Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Emirates vs Kiwibank
Emirates
Kiwibank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | EmiratesReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | KiwibankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | $99 | NZ$0 |
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49% | 12.9%Lower |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%Lower | 2.5% |
| Rewards type | Miles | None |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsHigher | 6 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5% | 1%Lower |
| Perks | Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card, Priority Pass Select lounge access (Premium World Elite Mastercard), USD 120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 years (Premium World Elite Mastercard), No foreign transaction fees on international purchases | 55 days interest free on purchases |
| Rewards rate | 3 Miles per USD 1 on Emirates spend, 2 Miles per USD 1 on travel spend, 1 Mile per USD 1 on all other spend | 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
- Kiwibank scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.1.
- Founded is lower at Emirates: 1985 vs 2001.
- APR is lower at Kiwibank: 12.9% vs 19.49% to 29.49%.
- Currency conversion fee is lower at Emirates: 0% vs 2.5%.
- Balance transfer fee is lower at Kiwibank: 1% vs 5%.
- Balance transfer intro period is higher at Emirates: 12 months vs 6 months.
- Perks: only Emirates offers Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months (Rewards World Elite Mastercard), Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account remains open, 25% discount on purchase or gift of Skywards Miles when paying with the card.
- Perks: only Kiwibank offers 55 days interest free on purchases.
Our verdict on each
Emirates
Emirates Skywards fits people who spend with the airline and travel often, and rewards their miles rather than their balance. Interest is costly at 19.49% to 29.49%, so the card only earns its place for customers who clear it 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 | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Costs $99 a year, far above a €0 median across the cards ranked here. | 8.9HigherAPR 12.9% on the credit card and a balance transfer fee of 1% for 6. |
| Offer | 9.3Pays miles with no foreign transaction fee at 0%, plus tier status and lounge access. | 9.9Higher |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
Moving a 3,000 balance
Emirates
150
5% of 3,000
Kiwibank
30
1% of 3,000
Kiwibank comes out 120 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.
Sources behind this comparison
Emirates
- emirates.com: 14 facts, 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
How they place
| Ranking | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Credit and debit cards | 395 of 1594 | 325 of 1594 |
| Balance transfer cards | 13 of 32 | 11 of 32 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | No annual fee |
| Features | Rewards | Not confirmed |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Business |
| Legal entity | Emirates | Kiwibank Limited |
| Headquarters | United Arab Emirates | New Zealand |
| Founded | 1985Lower | 2001 |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centre |
Loans
| Fact | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Lender type | Not confirmed | Direct lender |
| Loan types | Not confirmed | Personal |
Savings
| Fact | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | NZ$0 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Emirates | Kiwibank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| APR | 19.49% to 29.49%above the median | 12.9%above the median | 11.635 |
| Currency conversion fee | 0%below the median | 2.5%above the median | 1% |
| Balance transfer intro period | 12 monthsat the median | 6 monthslowest quarter | 12 months |
| Balance transfer fee | 5%highest quarter | 1%below the median | 3% |
Median across 486 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Emirates
Pros
- Balance transfers cost 5% and carry an introductory period of 12.
- Skywards Miles do not expire while the card account stays open.
- Support runs on email, chat and phone, so phone, chat, email and a help centre are all covered.
Cons
- The annual fee of $99 sits far above bunq at €0.
- An APR of 19.49% to 29.49% is higher than the 14.45% median across ranked cards.
- Rewards are miles, so the value depends on how often you fly with Emirates.
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
Emirates
Who it suits
- Emirates flyers who put most of their spending with the airline and want miles that do not expire
- Travellers who pay abroad often, since the currency conversion fee is 0%
- Anyone redeeming miles for tickets rather than cash back, given the rewards type is miles
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, where a fee of €0 suits readers who want no annual cost and no airline loyalty tie
- Wise, at £0, for a spending card held across currencies rather than a miles card
- Varo Believe Secured Credit Card, at $0, for building credit history rather than collecting miles
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
Emirates
Current offer
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for the first year with the Rewards World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Silver tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Silver tier from the second year onwards spend USD 20,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for the first year with the Premium World Elite Mastercard: Emirates Skywards Gold tier status for 12 months from card account open date
Primary cardholders only; to retain Gold tier from the second year onwards spend USD 40,000 in Net Purchases annually; status can take up to 8 weeks to reflect
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Emirates | Kiwibank |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Emirates
What does the Emirates credit card cost to hold?+
The card charges an annual fee of $99. Beyond that, the only other cost listed is a currency conversion fee of 0% on foreign purchases, so cardholders spending in another currency are not surcharged on top of the fee.
What interest rate applies to a balance?+
Balances carry an APR of 19.49% to 29.49%, above the 14.45% median across the cards ranked here. That rate is the reason the card suits people who pay in full, since interest at this level quickly outruns the miles earned.
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.
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Emirates
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