I got my Kiwibank debit VISA card late last week and I've activated it and had the opportunity to use it over the past several days.
Things I like are:
- I can't borrow any money on it. It's not a credit card.
- I can use it online like a credit card to buy stuff.
- I can use it in ATMs to access my account.
- I can use it for EFT-POS transactions.
- Overseas, I can use it as a credit card would be used, except I'm spending my own money.
- Overseas, I can use it like an EFT-POS card in some countries, like Australia.
- Overseas I can use it in any ATM, like my regular ATM card, to get cash.
If you're a Kiwibank customer, it's worth getting one of these, even if you only use it to pay cash for things online, instead of buying on credit. It costs $10 / year to have the card.
I rarely ever have cash in my pocket any more. I'm thinking about cutting up the (potentially mortgage-sized) regular credit card. The features it provided that I couldn't get on an ATM / EFT-POS card can now be had via the Kiwibank debit VISA, without a debt exposure.
I think the 21st century actually started for me over the past 3 months. My pocket-sized iPod Touch is my new PC. The Kiwibank debit VISA is all my daily financial instruments in one bundle. My cell phone is my 3G multi-media bridge. I'm starting to feel like I'm finally living in 'the future'.
Now for my all-electric Tesla roadster.
Ive been using a Loaded up pre-paid visa for a while now and i like it for use online all the time. its great like that. Ive just applied for the kiwibank version now because it saves me the $1 top up fee and $1 useage fee as well as the delay in transfering money.
ReplyDeleteThe prepay however is still great for the kids to use online.
I tried to get a Loaded card, but their web site wouldn't accept my 8-digit cell number and some other bit of personal I can't recall, telling me I had to go to a branch and apply in a form. Well, I did want it that badly. :-)
ReplyDeleteBut this time around, linked to my bank account and effectively a replacement for my ETF-POS/ATM card....and Visa, too...it seemed like time to have another go.
The Kiwibank web site for taking applications for the card was broken, so I phoned the 0800 number and talked my way through it.
The Loaded card looked good. :-)
Using your visa kiwibank debit card in foreign atms will cost you $8:00 nz roughly, EVERY SINGLE USE, what i want to know is if i make an electronic transaction overseas to buy an app worth $1:50 will I have to pay additional fees?
ReplyDeleteFred dagg: If you're buying the app (Android, anyway) online and your account is a Kiwi account, it should look like you're in New Zealand. I bought loads of apps while in Canada earlier this year and paid the Kiwi price.
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