ASB Visa Rewards Credit Card

Roland Bleyer

Credit Card Expert with over 15 years card experience and the founder of Creditcard.co.nz. Ask Roland a Question about this card.

The ASB Visa Rewards Card

The ASB Visa Rewards Card is a flexible rewards card that earns points on ASB’s True Rewards programme. With an affordable account fee, the card allows cardholders to stack up True Rewards dollars on their everyday card spending, which can then be redeemed in a number of ways, covering travel and merchandise, shopping with EFTPOS, giving to charity and more.

What we love...

While the True Rewards programme may have a wide variety of redemption options, the way in which the ASB Visa Rewards Card earns points is pretty simple too. As a cardholder, you will earn 1 True Rewards dollar for every $150 spent on eligible purchases. Every True Rewards dollar equals NZD $1, which can be redeemed in the following ways:

Travel: You can redeem your True Rewards dollars at House of Travel to book flights on any airline, for any seat, to any destination. You can also book your rental car and accommodation, and other travel arrangements.

In-store: Your True Rewards dollars can act just like real dollars to redeem instantly at partner stores, simply by using your True Rewards card as you would your EFTPOS card.

Online: Check out the True Rewards online store to redeem your True Rewards dollars for merchandise or gift vouchers.

Charities: Transfer your True Rewards dollars to one of the many charities within the programme, including St John, Auckland Coastguard or the Starship Foundation.

Gifting: You can also choose to transfer to other True Rewards members, which could allow you to pool your True Rewards dollars for a bigger reward.

ASB KiwiSaver Scheme: You can transfer your True Rewards dollars into any ASB KiwiSaver Scheme account to boost your savings – or someone else’s.

Fuel Discounts: With your AA Membership card or registered AA Smartfuel card, you can switch from earning True Rewards dollars to earning cents off per litre using your ASB rewards credit card with AA Smartfuel.

While many rewards cards charge much higher account fees or annual fees – making it harder to get value from rewards earned – this card has a pretty affordable account fee. A spend of $6,000 per year on the card covers the card’s annual account fee, so as long as you’re spending more than that – and paying off your balance before it attracts interest – it could offer great value.

What’s not so great...

Rewards cards typically charge higher rates of interest on purchases and cash advances. The ASB Visa Rewards Card is no exception. If you tend to carry a balance on your card, the interest you pay will likely negate the value of any rewards you earn – which is why cards such as these tend to suit cardholders who pay off their balance in full each month.

Why should you choose this card?

If you clear your balance each month and want to earn rewards on a low fee card, the ASB Visa Rewards Card could be well worth looking in to. You can earn points on your everyday card spending, to then choose from an array of redemption options.

Aside from its rewards, the card doesn’t offer much else in the way of features, but this may suit you if you simply want a rewards card with no extras. It does offer tech compatibility however, allowing you to sync with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay. ASB Virtual is also available, which allows you to tap and pay with your Android device, as well as an ASB PayTag sticker that turns almost anything into a mobile payment device.

The card does offer 0% p.a. on balance transfers for six months, which could work well for cardholders who can afford to pay off new spending alongside their transferred balance. However, bear in mind any unpaid balance reverts to the card’s high purchase rate after the intro period.

Overall Rating

A simple rewards card, the ASB Visa Rewards Card focuses on rewards, offering an affordable account fee and 0% p.a. on balances for six months.