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National Bank of Kuwait Cards review

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

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Our verdict

National Bank of Kuwait Cards suits a Kuwaiti cardholder who wants to borrow at a low rate and earn points from a long-established bank, rather than someone chasing a fee-free account or cheap foreign spending. The Classic credit card charges interest at 12% on balances.

Key facts

Best for
A Kuwaiti borrower's first bank credit card, with low interest and points.
Annual fee
KWD 30 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
APR
12% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Currency conversion fee
3% to 5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Rewards type
Points (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Perks
NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts, Flexible payment, NBK Secure Shopping, Minimum card limit KD 250 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card kind
Credit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
National Bank of Kuwait (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Kuwait (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1952 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Rewards
Audience
Students, Kids
Official website
nbk.com

Debit cards

Currency conversion fee
3% to 5% (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Card type
Debit (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Legal entity
National Bank of Kuwait (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Headquarters
Kuwait (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Founded
1952 (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Support channels
Phone, Email, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Rewards
Audience
Students, Kids

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaXLinkedIn

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Points rewards run through the NBK Rewards Program, with instant discounts and NBK Secure Shopping listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment.
  • Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone call, an email or the help centre are all available.
  • The bank behind the cards is National Bank of Kuwait, founded 1952 and based in Kuwait, so the counterparty is a long-established bank.
  • A debit option sits alongside the credit card, with a card type of debit, and the card audience covers students and kids (student and kids).

Cons

  • The Classic credit card charges an annual fee of KWD 30, where Wise charges £0 and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0.
  • Currency conversion runs 3% to 5% on foreign spend, above the site median 1% and the upper quartile 2.5%.
  • Credit limits start at the minimum card limit listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment, so a large planned balance will not fit at the outset.
  • Rewards arrive as points rather than cash, so the return depends on how the points are redeemed.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards

Ready to try National Bank of Kuwait Cards?

Scored 9.3 / 10 by DebitCue.

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Who it suits

  • Kuwaiti adults who want a bank credit card and can carry the annual fee of KWD 30.
  • Borrowers who keep balances short and care most about the interest rate of 12%.
  • Households that want one bank for spending and borrowing together, since a debit card sits alongside the credit card (debit).

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travellers who pay in other currencies: conversion runs 3% to 5%, so Wise suits spending abroad better.
  • Anyone who wants no annual charge: Wise charges £0 and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card charges $0.
  • Cardholders who want a fee-free card to rebuild credit, where the Chime Card (Secured Visa Credit Card) charges $0.

Rewards and perks

The Classic credit card pays in points, so the rewards type is points. The wider benefit set is listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment, which covers the NBK Rewards Program, instant discounts, flexible payment and NBK Secure Shopping, alongside a minimum card limit. Points tie the card to the bank's own loyalty setup, so the reward sits with a wider relationship rather than a standalone cashback scheme. A cardholder who spends lightly will earn lightly, because the card rewards volume rather than account size.

Using it day to day

Alongside the Classic credit card the bank issues a plain debit card, with a card type of debit. Paying with the debit side draws on money in the account rather than a credit line, which keeps everyday spending separate from borrowing. Questions about either card go to the same desk, with support on phone, email and help centre, so a call, an email or the help centre covers most cases. Because both cards sit in one relationship, a holder who runs the pair can keep spending and borrowing visible together.

Fees and currency costs

The Classic credit card charges an annual fee of KWD 30, set against £0 at Wise. Borrowing costs 12%, and that rate is the strongest part of the offer, sitting under both the credit ranking median 20.85% and the site median 20.97%. Foreign spending is the weak part, with conversion on the credit card at 3% to 5%, above the site median 1% and the upper quartile 2.5%. A holder who pays in local currency and clears the balance can treat the annual fee as the main cost.

Who runs it

The cards are issued by National Bank of Kuwait, which is headquartered in Kuwait and was founded in 1952. That makes the issuer a domestic bank with a branch-based operation rather than a new app, and the credit card is a revolving product from an established lender. Support is handled in house, and the listed routes are phone, email and help centre, so questions reach the bank itself. Readers outside the market should note that fees, limits and credit rules here are set for the home market.

How National Bank of Kuwait Cards compares

Where National Bank of Kuwait Cards is available

Available
Bahrain, China, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

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

Frequently asked questions

What does the Classic credit card cost each year?+

The annual fee on the credit card is KWD 30. That cost lands every year the account stays open, so anyone who keeps the card mainly for a single large purchase should weigh it against the interest saving. Wise and the Varo Believe Secured Credit Card both charge £0 and $0.

What rate do I pay for borrowing?+

Purchases and balances on the credit card are charged at 12%. On the site's ranking of brands by interest rate, the card sits at position 27 out of 133, which puts it among the cheaper names on the list. The credit group median is 20.85%.

What does spending in another currency cost?+

Conversion on the credit card runs 3% to 5% on foreign purchases. Compare that with the site median 1% and the upper quartile 2.5%, and the gap is wide. Anyone who pays for holidays abroad should keep this card for local spending or open a multi-currency account such as Wise.

What kind of rewards does the card pay?+

The card pays in points, so the rewards type is points. The wider set of benefits is listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment, covering the NBK Rewards Program, instant discounts, flexible payment and NBK Secure Shopping. Points suit a cardholder who spends steadily in a single market, since the value depends on how the points are redeemed.

Does the bank also issue a debit card?+

Yes, alongside the credit card the bank lists a plain debit card, with a card type of debit. The audience for that side covers students and kids, as shown in student and kids, so a household can hold a spending card and a credit card with the same bank.

How do I reach the bank if something goes wrong?+

Support runs on phone, email and help centre, so a phone call, an email or the help centre cover the main routes. For a disputed transaction on the credit card, the call handles it in a single step, and email or the help centre are the fallback when the line is busy.

Who is behind the card and where is it based?+

The cards are issued by National Bank of Kuwait, the bank itself rather than a partner or a third-party issuer. It was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Kuwait, so the fees and the credit rules here are set for the home market.

Is there a minimum credit limit on the card?+

The published benefits set out a minimum card limit, listed in NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment. That matters for anyone planning to carry a large balance, because the starting ceiling is modest and a higher limit is usually a matter of the bank's assessment rather than the card terms alone.

Sources

Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

National Bank of Kuwait Cards

National Bank of Kuwait Cards

A Kuwaiti borrower's first bank credit card, with low interest and points.

9.3/10See alternatives