National Bank of Kuwait Cards review
Updated September 28, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
National Bank of Kuwait Cards suits Kuwaiti households wanting a bank credit card and debit pair under one roof. The classic credit card charges an annual fee of KWD 30, carries interest at 12% and adds currency conversion fees of 3% to 5% on spending abroad, so foreign use is where the cost bites hardest.
Key facts
- Best for
- Kuwaiti customers who want a credit card and a debit card from the same bank.
- Annual fee
- KWD 30↗
- APR
- 12%↗
- Currency conversion fee
- 3% to 5%↗
- Rewards type
- Points↗
- Perks
- NBK Rewards Program, Instant discounts, Flexible payment, NBK Secure Shopping, Minimum card limit KD 250↗
- Card kind
- Credit↗
- Legal entity
- National Bank of Kuwait↗
- Headquarters
- Kuwait↗
- Founded
- 1952↗
- Support channels
- Phone, Email, Help-centre↗
- Features
- Rewards
- Audience
- Students, Kids
- Official website
- nbk.com
Debit cards
- Card type
- Debit↗
Facts checked September 26, 2026, 5 sources
Pros and cons
Pros
- Annual fee of KWD 30 is modest next to the €8.59 charged by the wider credit card field
- Points based rewards on the credit card, with instant discounts and NBK Rewards Program perks
- Interest rate of 12% sits below the 16% median across comparable credit cards
- Support runs through phone, email and help centre
Cons
- Currency conversion fees of 3% to 5% leave the card dear for spending abroad
- A minimum card limit applies, so the card needs a certain income or balance to open
- Rewards are points rather than cashback, which is the more common choice at 48.1% of comparable cards
Who it suits
- Kuwaiti residents who bank with the same institution for the credit card and the debit card
- Customers who keep spending in Kuwait and only travel occasionally
- People who want phone, email and help centre support in one place
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone spending abroad often, who should weigh Wise with an annual fee of £0
- Travel reward seekers, who may prefer cashback cards instead of points
- People who want a fee free opening, where bunq charges €0
Fees and currency costs
The classic credit card charges an annual fee of KWD 30, and balances carry interest at 12%. Spending in another currency adds a conversion fee of 3% to 5%, so the card is cheapest for purchases made in Kuwait. The debit card side of the range shares the same bank, and the bank also offers a minimum card limit as a condition of issue.
Who runs it
The issuer is National Bank of Kuwait, National Bank of Kuwait, headquartered in Kuwait and trading since 1952. It is a bank rather than a fintech, and the cards are issued directly by the bank. Customer service runs through phone, email and help centre, so questions about a card or a statement have a named owner.
How National Bank of Kuwait Cards compares
- 9.2 vs 8.6
9.2 vs 9.4
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9.2 vs 9.0
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9.2 vs 8.8- 9.2 vs 8.8
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9.2 vs 8.4- 9.2 vs 8.0
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9.2 vs 8.0
9.2 vs 8.0- 9.2 vs 8.0
9.2 vs 9.1
Where National Bank of Kuwait Cards is available
- Available
- Bahrain, China, Egypt, France, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
Countries from the brand (Source, checked September 26, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What does the National Bank of Kuwait classic credit card cost to hold?+
The annual fee on the credit card is KWD 30. That sits at the lower end of the range, with the €8.59 upper quartile across comparable credit cards sitting well above it. A minimum card limit also applies as a condition of taking the card out.
What interest rate applies if I keep a balance?+
Balances on the classic credit card are charged at 12%. The median rate across comparable credit cards in the same comparison is 16%, so this card prices below the middle of the field. Paying the balance in full each month keeps that cost away.
How much does it cost to spend in another currency?+
Currency conversion fees run at 3% to 5% on the credit card. The median conversion fee across comparable credit cards is 2%, so foreign spending is the main cost to watch. A card is cheaper on purchases made in Kuwait.
Does the range cover debit cards as well as credit?+
Yes. The bank offers debit cards as well as the credit card, and the debit range is aimed at students and kids. The credit card side carries rewards, while the debit side is the everyday spending option. Both come from the same bank.
What rewards does the credit card give?+
Rewards on the credit card are points, collected through the NBK Rewards Program, and the card also carries instant discounts, flexible payment and NBK Secure Shopping. Points are the second most common reward type among comparable credit cards, with cashback the most common.
Is my money protected and who do I contact?+
The cards are issued by a bank, National Bank of Kuwait, which was founded in 1952 and is based in Kuwait. Support runs through phone, email and help centre, covering phone, email and a help centre, so a card query or a statement query has a direct route.
Is this card useful outside Kuwait?+
Not as a travel card. Currency conversion fees of 3% to 5% apply on foreign spending, and rewards are points rather than travel miles. Customers who spend abroad regularly get more out of a card built for multi currency use, such as Wise with an annual fee of £0.
Sources
- nbk.com/kuwait/About.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Founded
“Since its incorporation in 1952 as Kuwait's first indigenous bank and the first shareholding company in the entire Gulf region, NBK has been known as 'The Bank You Know and Trust'.”
- nbk.com/kuwait/contact-us.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Headquarters, Legal entity, Support channels
“P.O Box 95 Safat 13001 Kuwait”
- nbk.com/kuwait/personal/cards/credit-cards.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: APR
“Annual Percentage Rate for all NBK Credit Cards: 12%”
- nbk.com/kuwait/personal/cards/credit-cards/classic-credit... checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Annual fee, Card kind, Features, Currency conversion fee, Perks, Rewards type
“Primary card issuance and annual fee: KD 30”
- nbk.com/kuwait/personal/cards/debit-cards.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience, Card type
“features for students and youth; With Zeina Debit Card, you can teach your children the basics of savings and banking from an early age.”
Compiled from 5 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
National Bank of Kuwait Cards
Kuwaiti customers who want a credit card and a debit card from the same bank.