Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Discover vs Kiwibank
Discover
Higher score in this comparison
Kiwibank
Discover vs Kiwibank: the differences
| Compare | DiscoverReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | KiwibankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $0 | NZ$0 |
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49% | 12.9%Lower |
| Rewards type | Cashback | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3% | 1%Lower |
| Perks | $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access, Pre approval tool that does not impact your credit score, Card Lock in the mobile app, 99% nationwide acceptance (Nilson Report, Feb 2026), Virtual card available before the physical card arrives, if eligible | 55 days interest free on purchases |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.5% |
| Rewards rate | 1% cash back on all other purchases; 5% cash back in rotating categories, plus dollar-for-dollar match in first year | Not confirmed |
| Credit needed | Good | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card kind (Credit).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Founded is lower at Discover: 1985 vs 2001.
- APR is lower at Kiwibank: 12.9% vs 18.49% to 28.49%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Kiwibank: 1% vs 3%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Discover: 15 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only Discover offers $0 fraud liability on unauthorized purchases, Unlimited Cashback Match: dollar for dollar match of cash back earned in the first 365 days, Free CreditWise credit monitoring and FICO Score 8 access.
- Perks: only Kiwibank offers 55 days interest free on purchases.
- Support channels: only Kiwibank offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Discover
Discover suits people with a good credit history who want plain cash back and an annual fee of $0. The trade off is a balance transfer charge of 3% and an APR of 18.49% to 28.49%, so the savings depend on clearing balances and paying in full each month.
Kiwibank
Kiwibank suits New Zealand bank customers who want a plain everyday card, with a NZD 0 monthly fee on the Visa debit card and rewards listed as none. Costs stay light at home, but a currency conversion fee of 2.5% makes overseas spending the trade-off to weigh.
Score breakdown
| Area | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherFee free to hold with an annual fee of $0; borrow rates are the weak spot at 18.49% to 28.49%. | 8.9APR 12.9% on the credit card and a balance transfer fee of 1% for 6. |
| Offer | 9.4Cash back on all spend, a match in the opening year, a transfer window of 15 and phone support via phone, chat and help centre. | 9.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
Pick Discover if, pick Kiwibank if
Pick Discover if cost and balance transfer intro period matter most.
Pick Kiwibank if offer, apr, and balance transfer fee matter most.
Moving a 3,000 balance
Discover
90
3% of 3,000
Kiwibank
30
1% of 3,000
Kiwibank comes out 60 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 306 of 1594 | 325 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 102 of 421 | 106 of 421 |
| Balance transfer cards | 10 of 32 | 11 of 32 |
Where these facts come from
Discover
- discover.com: 12 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- capitalone.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Kiwibank
- kiwibank.co.nz: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- creditcardscompare.co.nz: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- wise.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Discover by Capital One, N.A. | Kiwibank Limited |
| Headquarters | United States | New Zealand |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2001 |
| Support channels | Phone, Chat, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more |
Loans
| Fact | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal |
Savings
| Fact | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | NZ$0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Discover | Kiwibank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 18.49% to 28.49%above the median | 12.9%above the median | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 2.5%above the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 15 monthsabove the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 3%at the median | 1%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Discover
Pros
- An annual fee of $0, and Discover ranks 1 of 312 brands on that measure.
- Cash back on all purchases plus a matching amount added in the opening year, on a card that costs $0 to hold.
- A balance transfer offer of 15 at 3%, against a group median of 2.72% on headline rate.
Cons
- The APR of 18.49% to 28.49% runs well above the credit card median of 16%, so carrying a balance month to month is expensive.
- The balance transfer charge of 3% lands on top of an offer of 15, which cuts into what the transfer saves.
- The higher cash back rate sits in rotating categories, so the rate earned on a given purchase can move from month to month.
Kiwibank
Pros
- The Visa debit card carries a monthly fee of NZD 0 and ranks 1 of 422 on that measure.
- Support covers phone, email and chat, so you can reach a person in the way you prefer.
- Purchases on the credit card can run interest free, with 55 days interest free on purchases.
Cons
- Spending abroad is costly: the currency conversion fee is 2.5%, which ranks Kiwibank at 196 of 258.
- The credit card has a rewards type of none, so spending earns nothing back.
- The debit card is aimed at business customers, so personal shoppers get less from it.
Who each suits
Discover
Who it suits
- People with a good credit history who spend across many merchants and want cash back rather than points.
- Anyone clearing an old balance and happy to pay 3% to move it inside 15.
- Cardholders who would rather call than email, since the listed routes are phone, chat and help centre.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for anyone who needs no interest at all on what they owe: Varo Believe Secured Credit Card lists an APR of 0%.
- Not for readers who judge on the annual fee alone: bunq and Wise both sit at €0 and £0, so the deciding facts here are 15 of transfers at 3% and the cash back match.
Kiwibank
Who it suits
- New Zealand bank customers who want an everyday Visa debit card without a monthly charge.
- People who want a credit card with an interest-free purchase window and an annual fee of NZD 0.
- Borrowers moving an existing balance who can use the 6 introductory window.
Who should look elsewhere
- Wise, if you convert currency often, because a currency conversion fee of 2.5% pushes Kiwibank down the fee ranking.
- bunq, if your spending sits outside New Zealand, since bunq's monthly fee is €0 while Kiwibank's card serves a single market.
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, if you want the card secured, since Kiwibank offers a debit card and a credit card instead.
Current offers
Discover
Current offer
Bonus
Discover it Cash Back $200 welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening
One-time, new cardholders only, available by clicking Apply Now on the page; may not be available if you navigate away or close the page
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match on Discover it Cash Back: Dollar-for-dollar match of all cash back earned in the first 365 days, no limit
For new cardholders; no purchase minimums; offered from account approval through first 365 days; promotional offer may not be available in the future
Source, checked September 26, 2026
First period offer
0% intro APR on Discover it Cash Back: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Eligible customers only; 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Discover | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Discover
What does Discover cost to hold the card?+
The annual fee is $0, and on that measure Discover sits at 1 of 312 brands on the site, so holding the card costs nothing at the front door. What you do pay is interest on a carried balance, which runs at 18.49% to 28.49%. Card offers are judged on both numbers.
What are the balance transfer terms?+
The transfer offer runs for 15 and the charge is 3% on the balance you move. Read the two together: the window sets how long you have to clear the old balance, and the charge sets what the move costs. It is a one off cost attached to the transfer rather than a running fee.
Kiwibank
What does the Kiwibank debit card cost each month?+
The Visa debit card has a monthly fee of NZD 0, which is why Kiwibank ranks 1 of 422 on that measure. The card is a debit card on the visa network, so the monthly charge is the only regular cost listed.
What does it cost to spend in another currency?+
The currency conversion fee is 2.5% on the debit card, and Kiwibank sits at 196 of 258 on that measure. Spending in New Zealand on the card avoids that cost, so the card suits local use. Travellers who convert often should weigh the fee before applying.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Related by the facts
Discover
Kiwibank