Credit Cards
The most common Credit Cards in New Zealand and worldwide are Visa and Mastercard. There are also American Express cards available, see article here for further information.
Credit Cards can be a great way to earn some cash back, Airpoints, and other perks such as free travel insurance and exclusive deals.
However, Credit Cards are not for everyone! If you don’t pay it your balance off in full each month, it will cost far more than the rewards and benefits you receive.
Only making minimum payments is a quick way to let debt spiral out of control! If you think there’s a chance of this happening to you, consider Debit Cards or Low Rate Credit Cards.
Credit Card Types:
In the New Zealand market there are several different kinds of Credit Cards available. These come with differing interest rates, rewards, income requirements and fees.
See the below comparisons to get an idea of the differences and select the type to investigate further
Earn Air NZ Airpoints and redeem them on Air NZ Flights, Star Alliance Flights & more.
| Annual Fees | Credit Limits | Income Required | Reward Levels | Interest Rates |
| Med-High | $3,000-$20,000+ | $20,000-$70,000+ | Low-High | Med-High |
Gain access to a raft of rewards for your spending including cash back, redeeming points for online shopping, frequent flyer points, travel agents and more.
| Annual Fees | Credit Limits | Income Required | Reward Levels | Interest Rates |
| Med-High | $3,000-$20,000+ | $20,000-$70,000+ | Low-High | Med-High |
Great for access to credit for online shopping, travel or emergency use. Also a more suitable option if you may end up paying interest on your card.
| Annual Fees | Credit Limits | Income Required | Reward Levels | Interest Rates |
| Low | $500-$5,000 | <$20,000 | None-Low | Low |
Uses your own bank balance as opposed to credit. Possible to earn limited rewards. Great for people who may not be disciplined enough to pay off a Credit Card balance in full each month. Still provides benefits like online shopping and liability protection
| Annual Fees | Credit Limits | Income Required | Reward Levels | Interest Rates |
| Very Low | N/A | None | None-Minimal | N/A |