[actiongirl76]

We arrived in NZ a few weeks ago and set up a bank account with ASB and received a standard EFTPOS card. Great!

However we soon discovered we needed a credit card to pay for internet purchases and to get our ski passes online.

ASB have given us a credit card, but on condition that we deposit $5,000 in a term deposit account with them for 6 months as we don't have PR (although we do have work visas).

Has anyone else had experience of this? Or know where we could get a credit card without this hassel!

Thanks
Actiongirl


NB: or those in the know EFTPOS is the standard card issued by banks that you can use to withdraw money from machines and can pay for goods and services in person almost anywhere in NZ. What it doesn't let you do is pay for goods and services over the phone or internet.

[benhila]

ASB have given us a credit card, but on condition that we deposit $5,000 in a term deposit account with them for 6 months as we don't have PR (although we do have work visas).

We are in exactly the same position (ASB, work visas, no PR). They allowed us to have a $1000 limit on the credit card without a deposit in a savings account but how far can $1000 go?

[Ojai]

Westpac offers a VisaPlus debit card that you can use like a credit card. No need to deposit thousands of dollars. It just accesses the funds in your account.

[jackie m]

I also have a Westpac Visaplus debit card I think they are the only bank to do this though. I'm sure someone will be able to confirm that.

Jackie

[incredible hulse]

Been here for 2yrs 4 months and banked with Kiwibank for all that time. Recently applied for a free credit card off them and gave up after being told I have to go into a branch to show my passport, my residents visa's etc despite faxing it to them (as originally requested) and despite the fact they took copies of it all when I first got here.

[Ojai]

Been here for 2yrs 4 months and banked with Kiwibank for all that time. Recently applied for a free credit card off them and gave up after being told I have to go into a branch to show my passport, my residents visa's etc despite faxing it to them (as originally requested) and despite the fact they took copies of it all when I first got here.

Wow, I have my Westpac one that I got this week. I applied and got it with no issues. Activated it by going into a branch and swiping my EFTPOS card. I think I lucked out on which bank we picked.

[Potato]

I think there's been a number of threads here regarding getting a credit card on a work visa. In summary, the ease of the process seems to vary- from person to person, bank to bank and branch to branch. The $5000 deposit certainly wasn't required by everyone.

[Leccy-Lee]

Its probably not what your after, but i post a link for others in future.

The "Loaded" card which is done by postshops is a prepaid credit card, ie: you top it up like a mobile phone, and then use it anywhere including by phone or online. Its reloadable so you just top it up again when you need to. Its not a proper banking solution, but i find mine very useful for phone bookings and some internet purchases.

Loaded Card.. https://www.loadedcard.co.nz/

[PeteS]

When we arrived here we had accounts with Westpac. We applied for a credit card and were told we couldn't have one as we already had UK cards with limits that were way over our NZ assessed credit limit, and that if we wanted a credit card from them we would need to cancel our UK cards. A short, sharp, but very effective call to WestPac's Migrant Banking Unit in Auckland sorted things out. It was pointed out that they went all the way to London to get immigrant banking customers, and that they had (at the time) the proceeds from the sale of our UK house deposited with them. We were issued with credit cards almost straight away, and received a note saying they were sorry......:yes

We have subsequently opened accounts at the ANZ and had no problem at all with cards.

[James 1077]

We've got Westpac debit plus cards which are basically Visa Debit cards (I think it is Visa Delta in the UK). You can use them as credit cards online / overseas etc and as an EFTPOS card in New Zealand when you go into shops.

Money just debits from your normal cheque account so you can't go into debt.

[BaldyBeardyBloke]

I also have a Westpac Visaplus debit card I think they are the only bank to do this though. I'm sure someone will be able to confirm that.

Jackie

Correct, Westpac are currently the only bank offering this.

This is the start of what will become a national 'switch/maestro' universal payment card service, but it's a new idea to this country at the mo, so it will take time for the banking infrastructure to appear to support it.

More and more customers are enquiring/demanding it, so it's only a matter of time, just how much time, I wouldn't like to say, but don't hold your breath.

You can get 'pre-pay' cards that you can use online, such as the Prezzie Card, but they charge each time you top up, so you need to look at how economical they actually are.

[Leccy-Lee]

You can get 'pre-pay' cards that you can use online, such as the Prezzie Card, but they charge each time you top up, so you need to look at how economical they actually are.

See my post further above (Loaded card) ^^^ and free use mainly, so no horrible charges on them... :nice1