Bank of Queensland (BoQ) has this week angered residents and MPs by closing another NSW franchise.

A good credit card has three things: an interest rate proportional to the features offered, a low annual fee and a long interest free period. Well, we guess one out of three isn't bad.

The Bendigo Red is a big let-down after the Basic Black. The interest free period is too short, the interest rate too high and the rewards program is laughable. Don't bother.

The RSPCA Rescue Rewards offers little over the standard Rescue Visa: the interest rate is higher and the rewards program is terrible, but the additional interest free days may be useful.

The Bendigo Basic Black is the new, well...black. It's quite possibly the cheapest card we've reviewed, with a super-low interest rate and 44 days interest free.

It's hard to find any fault with the Bendigo Bank RSPCA Rescue Visa. Not only is it a great no-frills card, but a portion of your spending is donated to the RSPCA.

Credit card balances have fallen for the first time since records began 14 years ago, according to central bank figures.

The inclusion of an interest free period more than compensates for the moderately increased interest rate, but the card is let down by the high per-card annual fee.

Commonwealth have created a business credit card with a truly low rate, without over-compensating the annual fee. It's just a pity it doesn't have an interest free period.

The Commonwealth Student Card is a good card, but the credit limit is too low and it doesn't include any travel features.

The Commonwealth Platinum is a solid competitor in the high-end market. It might lack the flair of the AMEX range, but it makes up for it with a broad range of features.

The Commonwealth Low Rate is simple, but without compromising on the features that matter. It's a tick in every box for students, the budget-conscious and those looking for their first credit card.

It's a pity the Commonwealth Low Fee Credit Card has a high interest rate. Anyone willing to pay 19.99% wants more features than this card offers, and anyone looking for a feature-less card wants a lower interest rate.

The Commonwealth Gold Awards is a solid card with a surprising range of features. It will mostly appeal to families, but travellers may get value from the included international travel insurance.

The Commonwealth Bank Awards is a good mid-range card with a low annual fee and a cash back rewards option. As long as you intend to spend $228 a week or more on the Amex or $342 or more on the Mastercard, the annual fee will pay for itself.