (03) 9613 7345 7
(B) SCHEDULE OF INTEREST RATES, FEES AND CHARGES Interest Rates Interest is calculated in accordance with the following rates: Current tier 1 and tier 2 interest rates are not included in this PDS because they are subject to change. They are available by: visiting our website www.membersequitybank.com.au calling us on 13 15 63 Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm or on Saturday between 9am and 5pm (Melbourne time) Fees and Charges Account Balance Interest Rates $0 - $3,000 tier 1 rate Over $3,000 first $3000 the tier 1 rate every dollar over $3000 the tier 2 rate The following fees and charges are current as at 9 June 2005 and are subject to change. Fee description Fee amount When fee is charged EFTPOS a cash withdrawal; or Last day of the calendar month a withdrawal to pay for goods or services; and upon account closure made using an EFTPOS terminal within Australia - first 15 transactions per month Free - each transaction over the monthly free limit $1 ATM a cash withdrawal; or $1 Last day of the calendar month an account balance enquiry; and upon account closure made using an ATM within Australia giropost a cash withdrawal; $1 Last day of the calendar month an account balance enquiry; and upon account closure a cash deposit; a cheque deposit; made at any Australia Post office displaying the giropost logo 8
Fees and Charges (continued) Fee description Fee amount When fee is charged Internet and Phone Banking Perform a range of banking operations using the Members Equity Internet Banking and Phone Banking services Free Direct Entry Transfer funds between your Members Equity Bank account and another account held by you or another person with Members Equity Bank or another financial institution Direct entry dishonour fee $25 Charged to your account This fee is charged by Members Equity Bank when any outgoing direct entry payment from your Members Equity Bank account is dishonoured due to a lack of cleared funds in your account Cheques Price for each cheque written by you and presented for payment $1 Last day of the calendar month and upon account closure Cheque dishonour fee $25 Charged to your account This fee is charged by Members Equity Bank if a cheque written by you is dishonoured due to a lack of cleared funds in your Members Equity Bank account Stop payment of an unpresented cheque written by you Free Purchase of a Members Equity bank cheque $6 Last day of the calendar month and upon account closure Repurchase of a Members Equity bank cheque $6 Charged to your account This fee is charged if you return a bank cheque you have purchased to credit the funds back into your Members Equity Bank account Replacement of a Members Equity bank cheque $25 Charged to your account This fee is charged if you wish to replace a bank cheque that has been lost or stolen Miscellaneous Copy of a duplicate account statement $5 per page Charged to your account This fee will apply if you request a copy of an account statement previously provided to you Free 9
Fees and Charges (continued) Fee description Fee amount When fee is charged Miscellaneous (continued) Copy of an interim account statement $5 per page Charged to your account This fee will apply if you request a copy of an account statement that has not yet been provided to you Overdrawn account fee $15 Charged to your account This fee will apply if the account is overdrawn at any time Voucher copy fee $5 per document or Charged to your account $60 per hour This fee will apply if you request Members Equity Bank to whichever the lesser produce a voucher or other documents in relation to the conduct of your account (e.g. a copy of a cheque) Trace fee $15 Charged to your account This fee will apply if you request Members Equity Bank to investigate a transaction that has been posted to your account Note: the fee will be waived if the trace shows that the transaction has been incorrectly posted to your account. Daily Card Limit The combined daily limit for withdrawals from your account made using your card and PIN at any ATM, EFTPOS terminal or giropost office is $1,000 per day per card. 10
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