Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
Kiwibank vs U.S. Bank
Kiwibank
U.S. Bank
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | KiwibankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | U.S. BankReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | NZ$0 | $0 |
| Currency conversion fee | 2.5% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Card type (Debit), Card network (Visa).
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Key differences
- U.S. Bank scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at U.S. Bank: 1863 vs 2001.
- Support channels: only Kiwibank offers Email, Chat.
- Audience: only U.S. Bank offers Student, Kids.
Our verdict on each
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.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank suits people who want a large US bank behind a rewards card that ranks 1 of 312 brands for annual fee. The same group also runs personal loans, savings and mortgages, so you can keep your money with one name across each product.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.9APR 12.9% on the credit card and a balance transfer fee of 1% for 6. | 9.2HigherPersonal loans carry an origination fee of 0 USD (no origination fees) and the checking account a monthly fee of $0. |
| Offer | 9.9Higher | 8.9The card pays 2% cash back on every purchase, with more when paired with a Smartly Savings account. |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.9Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 292 of 1492 | 175 of 1492 |
| Loans | 441 of 2043 | 280 of 2043 |
| Personal loans | 392 of 1317 | 254 of 1317 |
| Mortgages | 191 of 853 | 112 of 853 |
| Credit and debit cards | 325 of 1594 | 202 of 1594 |
| Credit cards | 106 of 421 | 73 of 421 |
| Debit cards | 202 of 826 | 124 of 826 |
| Balance transfer cards | 11 of 32 | 6 of 32 |
Licences and countries
| Country | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Not confirmed | |
| United States | Not confirmed | FDIC FDIC cert 6548 |
Additional countries for Kiwibank: 1. Additional countries for U.S. Bank: 1.
Where these facts come from
Kiwibank
- kiwibank.co.nz: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- glimp.co.nz: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- wise.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
U.S. Bank
- usbank.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Rewards, Secured |
| Audience | Business | Business, Student, KidsCovers more |
| Legal entity | Kiwibank Limited | U.S. Bank National Association |
| Headquarters | New Zealand | United States |
| Founded | 2001 | 1863Lower |
| Support channels | Phone, Email, Chat, Help centreCovers more | Phone, Help centre |
Credit cards
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Annual fee | NZ$0 | $0 |
| APR | 12.9% | 0%Lower |
| Rewards type | None | Cashback |
| Pricing model | No annual fee | No annual fee |
| Rewards rate | Not confirmed | Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase, plus up to an additional 2% on the first $10,000 in eligible Net Purchases each billing cycle when paired with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances (total 2.5% / 3% / 4% by qualifying balance) |
| Balance transfer intro period | 6 months | 12 monthsHigher |
| Balance transfer fee | 1%Lower | 5% |
| Credit needed | Not confirmed | Good |
| Perks | 55 days interest free on purchases | Cash back deals from brands via the U.S. Bank Mobile App or online banking, Flexible cash back redemption: direct deposit, statement credit, rewards card, merchant gift cards, U.S. Bank ExtendPay Plan with a $0 fee offer for new cardmembers on plans opened in the first 60 days, Contactless chip payment on all U.S. Bank credit cards |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Card kind | Credit | Credit |
Loans
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Loan amount | Not confirmed | $1,000 to $50,000 |
| Term | Not confirmed | 12 to 84 months |
| Arrangement fee | Not confirmed | 0 USD (no origination fees) |
| Credit check | Not confirmed | Hard |
| Funding time | Not confirmed | 1 to 4 business days after loan closing, same day if eligible |
| Representative example | Not confirmed | Loan payment example: Monthly payments for a $10,000 loan at 12.60% APR with a term of 36 months would be $335.02. |
| Rate type | Not confirmed | Variable |
| Lender type | Direct lender | Direct lender |
| Free early repayment | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Eligibility | Not confirmed | Credit approval and program guidelines; needs SSN, US home address and employment information; not all programs available in all states |
| Origination fee (%) | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Loan types | Personal | Personal, Debt consolidation, Credit line, CarCovers more |
| Use cases | Not confirmed | Home improvement |
Savings
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | Not confirmed | 3.5% |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $25 |
| Deposit protection | Not confirmed | FDIC up to USD 250,000 |
| Access terms | Not confirmed | Easy access to funds: withdraw or transfer at thousands of U.S. Bank branches and ATMs; open with $25, no fixed term |
| Account kind | Not confirmed | Easy access |
Mortgages
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| Initial rate | Not confirmed | 6.625% |
| APRC | Not confirmed | 6.794% |
| Fixed period | Not confirmed | 30 years |
| Maximum loan to value | Not confirmed | 75% |
| Purpose | Not confirmed | Purchase, Remortgage, First time buyer, Home equity |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Currency conversion fee | 2.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 1% |
Median across 336 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
U.S. Bank
Pros
- Rewards are cashback, with flexible redemption from direct deposit to statement credit and gift cards.
- Savings deposits carry FDIC up to USD 250,000 of cover from an FDIC insured bank.
- Personal loans allow free early repayment, with borrowing of $1,000 to $50,000 over terms of 12 to 84.
Cons
- Support runs on phone and help centre only.
- Savings pay 3.5% at a variable rate, so the return can fall as well as rise.
- Loans expect good credit and a hard credit check, so approval is not automatic.
Who each suits
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.
U.S. Bank
Who it suits
- People already banking with U.S. Bank who want cash back on everyday spend from a card that pairs with a savings account.
- Borrowers with good credit who want to clear a personal loan early at no cost.
- Savers who want easy access at branches and ATMs, a variable rate and insured deposits.
Who should look elsewhere
- Starling Personal Account Debit Card, if you want a UK account and a card at £0 rather than a US bank that also lends.
- bunq, if a euro plan at €0 suits your spending better than a US dollar bank.
- Wise, if you want a card with an annual fee of £0 and no lending, savings or mortgage side.
Current offers
U.S. Bank
Current offer
Bonus
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card one-time cash back bonus (increased from $150 to $200): $200
Approved for a new Cash+ Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; not combinable with other bonus offers; subject to credit approval.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature Card welcome bonus: 20,000 points
Approved for a new Altitude Go Visa Signature Card and $1,000 or more in total eligible Net Purchases within 90 days of account opening; previous cardmembers who received a bonus for this product in the last five years are not eligible.
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Country by country
| Country | Kiwibank | U.S. Bank |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | Yes | No |
| United States | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
U.S. Bank
What does the U.S. Bank Smartly credit card cost to hold?+
The Bank Smartly Visa Signature card charges an annual fee of $0, and it is sold as no annual fee. The purchase APR is listed as 0%, so check how long any promotional period runs before relying on it. Support runs on phone and help centre.
How much cash back do I earn, and how do I use it?+
Every purchase earns 2% in cash back, and pairing the card with a U.S. Bank Smartly Savings account and qualifying checking balances adds more on the first eligible purchases each cycle. Rewards are cashback, and redemption is flexible across direct deposit, statement credit, a rewards card and merchant gift cards.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
Kiwibank
U.S. Bank