Credit cards are more than just a tool for managing cashflow. Yes, they offer instant access to revolving credit, but they can also deliver a wealth of rewards, including cashbacks, flights and other goodies.
Therefore, picking the right credit card for your business needs can be tricky. The banks offer a range of credit card options, featuring different fees, interest rates, features and loyalty programs. Pick the wrong one and you could miss out on valuable rewards, or end up paying unnecessary charges and interest.
However, a little research into your firm’s spending habits can help determine the right card for your company, and the best place to start is Canstar’s annual Business Credit Cards Awards.
To help business owners in their search for the best business credit cards, each year Canstar’s expert team of researchers uses a sophisticated rating methodology to compare and rate business credit card providers in the New Zealand market, across two card profiles:
- Low Rate Business Credit Cards
- Rewards Business Credit Cards
This year our research encompassed seven different providers (American Express, ANZ, ASB, BNZ, Kiwibank, TSB and Westpac) and compared 13 cards across a range of categories, including
- Fees and interest rates
- Number of interest free days
- Standard and premium features
- Reward and loyalty programs
On the basis of our research, we awarded 5-Star Outstanding Value ratings to the top card providers, and presented the overall issuer of the best cards our Bank of the Year Business Credit Cards Award.
And this year, once again, our top award went to ANZ, and six cards from five providers achieved fantastic 5-Star ratings for offering Outstanding Value Business Credit Cards.
ANZ: Bank of the Year Business Credit Cards Award Winner
When awarding ANZ our top Business Credit Cards accolade, our expert research team once again commented on the strong performance of ANZ’s cards across our two award profiles: low-rate and rewards credit cards.
Our research team noted that by offering a competitive interest rate of 13.90% on its Visa Business Low Rate Credit Card plus a generous Airpoints earn rate on its Visa Business Airpoints card, ANZ stands out as a very competitive option for a range of business customers in New Zealand.
ANZ offers three business credit cards. Its Bank of the Year Business Credit Cards Award is based on the excellent Star Rating achieved by each: 5 Stars for the ANZ Visa Business Low Rate and ANZ Visa Business Airpoints cards, and 4 Stars for the ANZ Visa Business CashBack card.
ANZ Visa Business Low Rate card: 5-Star Rating
- Lower interest rate and annual fee
- Insurance protection against unauthorised use
- Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
- Set individual spending limits on up to 15 cards
- Direct reporting through ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ Direct Online
- Up to 55 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 13.90% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $35 p.a.
- Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.
ANZ Visa Business Airpoints card: 5-Star Rating
- 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85 of eligible spend, or 1 Airpoints Dollar per $50 of spend with Air New Zealand (up to $25,000 p.a.)
- Business Owners earn 50% bonus Status Points on top of the Status Points earned on qualifying Air New Zealand flights
- No Koru club joining fee (saving of $255), plus a discount of $145 off the standard 12-month individual Koru membership fee for all principals of a business
- Airpoints Dollars do not expire during card membership
- Insurance protection against unauthorised use
- Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
- Up to 44 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $145 p.a.
- Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.
ANZ Visa Business CashBack card: 4-Star Rating
- $1 CashBack for every $90 spent on eligible purchases made during 12-month period
- Insurance protection against unauthorised use
- Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
- Set individual spending limits on up to 15 cards
- Direct reporting through ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ Direct Online
- Up to 55 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $95 p.a.
- Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.
Outstanding Value Low Rate Business Credit Cards
Finding a business credit card that offers the lowest interest rate can have a big impact on businesses that carry a revolving balance from month to month.
To determine the best Low Rate cards in the market, Canstar’s ratings look primarily at the cost of owning the card – interest rates and fees – but also take into consideration other card features.
Here are the providers that top our ratings, scoring 5 Stars for their Low Rate Business Credit Cards:
| Company | Product |
|---|---|
| ANZ | Visa Business Low Rate |
| Kiwibank | Business Low Rate Visa |
| TSB | Business Mastercard |
ANZ Visa Business Low Rate card
- Lower interest rate and annual fee
- Insurance protection against unauthorised use
- Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
- Set individual spending limits on up to 15 cards
- Direct reporting through ANZ Internet Banking or ANZ Direct Online
- Up to 55 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 13.90% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $35 p.a.
- Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.
Kiwibank Business Low Rate Visa
- Set individual spend limits for cardholders
- Integrate reporting into MYOB or Xero
- Protection against unauthorised use
- Up to 55 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 12.50% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 12.50% p.a.
- Annual fee: $25 p.a.
TSB Business Mastercard
- Cardholder-itemised statements
- Protection against unauthorised use
- Up to 55 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 11.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 11.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $20 p.a.
Outstanding Value Rewards Business Credit Cards
Businesses that pay off their card balances each month may prefer rewards cards, which offer cash-backs or access to loyalty schemes, rather than low fees.
To determine the best Rewards cards in the market, Canstar’s ratings look primarily at the flight or cash/gift returns offered by a card measured against different levels of annual spending, but also take into consideration other card features.
Here are the providers that top our ratings, scoring 5 Stars for their Rewards Business Credit Cards:
| Company | Product |
|---|---|
| ANZ | Visa Business Airpoints |
| BNZ | Advantage Visa Business – BNZ Rewards |
| Westpac | Airpoints Business Mastercard |
ANZ Visa Business Airpoints card
- 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85 of eligible spend, or 1 Airpoints Dollar per $50 of spend directly with Air New Zealand (up to $25,000)
- Business Owners earn 50% bonus Status Points on top of the Status Points earned on qualifying Air New Zealand flights
- No Koru club joining fee (saving of $255), plus a discount of $145 off the standard 12-month individual Koru membership fee for all principals of a business
- Airpoints Dollars do not expire during card membership
- Insurance protection against unauthorised use
- Added layer of protection offered through dynamic security code
- Up to 44 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $145 p.a.
- Joint/additional card: $5 p.a.
BNZ Advantage Visa Business – BNZ Rewards
- Spend $78 to earn $1 Cash Reward
- Up to 35 days travel insurance
- Emergency travel assistance
- Protection against unauthorised use
- Ability to add an additional cardholder
- Up to 50 interest-free days
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 18.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 18.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $100 p.a.
Westpac Airpoints Business Mastercard
- 1 Airpoints Dollar per $85 of eligible spend
- 1 Status Point for every $225 of eligible spend
- Up to 35 days travel insurance
- Discount on 12-month Koru membership
- 24-hour emergency assistance
- Purchase protection up to 90 days, plus extended warranties
- Up to 44 interest-free days on purchases
Rates & Fees:
- Purchase interest rate: 20.95% p.a.
- Cash advance interest rate: 22.95%
- Balance transfer rate (for life of the balance): 5.95% p.a.
- Annual fee: $145 p.a.
- Up to five additional cards: $25 p.a.
About the author of this page
Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.
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