The COVID-19 pandemic has changed spending behaviour, with nearly half (48%) of millennials spending less on their credit card compared with 36% of cardholders above the age of 40.

The research from global analytics firm J.D. Power found that nearly one-fifth (18%) of millennial cardholders say the overall value of their card has decreased since the start of COVID-19, compared with 11% of cardholders aged 40 and over.

As a result, 37% of millennial cardholders have already opened or plan to switch to a card with a better rewards program.

Need somewhere to store cash and earn interest? The table below features introductory savings accounts with some of the highest interest rates on the market.

Provider

400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.75% p.a on their savings rate balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.20%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.75% p.a on their savings rate balances of $150,000 up to $500,000 for the first 4 months. T&Cs apply.
  • If your balance is over $500,000 (but less than $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.20%
Disclosure
4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure

High Interest Savings Account (<$250k)

  • Bonus rate for the first 4 months from account opening
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
Disclosure
000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Sign up with code SWIPE20 to score $20 after 5 card purchases in your first 30 days. See terms on the app store
  • Deposit $500+ per month from an external source to earn the bonus interest.
  • Tiered rates apply to savings balances.
Disclosure

Save Account

  • Sign up with code SWIPE20 to score $20 after 5 card purchases in your first 30 days. See terms on the app store
  • Deposit $500+ per month from an external source to earn the bonus interest.
  • Tiered rates apply to savings balances.
Disclosure
010000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure

Savings Maximiser

  • Deposit at least $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions. Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure
4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

Hi Saver

    4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

    Bonus Saver

      4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

      Online Saver

        001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

        Up Saver Account

          00$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

          Qsaver

            01001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

            Bonus Saver Account

              01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Bonus Saver

                3000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                Maxi Saver

                  01001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                  Bonus Saver Account

                    4001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                    Netsave Account

                      02001$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Growth Saver

                        400$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Simple Saver

                          01000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Virgin Money Boost Saver

                            020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            HomeME Savings Account (<$100k)

                              02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                              Online Savings - Premium Saver

                                0100$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                                mySaver

                                  Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                  All products with a link to a product provider’s website have a commercial marketing relationship between us and these providers. These products may appear prominently and first within the search tables regardless of their attributes and may include products marked as promoted, featured or sponsored. The link to a product provider’s website will allow you to get more information or apply for the product. By de-selecting “Show online partners only” additional non-commercialised products may be displayed and re-sorted at the top of the table. For more information on how we’ve selected these “Sponsored”, “Featured” and “Promoted” products, the products we compare, how we make money, and other important information about our service, please click here. Rates correct as of July 2, 2025. View disclaimer.

                                  Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                  Head of banking and payments intelligence at J.D. Power Australia Bronwyn Gill said credit card providers need to continue offering competitive rewards programs or risk losing millennials as customers.

                                  “Millennials are savvy and are shopping around for a card that offers a better rewards program that suits their changed spending habits," she said.

                                  "Card issuers must offer reward programs that are relevant to millennials, or risk losing longer-term relationships with this important age group."

                                  The research also found that millennials have a higher intention to switch cards than any other age group.

                                  More than one-fifth (22%) of millennial cardholders say they intend to switch from their current primary credit card to another one in the next 12 months, double that of cardholders over the age of 40.

                                  The main reasons millennials want to replace their credit card are for a better rewards program (29%) and for better benefits (29%).

                                  Cash-related rewards are the most favoured reward type, with 27% of millennial cardholders preferring cash rewards/cashback, 23% gift certificates/gift cards/vouchers and 17% prefer airline miles.

                                  “Rewards programs are key for millennials," Ms Gill said.

                                  "After convenience, earning rewards is the second most important reason as to why millennials use their credit card, however new spending habits are directly influencing the ability to accumulate and redeem rewards."

                                  Credit card debt tumbles during COVID

                                  Australians wiped off record levels of credit card debt in May, according to Reserve Bank (RBA) data.

                                  According to the latest RBA credit and debit card data, Australians wiped $1.64 billion off their credit card debts in May, marking the biggest monthly decrease on record and bringing the national total credit card debt to its lowest level since 2007.

                                  But earlier data suggests that many Australians paid down their credit card debt by withdrawing money from their superannuation.

                                  Data compiled by credit bureau illion and AlphaBeta shows that 14% of money withdrawn from super early was used to repay personal debts, including credit cardsbuy now pay later bills and other bills.

                                  On average, those who used the scheme spent $2,855 in the first fortnight after withdrawing their super, and $393 of that was spent on debt repayments.

                                  The RBA data showed that Australians spent $5.82 billion less on their credit cards in May 2020 compared with the same time last year. 

                                  Data from specialist retail banking and payments consultancy McLean Roche shows that spend on credit cards was down 26% in May following a 33% decline in April.