Countdown Onecard Visa 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 Onecard Visa

With no annual fee for the first year, the Onecard Visa offers great value to Countdown shoppers looking to boost their Onecard points balance. Using the Onecard Visa, cardholders can earn Onecard points on day to day card spending, while earning points twice when shopping at Countdown. Fuel savings via AA Smartfuel are also on offer.

What we love...

When it comes to rewards cards, a no annual fee offer can be an awesome find. Paying no annual fee in the first year, you can test the card’s suitability, while essentially earning rewards for free. Which is exactly what the Onecard Visa is currently offering. If you apply today, you will pay no annual fee in the first year, with an affordable annual fee coming into effect after that.

Obviously, the Onecard Visa earns points within the Onecard loyalty programme, offered by supermarket chain Countdown. So, what does the card have to offer in terms of points earning and redemption? With the Onecard Visa, you will earn 1 Onecard point for every $10 you spend on almost anything you buy, anywhere Visa is accepted.

That means, if you spend $100 on eligible purchases, you will collect 10 Onecard points, if you spend $200, you will collect 20 points, and so on. Using your card day to day, you can see how those points could really stack up. What’s not eligible for points earning? Exclusions include cash advances, preloaded store cards, travellers cheques, and gambling and business purchases.

Another nice feature on this card allows you to earn points twice when you shop at Countdown: once with your card and once as a Onecard member. By keeping an eye out for bonus offers in-store, you could boost your points earning even further. Note, Onecard points from bonus point promotions will not be doubled.

And points redemption? For every 200 Onecard points earned, you will receive a $15 Onecard rewards voucher. The more Onecard points you earn, the more rewards vouchers you'll receive. Onecard rewards vouchers are sent out four times a year, in February, May, August and November. You can use these vouchers in-store at Countdown to receive money off your shop.

But that’s not all. Teaming up with AA Smartfuel, the Onecard Visa also allows you to earn discounts on your fuel costs at participating BP and Caltex service stations. When you use your Onecard Visa at Countdown, you can earn AA Smartfuel discounts, helping you to keep costs down at the pump.

What’s not so great...

As with most rewards cards, the Onecard Visa won’t suit cardholders who regularly carry a balance. Why? Thanks to its relatively high purchase rate, cardholders will accumulate interest on their carried over balance, making it hard to see any real value on the points they earn, especially after the first year, when they will also have to start paying annual fees.

Why should you choose this card?

If you are a regular Countdown shopper, the Onecard Visa could help you save big on your grocery bills. Allowing you to earn Onecard points on everyday purchases – and double points at Countdown – you could earn rewards that you really use, as you get money off your shop in the form of vouchers every quarter.

On top of that, you may also be eligible for free delivery with your Countdown shop when you spend $200 or more online. Bear in mind that free delivery is not available in some areas, so check the Onecard site for more details.

While there are few other features on offer, this does allow the card provider to charge a more modest standard annual fee, so cardholders can see more value on their rewards. Cardholders can also earn points faster by adding a card for a family member (16 years and over) for a small one-off payment.

Also on offer is up to 55 days interest free on purchases whenever you clear your balance by the due date the previous month, plus Visa extras such as Visa payWave for quicker transactions on purchases under $80, and online purchase protection with Verified by Visa.

Overall Rating

Allowing cardholders to boost their Onecard points earning, the Onecard Visa earns Onecard points on everyday purchases (doubled up on Countdown shopping), plus no annual fee for the first year and up to 55 days interest free on purchases.