Credit cards
23
Rewards and low-rate options
Product
Provider
Rate
Fee
Last updated: 18 May 2026
Credit and debit cards from NZ banks — compare rates, fees, rewards and features side by side.
Credit cards
23
Rewards and low-rate options
Debit cards
10
Everyday spending
Providers
9
Across NZ market
Compare low-rate, rewards, Airpoints and cashback credit cards. Filter by tier, network, annual fee and rewards programme.
23 cards from 9 providersCompare Visa Debit, Mastercard Debit and EFTPOS cards. Filter by network, fees and features like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
10 cards from 9 providersChoosing between a credit card and a debit card comes down to how you like to manage your money. Each has clear strengths in different situations. Here's a side-by-side look at the key differences to help you decide — or whether you need both.
You borrow from the bank each time you tap or swipe. A credit limit is set based on your income and credit score. You receive a monthly statement and have an interest-free period (typically 44–55 days) to pay the balance in full before interest is charged.
Spending comes directly from your bank account — you can only use money you already have. Most NZ transaction accounts include a Visa or Mastercard debit card that works online and overseas at no extra cost.
Many New Zealanders keep a debit card for daily spending and a low-fee credit card for online purchases and travel. This way you get the fraud protection and rewards of a credit card while keeping your main account safe from overspending. Just pay the credit card balance in full each month to avoid interest.
The best card for a particular transaction depends on the situation. Here's a practical breakdown:
Online purchases — credit cards offer chargeback protection if goods don't arrive or are faulty. Overseas travel — some cards waive foreign transaction fees and offer travel insurance. Large planned expenses — use the interest-free period to spread the cost over a month without paying interest.
Daily expenses — groceries, fuel, coffee. Keeps spending within your actual balance. ATM withdrawals — no cash advance fees like credit cards charge. Budget control — when you want a hard cap on spending to avoid debt.
If you want to build credit history, earn rewards or need chargeback protection for online purchases, a credit card adds genuine value — provided you can pay the balance in full each month. If you prefer to spend only what you have and want to avoid any risk of debt, a debit card is the safer choice. Many New Zealanders carry both.
Using a credit card responsibly — paying on time and keeping utilisation low — builds a positive credit history that mortgage lenders value. However, your total available credit limit (even unused) counts against your borrowing capacity. Consider reducing limits before applying for a home loan.
Look for a card with no foreign transaction fee — some premium credit cards waive this entirely. For debit cards, the lowest NZ fee is around 1.10%. Always choose to pay in the local currency (not NZD) at overseas terminals to avoid dynamic currency conversion markups of 3–5%.
Yes. Most major NZ banks — ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Westpac and Kiwibank — support Apple Pay and Google Pay with both credit and debit cards. Setup takes under a minute through your banking app. Check our debit card comparison for bank-by-bank details.