NZ’s Best Credit Cards

Bank of the Year | Credit Cards

Congratulations to TSB, the winner of Canstar’s award for Bank of the Year | Credit Cards.

Each year, Canstar’s expert research team evaluates all the major credit cards on the market. This year, 30 cards from 11 providers were rated using an exacting methodology. The awards and ratings are split into three main categories:

• Low Rate Cards
• Reward Cards: $12,000 | $24,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 Annual Spend
• Flight Reward Cards: $12,000 | $24,000 | $60,000 | $120,000 Annual Spend

When rating the performance of the cards, our research team judges them for features including:

The results are then condensed into a consumer-friendly five-star concept. Top-rating cards in each category are rewarded our top 5-Star awards for Outstanding Value. And the overall best credit card provider earns our prestigious Bank of the Year | Credit Cards Award.

TSB: Bank of the Year | Credit Cards

For the third year in a row, the winner of Canstar’s Bank of the Year | Credit Cards Award is the TSB.

Once again our research shows that TSB leads the way in low-rate and rewards cards, plus it was the stand-out performer in our consumer satisfaction survey encompassing over 2500 credit card users, across features including customer service, fees and online banking.

Our research panel notes that TSB still offers the lowest purchase rate card in the market, and that the bank leads in features in the low-rate card profile, thanks to digital wallets and Apple and Google Pay.

Plus, its Platinum Mastercard delivers a competitive cashback offering of $1 for every $100 spent on eligible purchases.

TSB’s Award Winning Credit Cards

TSB offers two great credit card options:

TSB Low Rate Mastercard

Features:

• Mobile phone protection (T&Cs apply)
• Up to 55 days interest free

Fees and charges:

• $20 annual fee
• Additional card: $5 p.a.
• Purchase & cash advance interest rate: 11.95% pa

TSB Platinum Mastercard

Features:

• $1 cashback for every $100 spent on eligible purchases
• Mobile phone protection (T&Cs apply)
• Domestic & overseas travel insurance (Exclusions, T&Cs apply)
• Up to 55 days interest free

Fees and charges:

• $90 annual fee
• Additional card: $5 p.a.
• Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
• Cash advance interest rate: 22.95% p.a.

Compare Rewards Credit Cards

Compare Credit Cards with Canstar

If you are looking for a new credit card, then let Canstar be your guide. Perhaps you want one with a low interest rate, or low fees, or want to swap your rewards card from points to cash. Our free credit card comparison tool compares all the major cards in the market and awards the best our prestigious Star Ratings.

The comparison table below displays some of the low rate credit cards currently available on Canstar’s database for Kiwis looking to spend around $2000 per month (some may have links to providers’ websites). The products are sorted by our latest Star Rating (highest to lowest), followed by provider name (alphabetical). Use Canstar’s credit card comparison selector to view a wider range of credit cards. Canstar may earn a fee for referrals.

Compare Credit Cards with Canstar here!

Canstar’s 5-Star Winning Credit Cards

Our 5-Star winning credit cards deliver true value, whether you’re looking for a card with a low rate of interest, or one that offers great rewards, whatever your annual credit card spend.

Outstanding Value Low Rate Credit Card

Credit cards from three banks earned our 5-Star Outstanding Value Rating for their low-rate cards:

• ANZ – Low Rate Visa
• TSB – Low Rate Mastercard
• Westpac – Fee Free Mastercard

Outstanding Value Rewards Credit Card

The following rewards credit cards earned 5-Star Outstanding Value Ratings across different annual spends:

Rewards $12,000 Annual Spend

• SBS – Visa

Rewards $24,000 Annual Spend

• ASB – Visa Platinum
• BNZ – Advantage Visa Platinum

Rewards $60,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Gold Rewards Card
• ASB – Visa Platinum
• BNZ – Advantage Visa Platinum

Rewards $120,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Gold Rewards Card
• BNZ – Advantage Visa Platinum
• Westpac – hotpoints World Mastercard

Outstanding Value Flight Rewards Credit Card

The following flight rewards credit cards earned 5-Star Outstanding Value Ratings across different annual spends. And, as you can see, it’s Amex that dominates:

Flight Rewards $12,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Airpoints Card

Flight Rewards $24,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Airpoints Card

Flight Rewards $60,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Airpoints Card
• American Express – Airpoints Platinum Card
• American Express – Gold Rewards Card

Flight Rewards $120,000 Annual Spend

• American Express – Airpoints Platinum Card
• American Express – Gold Rewards Card
• Westpac – Airpoints World Mastercard

To compare the best credit cards for free with Canstar’s comparison tool, just click on the button below.

Compare Credit Card here!

About the author of this page

Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery puzzle book 5 Minute Murder.