Review of BNZ Travel Cards in NZ: Complete Guide for New Zealand residents

If you are heading overseas for a holiday, study, or work, consider using a travel money card. These convenient cards let you pay in local currencies and help you avoid international transaction charges on your regular debit or credit card.

Existing Bank of New Zealand account holders may wonder about BNZ card that can be used for travel purposes. We go over the top options available with BNZ in this guide.

Table of contents
Travel Cards Available with BNZ Benefits of BNZ Travel Cards Using BNZ Travel Card Overseas BNZ Travel Card Exchange Rates Summary

Travel Cards Available with BNZ

Bank of New Zealand does not offer a specific travel money card. However, BNZ does offer travel benefits through their existing cards: The BNZ Flexi Visa Debit Card and the BNZ Advantage Card. Here is more information:¹

Flexi Debit Visa Card

The BNZ Flexi debit card can be used overseas for online and in-store purchases. The card works as a debit card and the currency is converted as your spend. You can also withdraw foreign currency from ATMs abroad. Since this card is compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay, you can use it to make mobile payments.²

BNZ Advantage Card

BNZ offers two credit card Advantage cards that New Zealand residents can use to pay overseas purchases:³

BNZ Advantage Visa Classic - earn rewards on spending overseas

BNZ Advantage Visa Classic is a credit card that enables NZ residents to earn rewards when spending overseas. Cardholders can choose whether they earn Flybuys rewards or BNZ points. This card allows for joint owners.

BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum - earn higher rewards and get travel insurance benefits

BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum is a credit card that rewards you more than the BNZ Advantage Visa Classic card. In addition to getting higher Flybuys or BNZ reward points, cardholders can benefit from travel insurance, concierge services, and emergency travel assistance.

Benefits of BNZ Travel Cards

Here's an overview of benefits of the Flexi Debit Card and Advantage Cards for travel purposes:

Flexi Debit Visa Card

On top of using the Flexi Debit Visa card at home, cardholders can use it when travelling overseas without getting a separate card. Here are additional benefits:⁴

• No annual fee.
• Compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay.
• Allows for overseas purchases and cash withdrawals at ATMs overseas
• It can be used from the BNZ app.
• Fraud protection available

Advantage Visa Classic**

The BNZ Advantage Visa Classic credit card can work for daily spending or travelling abroad. ⁵

1. Minimum credit limit of 500 NZD
2. Compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay
3. Maximum interest-free period available up to 55 days. Keep in mind that since this is a credit card, interest is charged on any balances you carry past the interest-free period.
4. A choice between Flybuys and BNZ rewards points
5. Get 1 Flybuys point for spending 40 NZD OR 1 BNZ point for spending 1 NZD. The reward points can be redeemed for travel, flights, hotel booking, loyalty programs, and eGift cards. Flybuys points lets you save on groceries or fuel and redeem at 7000+ Flybuys stores.

Advantage Visa Platinum

The BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum credit card offers better perks than the Advantage Visa Classic but has a higher account maintenance fee.⁵

1. Minimum credit limit of 8,000 NZD. You will pay interest on any balances you carry forward.
2. Compatible with Google Pay and Apple Pay
3. Choose between Flybuys or BNZ rewards points.
4. Get 1 Flybuys point for spending 20 NZD OR 1.67 BNZ points for spending 1 NZD.
5. Get up to 90 days of international travel insurance.
6. Emergency travel assistance
7. Concierge service

Since the BNZ travel cards are regular debit and credit cards, you cannot load any foreign currency. However, you can use them to make payments overseas. A currency conversion fee and a foreign transfer fee can be charged for every payment abroad.

BNZ Card Travel Insurance

BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum credit card offers travel insurance to cardholders. However, eligible cardholders must check their coverage before leaving New Zealand.

Here are the benefits of BNZ travel card insurance:

1. It may cover epidemics, pandemics, and overseas medical expenses.
2. 24/7 Emergency travel assistance is available from AIG Travel Insurance in an emergency.
3. Coverage for unexpected flight cancellations, delays, and mixed connections.
4. Coverage for loss of luggage and personal items.
5. Overseas and domestic rental car excesses are covered under this BNZ travel insurance policy.
6. While the maximum coverage term is 90 days, travellers can purchase a trip extension for up to 180 days.

Travel insurance is also available on the Advantage Visa Business credit card. It is unavailable on the Flexi Visa Debit Card or the Advantage Visa Classic credit card.⁶

Using BNZ Travel Card Overseas

The Flexi Debit Visa card and the Advantage credit cards can be used anywhere Visa is accepted. You can pay for purchases in person by swiping or tapping your BNZ cards. The cards are also compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay, and you can make payments from the BNZ app.

The cards can be used for cash withdrawal overseas at ATMs.

How to sign up for BNZ Travel Card

If you are new to BNZ, here is how to open an account and apply for a Visa debit or credit card:

Opening a BNZ account:

You can open a BNZ account online at the BNZ official website

1. Confirm whether you have a BNZ account.
2. If so, you can upgrade to a Flexi Debit Visa here.
3. If No, Continue answering the questions.
4. Proceed with the application.
5. Verify your identity.
6. Take your photos.
7. Visit a BNZ branch for verification, if required.
8. A card will be mailed to you.

Applying for a BNZ credit card

BNZ customers with a savings or loan account are eligible to apply for the Advantage Visa Classic and Advantage Visa Platinum credit cards.

1. Access the official BNZ website and log in to Internet Banking.
2. Gather your financial data and apply for a credit card by completing the application online.
3. You receive a confirmation email.
4. Once approved, you will be sent the credit card at the listed mailing address.

Once you receive your card, follow the instructions for how to activate it.

Paying with a BNZ Travel Card

You can use your BNZ debit or credit card overseas in multiple ways.

1. Swipe on the card machine for your in-store purposes.
2. You can use the Contactless payment mode for small purchases by tapping your card on the machine.
3. You can use Google Pay or Apple Pay by linking your debit or credit card.

Remember that each transaction will incur a foreign currency conversion charge of 2.25% of the equivalent NZ dollar amount.

If using a credit card, you will receive a bill and the amount to pay off. If you don’t pay the total in full, you will be charged an interest rate on the balance.

Using BNZ Travel Card in Foreign ATMs

You can use the BNZ cards to withdraw cash in foreign ATMs. BNZ does not charge ATM fees, but each withdrawal is subject to a currency conversion charge of 2.25%.

Withdrawals made using credit cards will be charged cash advance interest.

BNZ ATM Withdrawal Fees

Cardholders travelling overseas can use their BNZ cards at ATMs globally. However, it incurs a currency conversion charge of 2.25%.

Cash withdrawals through credit cards have interest from the withdrawal date to the payment date.⁸

ATM withdrawals overseas	Applicable Charges
ATM withdrawals overseas using Flexi Debit Visa Card	There is no charge, but currency conversion charges apply
ATM withdrawals overseas using Advantage Visa Classic	22.95% per annum cash advance interest rate
ATM withdrawals overseas using Advantage Visa Platinum	18.95% per annum cash advance interest rate
Currency conversion charges	2.25% of the New Zealand dollar equivalent

BNZ Travel Card Exchange Rate

The Bank of New Zealand published its exchange rates for foreign currency conversions.⁷ So whenever you charge a purchase in a foreign currency or withdraw from an ATM overseas, your currency conversion will be subject to this published exchange rate.

You'll find that BNZ's exchange rates can often be higher than the mid-market exchange rate you see on Google — and the one use by Wise.

Don’t want to lose your money to extra charges? Meet Wise Card that offers currency conversions as the mid-market exchange rate without any markups.

Summary

Bank of New Zealand used to offer the MasterCard Cash Passport, but now it provides a range of debit and credit cards that can be used overseas. Since these cards cannot be loaded in foreign currency, they incur a currency conversion fee of 2.25% on every transaction, plus an exchange rate fee. The BNZ Advantage Visa Platinum credit card offers an in-built travel insurance, which is a nice perk, but if you want to save money when travelling, take a look at other travel card options.

To help save on foreign currency transactions as you travel, we invite you to check out Wise Travel Card as an alternative. It can be loaded with over 40+ different currencies and allow you to swipe like a local when traveling with the mid-market exchange rate.

Get a Wise card today 💳

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Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

Sources used for this article:

1. BNZ Travel Card
2. BNZ Flexi Debit Visa Card
3. BNZ Advantage Credit Cards
4. Flexi Debit Card benefits
5. Advantage Visa Classic and Advantage Visa Platinum benefits
6. BNZ Travel Insurance
7. BNZ Travel card exchange rate
8. BNZ ATM withdrawal fees

Sources verified on 3 June 2024.