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Kiwibank review

Updated September 28, 2026 · DebitCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026

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Our verdict

Kiwibank suits New Zealand customers who already bank with the brand and want everyday spending and borrowing on one relationship. The credit card carries an annual fee of NZD 0 and an APR of 12.9%, so it only suits you if you clear balances rather than carry them.

Key facts

Best for
Kiwibank customers in New Zealand who want an everyday Visa card plus a low interest credit card with a NZD 0 annual fee.
Monthly fee
NZ$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Currency conversion fee
2.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card type
Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card network
Visa (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Kiwibank Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
New Zealand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2001 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Audience
Business
Official website
kiwibank.co.nz

Credit cards

Annual fee
NZ$0 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
APR
12.9% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Currency conversion fee
2.5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards type
None (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Balance transfer intro period
6 months (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Balance transfer fee
1% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Perks
55 days interest-free on purchases (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card kind
Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
Kiwibank Limited (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
New Zealand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
2001 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Chat, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Pricing model
No annual fee
Audience
Business

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App StoreGoogle Play
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaXTrustpilotLinkedIn

Pros and cons

Pros

  • The credit card has an annual fee of NZD 0 and the everyday Visa debit card has a monthly fee of NZD 0
  • Purchases get an interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases, which suits clearing balances in full each cycle
  • Help is offered on phone, email and chat, including phone, email, chat and a help centre
  • Kiwibank is supervised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand and has traded from 2001 as Kiwibank Limited

Cons

  • The rewards type on the credit card is none, so everyday spending earns nothing back
  • The currency conversion fee of 2.5% ranks 192 of 259 brands compared
  • A balance transfer charges a fee of 1% and lasts 6, so the saving is short lived
Kiwibank

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Scored 9.2 / 10 by DebitCue.

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Who it suits

  • Kiwibank account holders in New Zealand who want a Visa card for everyday spending with a monthly fee of NZD 0
  • People planning a large purchase and paying it off inside the interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases
  • Business users of a Visa debit card, since the card is aimed at a business audience

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travellers who spend abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 2.5%
  • Shoppers who want cashback, since the rewards type is none
  • Borrowers carrying a balance past the 6 intro period, who pay 12.9% and might prefer the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card

How Kiwibank compares

Where Kiwibank is available

Available
New Zealand
Licence in New Zealand
Reserve Bank of New Zealand, checked September 26, 2026

Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)

Frequently asked questions

What does it cost to keep a Kiwibank card?+

The credit card has an annual fee of NZD 0 and the everyday Visa debit card has a monthly fee of NZD 0, so holding either costs nothing on its own. Borrowing on the credit card is what costs money, at an APR of 12.9% on any balance you carry.

What is the interest-free period on purchases?+

Purchases get an interest-free period of 55 days interest free on purchases, which is one of the longer runs on the market and suits people who clear the balance each cycle. Any unpaid amount after that period is charged at the standard rate of 12.9%.

Is Kiwibank regulated?+

Kiwibank is supervised by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand, so it operates inside the New Zealand regulatory framework rather than as an offshore virtual bank. Read the account terms to see what applies to your own money in each case.

What does a balance transfer cost?+

A balance transfer carries a fee of 1% and runs for an intro period of 6. It suits a short burst of borrowing rather than a long plan, since the rate returns to 12.9% once that window closes.

Does the Kiwibank credit card pay any rewards?+

The rewards type on the credit card is none, so there is no cashback, points or mileage scheme on spending. Readers who earn money back on daily spend should look at a rewards card instead of this one.

How much is the currency conversion fee?+

The currency conversion fee is 2.5%, which ranks 192 of 259 brands compared. The fee sits well above the middle of the market, so the card is weaker for frequent overseas spending than for local use.

Who is the Kiwibank card aimed at?+

The everyday Visa card is aimed at a business audience, and the card type is debit on the visa network. Kiwibank has operated as Kiwibank Limited from NZ since 2001.

How do I get help with my card?+

Support runs on phone, email and chat, so a blocked card abroad can be sorted by phone, while a routine question can go through email, chat or the help centre. Help is offered in New Zealand, where the accounts are held.

Sources

Compiled from 9 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.

Kiwibank

Kiwibank

Kiwibank customers in New Zealand who want an everyday Visa card plus a low interest credit card with a NZD 0 annual fee.

9.2/10See alternatives