Updated March 2026 · Independent comparison

Best NZ credit cards compared.

We compared NZ credit cards across rewards, cashback, low interest, and no-fee categories. Here’s what’s actually worth getting in 2026 — and what to avoid.

Last updated March 2026 · Data sourced directly from each issuer
Best for Airpoints
Amex Airpoints Platinum
1 Airpoints Dollar per $70 spent — fastest earn rate in NZ
Best no annual fee
Westpac Fee Free Mastercard
$0 annual fee, $0 FX fees, low balance transfer rate
Best low interest
ASB Visa Flex
9.95% p.a. — lowest purchase rate in NZ, no FX fees
Best for beginners
Amex Airpoints Card
No annual fee, earn Airpoints, 0% on purchases for 6 months
Best balance transfer
Westpac Fee Free Mastercard
5.95% p.a. for life of balance — best ongoing rate
Best cashback
ANZ CashBack Visa
Automatic cashback credited to statement annually
Filter
Amex
Amex Airpoints Platinum
American Express · Visa not required
Best Airpoints earn rate Lounge access Travel insurance
Annual fee
$195/yr
Airpoints earn
$1 per $70 spent
Purchase rate
~22% p.a.
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
Welcome bonus
300 Airpoints Dollars
Lounge access
3 visits/yr
Pros
Fastest Airpoints earn rate in NZ (1 per $70)
3 airport lounge visits per year
Complimentary travel insurance
300 Airpoints welcome bonus worth ~$300
Now accepted at most major NZ retailers
Cons
$195 annual fee — need $1,000+/month spend to justify
High purchase interest rate if you carry a balance
Not accepted everywhere (though improving)
“The clear winner for frequent flyers. 3 lounge visits alone cover the fee, and the earn rate beats every bank card in NZ. Best for those spending $1,000+ monthly.”
Apply now ↗
Amex
Amex Airpoints Card
American Express · No annual fee
No annual fee Earns Airpoints 0% for 6 months
Annual fee
$0
Airpoints earn
$1 per $100 spent
Intro offer
0% purchases 6 months
Welcome bonus
50 Airpoints Dollars
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
Lounge access
No
Pros
No annual fee — completely free to hold
Still earns Airpoints (1 per $100)
0% on purchases for first 6 months
50 Airpoints welcome bonus
Good starter card for Airpoints collectors
Cons
Slower earn rate than Platinum (1 per $100 vs $70)
No lounge access or travel insurance
Not accepted everywhere
“Best no-fee card for Airpoints collectors. A great starting point before upgrading to the Platinum if your spending justifies the fee.”
Apply now ↗
W
Westpac Fee Free Mastercard
Westpac · No annual fee
No annual fee $0 FX fees Best balance transfer
Annual fee
$0
FX fee
$0
Balance transfer
5.95% p.a. for life
Purchase rate
~20% p.a.
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
Rewards
None
Pros
No annual fee
$0 foreign currency fees — great for online shopping
5.95% p.a. balance transfer rate for life of balance
Simple, no-fuss card
Cons
No rewards or Airpoints
High purchase rate if you carry a balance
Basic card — no travel perks
“Best no-fee card for online shoppers and those carrying debt. Zero FX fees saves money on overseas purchases and the balance transfer rate is the best ongoing rate in NZ.”
Apply now ↗
ASB
ASB Visa Flex
ASB Bank · Lowest interest rate in NZ
Lowest interest rate $0 FX fees
Annual fee
$0
Purchase rate
9.95% p.a.
FX fee
$0
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
Balance transfer
Available
Rewards
None
Pros
9.95% p.a. — lowest purchase rate in NZ
No annual fee
No foreign currency fees
Best card if you occasionally carry a balance
Cons
No rewards or Airpoints
ASB customer preferred (easier to apply)
Basic card — no travel perks
“The best card if you sometimes carry a balance. 9.95% is dramatically lower than the 20%+ most cards charge and the $0 FX fee is a bonus.”
Apply now ↗
KB
Kiwibank Zero Visa
Kiwibank · NZ-owned bank
No annual fee Low interest
Annual fee
$0
Purchase rate
12.90% p.a.
Balance transfer
1.99% for 6 months
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
NZ-owned
Yes
Rewards
None
Pros
No annual fee
12.90% — well below the 20%+ standard rate
1.99% balance transfer for 6 months
NZ-owned bank — local support
Up to 55 interest-free days
Cons
No rewards or Airpoints
Higher rate than ASB Visa Flex (12.90% vs 9.95%)
No travel perks
“A solid low-rate option from NZ’s only major Kiwi-owned bank. The 1.99% balance transfer offer is one of the best short-term rates available.”
Apply now ↗
ANZ
ANZ CashBack Visa
ANZ Bank · Automatic cashback
Automatic cashback No points tracking
Annual fee
$40/yr
Cashback
Auto credited annually
Purchase rate
~20% p.a.
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
FX fee
~1.85%
No points tracking
Yes — automatic
Pros
Cashback credited automatically — no claiming
Simple — no points programme to manage
Good for everyday spending
ANZ is NZ’s largest bank — wide acceptance
Cons
$40 annual fee — need decent spend to justify
Cashback rate lower than Airpoints earn on Amex
1.85% FX fee on overseas purchases
“Best for people who want rewards without the complexity of points programmes. Cashback goes straight to your statement — set and forget.”
Apply now ↗
ASB
ASB Visa Platinum Rewards
ASB Bank · $300 cashback offer until May 2026
$300 welcome cashback Rewards points
Annual fee
~$75/yr
Welcome offer
$300 cashback
Purchase rate
~20% p.a.
Interest free days
Up to 55 days
Offer expires
10 May 2026
Rewards
Everyday Rewards points
Pros
$300 cashback welcome offer (no min spend)
Earns Everyday Rewards points
Good short-term value from welcome offer
ASB is a major NZ bank — trusted and reliable
Cons
Welcome offer expires 10 May 2026
Annual fee reduces long-term value
Rewards rate not as strong as Amex
“The $300 cashback with no minimum spend is one of the best welcome offers in NZ right now — but act before 10 May 2026. Long-term value depends on your spend.”
Apply now ↗

Side-by-side comparison

Key metrics across all compared cards. Always verify current rates on each issuer’s website before applying.

Card Annual fee Purchase rate FX fee Rewards Balance transfer Best for
Amex Airpoints Platinum
$195~22%Varies1 per $70 (Airpoints)—Frequent flyers
Amex Airpoints Card
$0~22%Varies1 per $100 (Airpoints)—No-fee Airpoints
Westpac Fee Free
$0~20%$0None5.95% for lifeOnline shopping, balance transfer
ASB Visa Flex
$09.95%$0NoneAvailableLow interest
Kiwibank Zero Visa
$012.90%~1.3%None1.99% for 6 monthsNZ-owned, low interest
ANZ CashBack Visa
$40~20%~1.85%Auto cashback—Simple cashback
ASB Visa Platinum Rewards
~$75~20%~1.85%Everyday Rewards—Welcome offer, rewards

How to choose the right card

The best card depends entirely on how you use it. Here’s how to think about it.

01
Do you pay off in full every month?
If yes, the interest rate doesn’t matter — focus on rewards and fees. If no, get the lowest rate card you can find (ASB Visa Flex at 9.95%).
02
How much do you spend monthly?
Under $500/month — a no-fee card is best. $500–$1,000 — Amex Airpoints Card. Over $1,000 — Amex Airpoints Platinum pays for itself.
03
Do you shop online internationally?
FX fees add up fast. ASB Visa Flex and Westpac Fee Free both charge $0 — saving you 1.85%+ on every overseas transaction.
04
Do you fly Air NZ regularly?
Amex Airpoints Platinum is the clear winner. The earn rate is 50%+ faster than any bank card in NZ thanks to interchange fee exemptions.
05
Do you have existing card debt?
Look at balance transfer cards first. Westpac Fee Free’s 5.95% for life of balance can save thousands vs carrying debt at 20%+.
06
Always check the current offer
Welcome offers change regularly. The ASB Platinum $300 cashback expires May 2026. Always verify current rates and offers before applying.

Not financial advice. KiwiCash provides independent comparisons for informational purposes only. Interest rates and fees change — always verify current rates on each issuer’s website before applying. Some links may earn KiwiCash a referral fee at no cost to you. Last updated March 2026.