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The Ultimate Guide to CommBank Yello
CommBank Yello is changing the way banks view loyalty. There are a lot of changes, so here’s our full breakdown.
TL;DR
Our quick take on CommBank Yello
CommBank Yello is Commonwealth Bank’s customer recognition program. It’s free to join, with your status tier assessed automatically each month from the previous month’s banking activity. The program rewards those who use more CommBank products – not just credit cards. Yello Points can also be earned on banking, borrowing, investing, insurance, travel, and partner offers. Eligible customers can earn and redeem points with participating brands, including Woolworths Everyday Rewards, Origin Energy, Myer, Velocity Frequent Flyer and Qatar Airways.
Hold an eligible CommBank transaction account and make the required number of transactions. Checked after each month.
Card spend earns 0.5–1.5 Yello Points per $1 depending on your tier, plus new products, milestones and retailer offers.
Gift cards, travel through Travel Booking, or transfer to MYER one, Qantas, Qatar Avios, Velocity or Everyday Rewards.
- Best for
- Existing or incoming CommBank customers who will bank broadly with CBA.
- Sweet spot
- Qatar Airways Avios at only 2.5:1 and no participation fee is excellent value.
- Be aware of
- Earn rate is set by your Yello status. Those who are just looking for a credit card will get a lower earn rate than those who bank more extensively with CommBank.
Start here
What is CommBank Yello?
CommBank Yello is the bank’s new all-encompassing loyalty program. You join by holding an eligible transaction account, and the only way to increase your benefits is by using CommBank more. CommBank looks at how you banked last month, decides which tier you land in, and gives you access to that tier for the next three months.
From 1 October 2026, the previous cashback model is replaced with CommBank Yello points, earned across banking, insurance, personal loans, CommSec trading and retailer offers. CommBank Yello points also replace the old credit card Awards points system.
From launch, you can transfer points to five partner programs, including Velocity Frequent Flyer and Qatar Airways Avios.
No fee to participate, with your tier automatically assessed each month.
Yello, Plus, Gold and Diamond. Determined by transactions, balances and home loans.
MYER one, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Qatar Airways, Velocity Frequent Flyer and Everyday Rewards.
You’ll need to opt in from 1 October 2026 and have an Australian residential address to receive CommBank Yello offers.
Start here
Why consider using CommBank Yello?
If you hold a CommBank transaction account and use it normally, you are likely eligible without having done anything. Points will start accruing on eligible products.
Yello Points transfer to Qatar Airways at 2.5 to 1. Use Avios to book Qatar Airways, British Airways, Qantas and other oneworld partners.
Yello Gold and Diamond is determined by savings or home loan size, not spending. Plenty of mortgage holders might be eligible without realising.
CommBank Yello is better if you’re using the bank more
The more you consolidate your banking with CommBank, the greater the rewards. If you have an eligible mortgage, for example, you might already be eligible for CommBank Yello Gold or Diamond tiers. You might also be able to add a credit card with the monthly fee waived if you have the Wealth Package. This sets you up well to earn points with lower ongoing costs.
Conversely, if you’re only after a credit card, your earn rate will be comparatively lower, and you won’t be able to take advantage of other points opportunities in the Yello ecosystem.
What's changing
What’s changing on 1 October 2026?
CommBank is replacing most of the cashback benefits with points. Here are the major changes.
| Up to 30 September 2026 | From 1 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| CommBank Awards as a separate rewards program | Closes 29 September 2026. Unredeemed Awards points convert automatically to Yello points by 7 October 2026. |
| Card earn rate set by which card you hold | Earn rate set by your Yello tier instead. The Smart and Ultimate cards earn identically. |
| Awards points to Velocity at 2 to 1 | Yello points to Velocity at 2.5 to 1, plus a $99 annual fee. |
| Awards points to Qantas at 2.5 to 1, plus a $90 annual fee. | Yello points to Qantas at 3 to 1, plus a $149 annual fee. |
| $4 monthly cashback on eligible home loan packages (Gold/Diamond) | 10,000-20,000 annual points on eligible home loan packages (Gold/Diamond) |
| Up to 10% back in Travel Booking credits on flights and hotels | Up to 5 Yello Points/dollar on eligible Travel Booking bookings, instead of travel credits. |
| Monthly cashback on a World Debit Mastercard | Points on domestic and international spend, with caps. |
| Monthly CommSec loyalty payment on settlements over $1K (Gold/Diamond) | 1,100-2,200 Yello Points/month on eligible transactions (Gold/Diamond) |
| Monthly cashback on Home and Landlord insurance (Diamond) | Ongoing 500 Yello Points/month on eligible policies for Diamond customers. |
| Digi Home Loan fee cashback + up to $30 monthly loyalty reward | Both cease, but the Loan Service Fee and Offset Feature Fee are removed entirely. |
| Simple Home Loan Loan Service Fee cashback | Ceases – the Loan Service Fee drops to $10 and the Offset Feature Fee is removed. |
Source: CommBank Yello changes page and credit card updates page, retrieved 25 August 2026. Streamline Basic also becomes an eligible transaction account, so some customers who were not eligible before will become eligible. The Awards and Ultimate Awards cards are renamed Smart and Ultimate from 29 September 2026. Eligibility criteria for the four tiers themselves are unchanged.
How are CommBank credit cards changing?
Here’s how the Smart and Ultimate credit cards will look after 1 October 2026.
CommBank Smart Card
CommBank’s Smart Card will lose its monthly fee waiver and the waiver on international transaction fees. Instead, cardholders will get a total of $20 in travel and dining credits per month, which stack. A DoorDash DashPass subscription and cracked phone screen protection are added, while travel insurance remains.
The card’s earn rate will depend on your Yello tier, regardless of whether you have the Smart or Ultimate card.
| CommBank Smart Awards (before) | CommBank Smart (after) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee |
$19/month Monthly fee waived if you spend $2,000+ during that statement period |
$19/month No monthly fee waiver |
| Monthly credits (12-month expiry) |
n/a | $10/month Travel Credit $10/month Dining Credit |
| Inclusions | Travel Insurance No International FX fee |
Travel Insurance DoorDash DashPass subscription Cracked screen insurance protection |
| Earn rates (Award/Yello Points) |
Supermarkets, department stores, dining, utilities: 1.5 pts/dollar All other purchases: 1 pt/dollar Spend over $5,000 per statement period: 0.5 pts/dollar |
Yello: 0.5 pts/dollar International spend (all tiers): 2.0 pts/dollar |
CommBank Ultimate Card
CommBank’s flagship Ultimate Card will also lose its monthly fee waiver. Instead, cardholders will get a total of $35 in travel and dining credits per month, which stack. A DoorDash DashPass subscription and cracked phone screen protection are added, while travel insurance, two annual airport lounge passes and fee-free international transactions remain.
The card’s earn rate will depend on your Yello tier, regardless of whether you have the Smart or Ultimate card.
| CommBank Ultimate Awards (before) | CommBank Ultimate (after) | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee |
$35/month Monthly fee waived if you spend $4,000+ during that statement period |
$35/month No monthly fee waiver |
| Monthly credits (12-month expiry) |
n/a | $25/month Travel Credit $10/month Dining Credit |
| Inclusions | Travel Insurance No International FX fee 2x complimentary airport lounge passes |
Travel Insurance 2x complimentary airport lounge passes No International FX fee DoorDash DashPass subscription Cracked screen insurance protection |
| Earn rates (Award/Yello Points) |
International purchases: 3 pts/dollar Supermarkets, department stores, dining, utilities: 2 pts/dollar All other purchases: 1 pt/dollar Spend over $10,000 per statement period: 0.5 pts/dollar |
Yello: 0.5 pts/dollar International spend (all tiers): 2.0 pts/dollar |
The monthly Dining Credits are cumulative. For example, if you hold the Ultimate card for six months without using your credits, you’ll have $60 to use with EatClub, using Dine in Deals via the CommBank app.
The monthly Travel Credits are cumulative. For example, if you hold the Ultimate card for six months without using your credits, you’ll have $150 to use with Travel Booking by Hopper.
Decision tool
Should you change what you do to earn Yello Points?
Yello Points attach to banking you are already doing. Here’s how you could benefit from it.
Everyday transaction account Already covered
Your transaction account is required to take part in CommBank Yello. 5+ eligible transactions a month gets you into base Yello. 15+ transactions are required for every tier above it.
CommBank credit card Card earn tied to Yello status
From 1 October the earn rate is tied to your Yello tier, not your card. The Smart and Ultimate cards earn identically, so a higher card fee buys you no extra points – only the other card benefits, like the Ultimate’s 0% international transaction fee.
Insurance policy Points could be a handy extra
Signing up to eligible insurance earns points. On a like-for-like premium that is a reasonable tiebreaker between two similar quotes.
Personal loan Look for a good rate first
Points are available on personal loans for home energy upgrades through Brighte and on secured car loans through Cars for CommBank. If you were taking that loan anyway, take the points. As with any financial product, do some research first to find the best fit for you.
Home loan Hold for long-term benefits
Holding an eligible CommBank Home Loan is one of the quickest ways to reaching Gold or Diamond tiers in the Yello program.
CommSec trading Points for regular trading
Gold and Diamond members already get a CommSec loyalty payment today. From October it becomes points. If you trade regularly, consider it a regular top-up for your points balance.
Retailer offers The easy win
Activating offers before you spend at bp, Coles, Myer, DoorDash and other major retailers could help boost your points balance for not much effort.
Indicative only, and not financial advice. Verdicts are editorial judgements about whether the points justify an action, not recommendations about any specific banking, credit or insurance product. Eligibility, caps and terms are set by Commonwealth Bank and change. Point Hacks receives commercial consideration from some partners; these verdicts, including those advising against a product, are set independently by our editorial team.
Status
Which Yello tier are you in?
Every tier needs an eligible CommBank transaction account. Beyond that, it’s driven by transaction count, then by how much money you hold or borrow. From 1 October, your tier also determines how fast you earn points on credit cards. CommBank checks in the first week of each month, based on the previous month, and you keep access for three months.
- An eligible CommBank transaction account
- Five or more eligible transactions from eligible accounts
- TBA
- An eligible CommBank transaction account
- Fifteen or more eligible transactions
- An eligible balance of $500 for 15 days or more – waived if you are under 26
- Everything in Yello
- TBA
- An eligible CommBank transaction account
- Fifteen or more eligible transactions
- An eligible balance of $50,000 for 15 days or more, OR combined funded CommBank home loans under $1M
- Everything in Plus
- Monthly 1,100 points CommSec bonus (activity required)
- Annual 10,000 points home loan bonus
- TBA
- An eligible CommBank transaction account
- Fifteen or more eligible transactions
- An eligible balance of $250,000 for 15 days or more, OR combined funded CommBank home loans of at least $1M
- Everything in Gold
- Monthly 2,200 points CommSec bonus (activity required)
- Annual 20,000 points home loan bonus
- Monthly 500 points with eligible Home Insurance
- TBA
CommBank Yello effective credit card earn rates
Your Yello tier sets your points rate, regardless of whether you have the Smart or Ultimate card. These are from 1 October 2026.
| Yello | Yello Plus | Gold | Diamond | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card earn rate (AU spend) | 0.5 pts per $1 | 0.75 pts per $1 | 1 pt per $1 | 1.5 pts per $1 |
| Effective Qantas earn rate (AU spend) | 0.17 pts per $1 | 0.25 pts per $1 | 0.33 pts per $1 | 0.5 pts per $1 |
| Effective Velocity/Qatar Airways earn rate (AU spend) | 0.2 pts per $1 | 0.3 pts per $1 | 0.4 pts per $1 | 0.6 pts per $1 |
| Effective MYER one earn rate (AU spend) | 0.25 pts per $1 | 0.38 pts per $1 | 0.5 pts per $1 | 0.75 pts per $1 |
| Effective Everyday Rewards earn rate (AU spend) | 0.33 pts per $1 | 0.5 pts per $1 | 0.67 pts per $1 | 1 pt per $1 |
| Card earn rate (international) | 2 pts per $1 | 2 pts per $1 | 2 pts per $1 | 2 pts per $1 |
| Effective Qantas earn rate (international spend) | 0.67 pts per $1 | 0.67 pts per $1 | 0.67 pts per $1 | 0.67 pts per $1 |
| Effective Velocity/Qatar Airways earn rate (international spend) | 0.8 pts per $1 | 0.8 pts per $1 | 0.8 pts per $1 | 0.8 pts per $1 |
| Effective MYER one earn rate (international spend) | 1 pt per $1 | 1 pt per $1 | 1 pt per $1 | 1 pt per $1 |
| Effective Everyday Rewards earn rate (international spend) | 1.33 pts per $1 | 1.33 pts per $1 | 1.33 pts per $1 | 1.33 pts per $1 |
Earning
How you earn CommBank Yello points
From 1 October 2026, you can earn CommBank Yello points across a broad range of categories.
Earn rates as published by CommBank and reported by Point Hacks, retrieved 25 August 2026.
Conversion
An example of what you can earn
With a growing range of transfer partners, make sure you pick the one that best suits your needs. Travelling soon? Consider an airline frequent flyer program. Wanting to save money and don’t plan to travel? Consider a ground partner such as Myer or Everyday Rewards.
| Partner | Rate | You get |
|---|---|---|
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club The best airline ratio on offer and the only one with no annual fee. Avios books Qatar, British Airways and other oneworld partners, including Qantas. Can transfer Qatar Avios to other Avios programs at no cost, including British Airways and Finnair. | 2.5 : 1 No fee | 40,000 Avios |
| Velocity Frequent Flyer Same ratio as Qatar but with a $99 annual fee attached. Worth it if you specifically need Velocity Points (such as for Virgin Australia or Singapore Airlines flights) and are moving a substantial balance. $99 a year · 0.25¢ per Velocity | 2.5 : 1 $99 fee | 40,000 Velocity |
| Everyday Rewards No fee, and usable to save on groceries or transfer to Qantas points. Useful, although outsized value potential is more limited compared to airline programs. 2,000 EDR points = $10 off your shop or 1,000 Qantas Points. | 3 : 2 No fee | 66,666 Everyday Rewards |
| MYER one Fee-free and simple, although limited upside value. Sensible if you shop at Myer regularly. 1,000 Myer points = $10. | 2 : 1 No fee | 50,000 MYER one |
| Qantas Frequent Flyer The weakest ratio and the highest fee. Available only on selected eligible CommBank credit cards, and you must opt in. Transfer to Everyday Rewards and then to Qantas to avoid the fee. $149 a year · 0.45¢ per Qantas | 3 : 1 $149 fee | 33,333 Qantas |
CommBank’s own published example prices 12,500 points at a $50 Myer gift card. That is the baseline option, and the number every transfer above should be measured against. Conversion rates as published by CommBank, effective 1 October 2026 and retrieved 21 August 2026. Qantas transfers require an eligible CommBank credit card and an opt-in. Not financial advice.
Earn calculator
What can your Yello points actually get you?
These are CommBank’s own published examples rather than our estimates. Set your balance to see which ones you reach.
-
$50 Myer gift card Everyday value An easy, fixed-price redemption for smaller balances. 12,500 points
-
Return Sydney–Melbourne economy cash flight Weekend away Through Travel Booking, provided by Hopper. Price-dependent, so the points required will move with the fare. 500 points short
-
One night in a 4-star Sydney hotel Plan your holiday Also through Travel Booking. Worth comparing against the cash rate before committing points. 12,500 points short
-
Return Sydney–Bali Economy reward flight Economy Reward Transfer to Velocity, where 45,000 Velocity Points will get you a return Economy reward. Doesn’t include taxes, fees and carrier charges. 80,000 points short
-
One-way Business Class to Europe reward flight Business Reward Attainable by transferring to Qatar Avios, and redeeming for a Business reward flight from Australia to Europe for 90,000 Avios. Rare, but incredibly valuable. Doesn’t include taxes, fees and carrier charges. 192,500 points short
Reward costs from CommBank Yello published examples, checked 12 August 2026. commbank.com.au/commbank-yello
Examples published by CommBank and correct as at 12 August 2026 per their own footnote. Points required, redemption values, availability, participating brands and eligibility criteria may change. Travel examples are based on prices available through Travel Booking, provided by Hopper.
Fine print
Things to consider
CommBank Yello is a huge program, so keep in mind these details.
Home loan package cashback, World Debit Mastercard cashback, CommSec loyalty payments, and Diamond insurance cashbacks are stopping. These are being replaced by points-related offers from 1 October.
Credit card earn is tied to your Yello tier, not your card, so the Smart and Ultimate cards earn identically. Paying a higher card fee for more points may not work here – unless you can benefit from the added benefits of the Ultimate card (or have the fee waived via your home loan).
At Diamond, 1.5 Yello points per $1 becomes just 0.5 Qantas Points or 0.6 Velocity Points per $1 after transfer. At the base tier, it’s only 0.17 Qantas Points per $1. The key advantage is leveraging all of CommBank’s products to earn more points overall.
Both Velocity and Qantas transfer rates are increasing, along with the annual fees.
CommBank’s credit cards earn uncapped points. But the World Debit Mastercard will have monthly earning caps of 500 to 750 points, depending on your Yello Tier.
The Qantas opt-in is only available on selected eligible CommBank credit cards.
Summarised from CommBank’s published change notice and FAQs. Read the current CommBank Yello Program Terms and Conditions before acting.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I join CommBank Yello?
CommBank assesses eligibility automatically in the first week of each month based on your previous month’s banking activity, and if you qualify you get access for the next three months. Check your status by tapping CBA Yello in the CommBank app.
What do I need to be eligible?
An eligible CommBank transaction account plus a minimum number of eligible transactions — five for base Yello, fifteen for every tier above it. Higher tiers add balance or home loan requirements.
Is Streamline Basic eligible?
It becomes an eligible transaction account from 1 October 2026, so some customers who were not previously eligible will become eligible. Because eligibility uses the previous month’s activity, transactions on a Streamline Basic account in September may count towards access from October.
What happens if I am opted out?
Before 1 October 2026 you can opt back in by messaging CommBank in the app or visiting a branch. From 1 October you opt in by tapping CBA Yello in the app or NetBank.
Can I access it in NetBank?
Currently it is app-only. From 1 October 2026 a limited CommBank Yello experience rolls out progressively in NetBank, but perks and offers remain available only in the CommBank app.
Why is CommBank Yello changing?
CommBank is moving it from a cashback and recognition program to a points program, which they describe as giving more flexibility and choice. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel, cash, airline programs and other rewards.
When do I get my last cashback?
If you are eligible, your final product cashback is paid in September 2026. Brand cashbacks at participating retailers are typically paid within 14 business days of redeeming an eligible offer, so a late-September redemption may land in October.
Am I better or worse off?
It depends. If you only engage with one or two CommBank products (such as the credit card), you’ll probably be worse off in terms of points-earning capacity. If you have multiple products, such as a home loan as well, you may be better off with the newer structure.
Are the tier requirements changing?
No. The eligibility criteria for CommBank Yello, Yello Plus, Gold and Diamond are unchanged.
What are CommBank Yello points worth?
CommBank has not published a fixed value. Their own example prices 12,500 points at a $50 Myer gift card, which is the most reliable anchor available because a gift card has a fixed face value. Travel redemptions are priced against live fares, so its value can vary.
Which transfer partner is best?
Qatar Airways Privilege Club is the best, based on the numbers published so far. It offers the best airline ratio at 2.5 Yello points to 1 Avios, and unlike Qantas and Velocity it carries no annual fee. Avios can book Qatar, British Airways and other oneworld partners, including flights on Qantas metal.
Why is the Qantas transfer rated poorly?
It has the weakest ratio of the five at 3 Yello points to 1 Qantas point, and the highest annual fee at $149. It also requires an eligible CommBank credit card and an opt-in. If your goal is a Qantas flight, transferring to Qatar Avios at 2.5:1 with no fee and booking Qantas through oneworld is worth comparing first. Or consider transferring through Everyday Rewards.
Do the annual fees apply per transfer?
They are annual fees – $149 for Qantas, $99 for Velocity – not per-transfer charges. Once you pay it, you are covered for the rest of that 12-month period.
What earns points?
Card spend at your tier rate (0.5 points per $1 at base, 0.75 at Plus, 1 at Gold, 1.5 at Diamond, and a flat 2 points per $1 on international spend), activated retailer offers, new banking and insurance products, personal loans for Brighte home energy upgrades or Cars for CommBank car finance, monthly CommSec trading, term deposit reinvestment, and banking milestones.
Does the earn rate depend on my card or my tier?
Your tier. This is the biggest change on 1 October and the thing most people get wrong. The Smart and Ultimate cards earn identically. Paying more for a premium CommBank card buys you no additional points, only other benefits like the Ultimate’s 0% international transaction fee.
What happens to my existing Awards points?
CommBank Awards closes on 29 September 2026. Unredeemed Awards points convert automatically to Yello points by 7 October 2026 and are visible in the app or NetBank. You can request conversion to cash by contacting CommBank until 31 December 2026, and converted points can be redeemed for up to two years after issue. Only the primary cardholder can redeem them.
How good is the effective earn rate?
After the transfer ratios, base tier returns about 0.17 Qantas Points or 0.2 Velocity Points per $1, and even Diamond only reaches 0.5 Qantas or 0.6 Velocity per $1. These are among the lowest effective credit card earn rates in Australia. The program’s real value is in the broader banking relationship and loyalty bonuses, not card spend.
Do I need to activate offers?
Yes. Retailer offers must be activated in the CommBank app before you spend.
Which retailers are involved?
CommBank has named bp, DoorDash, Event Cinemas, Everyday Rewards, More Telecom, Myer, Origin Energy, Qantas Frequent Flyer, Travel Booking, Velocity Frequent Flyer and Village Cinemas, with more to be added over time.
Is there a cap on earning?
Not on credit card spend. CommBank describes points earn on the Smart and Ultimate cards as uncapped, based on your Yello tier. Debit card spend has monthly caps, depending on your CommBank Yello tier.
The verdict
Is CommBank Yello for you?
CommBank Yello is the first program of its kind in Australia, rewarding customers based on their total banking activity rather than just the credit card they own. Your tier sets your earn rate, so it’s more about your savings and home loans rather than what credit card you have.
The effective airline rate is not particularly strong on its own. Even with Diamond, you’re earning 0.5 Qantas Points per dollar, which is behind some dedicated rewards cards. But access to a flexible points currency with good transfer partners, such as Qatar Avios, can help you extract maximum value from your points.
Also, if you have multiple different products with CommBank, the total volume of points you can earn in a year can be far greater than what you’d earn just on a credit card alone. So while the per $1 earn rate isn’t high, you should also look at the breadth of products you can earn points on, and decide whether it’s worth it from there.
- Free, and you may already be in it without knowing
- Fee-free 2.5:1 transfers to Qatar Airways Avios
- CommBank Yello Gold tier reachable through an ordinary CommBank home loan
- Plenty of bonus points and retailer bonus opportunities
- Effective airline earn on credit cards can be weak – 0.17 Qantas Points per $1 at the base Yello tier
- May not be the right program if you don’t have many CommBank products
- Velocity and Qantas transfer rates and fees are both increasing
How to reach CommBank about Yello
Yello is managed in the CommBank app. Eligibility and opt-in queries go through the app or a branch.
- Open CBA Yello in the app CommBank app
- Message CommBank in-app In-app messaging
- Find a branch commbank.com.au
Next step
Already banking with CommBank?
Open the CommBank app, tap CBA Yello, and check you are opted in. Review any other products you might have with CommBank to see if they can earn you points.
Or join CommBank to access YelloPoint Hacks may receive commercial consideration from some programs and partners featured on this site. Our editorial recommendations, including where we advise against a product, are set independently. This guide is general information, not financial advice.