Banking terms in everyday language

Understand commonly used banking terms

When dealing with St.George, you may often come across terms that seem confusing and make it hard for you to make choices about certain aspects of your banking. To help you we have put together the following explanations of some of the key terms.

Approved Overdraft facility

An approved overdraft facility is a facility that allows you to draw credit up to an approved credit limit on your account.

ATM Mini Transaction history

A mini transaction history is a list of the last 10 transactions which can be printed from any St.George/BankSA ATM or the last 8 transactions from a BankSA Electronic Agency. Please refer to your Fees and Charges booklet for more information.

Bank@Post™

Bank@Post™ is an agency bankingservice offered at over 3,100 online Australia Post outlets. It allows you to use your credit or debit cards at the post office to undertake a variety of financial transactions including deposits and withdrawals, account balance enquiries and payments for credit card bills.

BSB

BSB is an acronym for Bank State Branch number. This six-digit number represents your bank and the branch where your account is held. You will need this number when setting up automatic payments such as periodical payments or direct debits between St.George and another party. You can find the BSB on the top right hand side of your account statement or in the "Account Information" section, next to the Account Number listing when you log onto Internet Banking. If you have a chequebook with your account, your account BSB is also printed on each cheque, in between the cheque number and the account number.

Deeming rates

The Federal Government sets the deeming rates based on assumed rates of return on financial investments.

Direct Debit

A direct debit is a transfer of funds from your St.George account drawn under a direct debit request you have given a third party.

Email Alerts

Account information that is provided to you via Email. Once you register for this service, you can request specific information such as account balances, deposits or withdrawals. Read more about Email Alerts.

Internet Banking

Internet Banking is an electronic means of accessing your account information and conducting your banking online. You can access transaction information as well as transfer funds and pay bills using St.George Internet Banking.

Maestro and Cirrus

Maestro and Cirrus are international networks of EFTPOS terminals and ATMs. Generally, St.George Maestro/Cirrus ATM cardholders have access to these networks when overseas.

Non-St George/BankSA ATMs

Any ATM that is not  St.George or BankSA branded.

Interest Offset facility

An Interest Offset Facility is an arrangement with the Bank that allows you to offset the interest you would earn on your transaction account against interest you pay on your loan account

Other bank ATMs

Refer to non-St.George ATMs.

Periodical Payment

Periodical Payment is a transfer of funds that we make on a regular basis at your request from your St.George account to another specific account.

Phone Banking

A telephone banking service that allows you to perform transactions and access information about your account using any touchtone telephone. Read more about Phone Banking.

SMS Alerts

Account information that is provided to you using your mobile phone via Short Message Service (SMS). Once you register for this service, you can request specific information such as account balances, deposits or withdrawals. Read more about SMS Alerts.

St.George branded ATMs

An ATM that is St.George or BankSA branded.

Visa Debit Card

A debit card that displays the VISA logo and lets you access your account through the global VISA network. Read more about Visa Debit Card.

Visa Plus

Visa Plus is an international network of ATMs. Generally, St.George FreedomCard ATM cardholders have access to ATMs overseas displaying the Plus logo.