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NBK review

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

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Our verdict

NBK pairs a debit card built around travel with a classic credit card charging an annual fee of KWD 30 and an APR of 12%. It suits Kuwaiti households wanting everyday spending and a credit card from a single long-established local bank, plus students and younger account holders.

Key facts

Best for
Kuwaiti residents who want a travel-ready debit card from a long-established local bank
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, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Travel
Audience
Students, Kids
Official website
nbk.com

Credit cards

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, Help-centre (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Features
Travel
Audience
Students, Kids

Apps and profiles

Get the app
App Store
Elsewhere
WikidataWikipediaXLinkedInyoutube.com

Pros and cons

Pros

  • A debit card aimed at travel, listed as the brand's main feature in travel
  • Targets students and kids as well as everyday spenders through student and kids
  • Reach by phone and a help centre through phone and help centre
  • A long-standing Kuwaiti institution, founded in 1952 and based in Kuwait

Cons

  • The credit card carries an annual fee of KWD 30 on top of its 12% APR
  • Currency conversion runs 3% to 5% on the credit card, above the site median of 1%
  • Support runs on phone and help centre only, with no chat or email listed
NBK

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Who it suits

  • Kuwaiti households that want a single bank for a debit card and a credit card
  • Students and younger account holders covered by the brand's audience, student and kids
  • Travellers abroad who want travel features built into a local debit card

Who should look elsewhere

  • Travellers who want a card with no currency conversion markup, since fees run 3% to 5%
  • Anyone looking for a fee free credit card, given the annual fee of KWD 30
  • Card holders who want chat or email support, as channels run to phone and help centre only

Who runs it

NBK is National Bank of Kuwait, a bank based in Kuwait and founded in 1952, so the account sits with an established local institution rather than a newer pay firm. Support runs through phone and help centre, which covers phone and a help centre, giving readers someone to call about an account rather than an in-app form alone.

How NBK compares

Where NBK 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

Who runs NBK and how old is the bank?+

NBK is National Bank of Kuwait, a bank headquartered in Kuwait and founded in 1952. Support runs through phone and help centre, which covers phone and a help centre, so account questions can be raised by speaking to someone as well as online.

What does the NBK debit card cost?+

The debit card is listed as a debit account, and travel is the main feature on it in travel. The bank publishes a broader card range covering audiences described in student and kids, so the same relationship can suit students and younger account holders.

What does the NBK credit card charge?+

The credit card has an annual fee of KWD 30 and an APR of 12%, and it is a credit card rather than a charge card. Rewards come as points, with the listed perks, NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts and Flexible payment, adding discounts and purchase protection on top.

How much is the currency conversion fee?+

Currency conversion on the NBK card runs 3% to 5%, above the site median of 1% and above the 0% to 2.5% range that covers many cards compared here. Spending outside Kuwait therefore costs more per transaction than with a low fee card.

Who is the NBK card aimed at?+

The audience listed in student and kids covers students and kids alongside ordinary personal accounts, and the debit card is aimed at everyday spending. That mix suits a family banking relationship rather than a single purpose account.

Is the NBK card good for travel?+

Travel is the feature named in travel for the debit card, so overseas use is part of the design. The cost of that use is the 3% to 5% conversion fee, which readers spending heavily abroad should weigh before choosing it.

Sources

Compiled from 6 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.

Not confirmed yet: Monthly fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.

NBK

NBK

Kuwaiti residents who want a travel-ready debit card from a long-established local bank

9.0/10See alternatives