1. How to Make a BPayment
2. Do BPay payments earn reward points?
3. Can I BPay the day before due date?
4. How do I find out if the biller accepts BPay?
5. Are BPay payments purchases or cash advances?

What is BPAY?

Let’s start with the basics. BPAY is a payment facility that allows you to make payments to Australian institutions. This can include bills, or really any other payments, as long as the receiving institution accepts BPAY as a form of payment.

However, BPAY isn’t just accessible through your bank account. You can also make BPAY payments through your credit card. This makes paying bills more convenient and could earn rewards points.

As with most things in life, there are certain factors to be aware of when using BPAY. Check out our FAQs section below for more information.

Do BPAY transactions earn Frequent Flyer points?

This question is a source of contention. Basically, some will and some won’t. Fewer and fewer programs are offering rewards points for BPAY payments, which is a shame. So, it’s worth finding out directly from the card provider if you’ll earn points or not, especially if you’re planning to make lots of BPAY payments.

This applies to all rewards programs, not just Frequent Flyer points. Check the terms and conditions between your bank and the rewards program to find out whether it’s worth paying BPAY bills with your credit card.

Here are some credit card providers who don’t earn points on BPAY payments, according to the rewards program terms and conditions: 

ANZ
Bank of Queensland
Bankwest
CommBank
Macquarie Bank
Qantas Money
NAB
Westpac

This isn’t an exhaustive list, and terms can change, so check directly with the card provider to be sure.

How can I maximise the Frequent Flyer points when paying BPAY bills by credit card?

Apart from making sure that BPAY transactions earn points, it’s important to understand whether there is a limit to the number of points that can be earned with your card. You can check this in the credit card’s terms and conditions or product disclosure statement. If you’re looking to maximise the number of points you earn you should consider whether a card with a points cap suits your needs.

How to make a BPAY payment

Now on to the essentials – how to make a BPAY payment. Most services will accept payment through BPAY. All you have to do is follow a few simple steps:

1. Find the BPAY logo and payment details on your bill,
2. Log onto your online credit card login  (or internet banking or even phone banking,)
3. Select the BPAY or bill payment option,
4. Choose the account you wish to pay the bill from,
5. Enter your Biller Code, Customer Reference Number (CRN), the amount to pay and when you wish to schedule the payment; and
6. Wait for and record your receipt number.

Paying bills with your credit card could be an easy  option for you, but it’s important to know whether the biller you’re trying to pay accepts credit card payments.

You can find out which companies accept BPAY payments from a credit card quickly and easily. Just search the name or biller code on the BPAY website. That should make it easier to decide how to pay.

BPAY and Credit Card Transactions: Purchase or Cash Advance?

This one is really important! Most credit cards charge BPAY payments as a regular purchase, but some will see it as a cash advance. This will usually happen if the biller doesn’t accept credit card BPAY payments. Check the BPAY site first to make sure your biller is accepted by BPAY.

If it’s processed as a cash advance, you can be sure you won’t earn points. On top of that, you’ll pay the cash advance rate of interest, which can be very high.

Some commonly asked questions about using BPAY with a credit card include:

How do I find out whether the biller I am paying accepts BPAY?

This is simple, check your monthly statement if it’s your credit card, or the latest bill if it’s something else, and the BPAY logo should appear on the bottom, where all payment methods should be listed. This section of the bill will also show you the biller code you need to use for the company you want to pay, and all you need is this, plus a reference number located at the top of the bill, to pay the bill. To find out whether the biller accepts credit card payments you can also check the BPAY website and see the list of billers and their status.

Can I pay by BPAY the day before the payment is due?

This is not generally advised, whether paying off your credit card or paying another bill. BPAY payments take up to three days to be cleared in the receiving account, even though the funds will leave your account immediately. This means that your bill could become overdue during the lag period and could mean you incur late payment fees. It’s best to schedule BPAY payments at least a few days in advance of the due date.