In this year's Shop Small campaign, eligible Amex cardholders can get up to $50 credit back if they shop at eligible businesses.

Customers who spend $10 or more in one transaction online or in-store by 31 August will receive a $5 credit, with the offer valid up to 10 times - once per participating business.

American Express Australia managing director Corrina Davison said it's important to support small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"State restrictions are easing and it's encouraging to see the progress we’re making as a country," she said. 

"While people are starting to head out again, small businesses still face the challenge of getting customers to return at the levels they need.

"We’re bringing back Shop Small early this year to encourage shoppers to support the nation’s resilient small business operators and accelerate their recovery."

Shop Small is an annual campaign run by Amex and is in its eighth year - shoppers can visit shopsmall.com.au to see participating businesses. 

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

4000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure

Savings Account

  • A high-interest online savings account with no monthly fees, easy withdrawals and award-winning digital banking
  • No withdrawal notice periods or interest rate penalties
  • Save up to 10% on eGift cards at over 50 retailers with Macquarie Marketplace
Disclosure
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 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on 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 4.7%
Disclosure

Savings Accelerator

  • Special offer: Savings Accelerator (Kick Starter offer).
  • For a limited time, new ING customers can get a bonus 0.70% p.a. on their savings rate on 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 $5 million) you will earn the ongoing variable rate of 4.7%
Disclosure
02000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
  • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
  • Interest paid monthly
Disclosure

Online Savings - Premium Saver

  • Increase your balance by $200 each month to earn the maximum interest
  • No account keeping fees
  • No minimum balance
  • Interest paid monthly
Disclosure
010000$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 $1,000+ each month from an external source
  • Make 5 or more eligible transactions
  • Grow your savings balance each month
Disclosure
020000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

HomeME Savings Account (<$100k)

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

    Growth Saver

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

      Virgin Money Boost Saver

        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

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

            mySaver

              000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

              Simple Saver

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

                Netsave Account

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

                  Online Savings Account

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

                    HSBC Everyday Savings Account

                      0501$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                      Incentive Saver Account

                        4000.01$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                        Bankwest Easy Saver

                          0502$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                          Bonus Saver

                            000$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details
                            • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
                            • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
                            • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
                            • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
                            Disclosure

                            Save Account

                            • Set up your Pay Cycle and connect your accounts from over 140 financial institutions.
                            • Retrace your spending steps into categories with Spending Footprint.
                            • Start tapping straightaway with Apple Pay, Google Pay™, Samsung Pay, and Garmin Pay.
                            • No monthly or international fees on any of your transactions.
                            Disclosure
                            0500$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]$product[$field["value"]]More details

                            Incentive Saver Account

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

                              Growth Saver Account

                                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 November 21, 2024. View disclaimer.

                                Important Information and Comparison Rate Warning

                                Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman Kate Carnell said supporting local businesses has a knock-on effect on the wider community.

                                "They [small businesses] will face enormous challenges over the coming months as they work to get back on their feet," she said.

                                "What small businesses need right now is our support.

                                "The best way to do that is by visiting your local small businesses or shopping online for local products and services.

                                "Every dollar spent not only goes to that small business, but to the community as well.”  

                                Business, consumer confidence both up

                                In the 'Small Business Recovery' survey commissioned by American Express, 80% of small business owners were optimistic they will survive the COVID-19 pandemic.

                                However, if trade doesn't pick up, more than half said they fear for their long-term survival. 

                                The research was conducted from 28 May to 4 June and used a sample size of 750 consumers and 500 small business owners.

                                Similarly, more than half of shoppers were concerned for their safety when out and about, while just a third said they felt comfortable returning to bricks-and-mortar stores.

                                This generally aligns with last week's Westpac-Melbourne Institute consumer sentiment survey, which found a rebound in consumer confidence in June, though figures were still down sharply on a year ago.