What is it?
The National Bank Travel Card is a reloadable prepaid MasterCard that holds foreign currency. Unlike a credit card, you're using your own money that has been pre-loaded onto your card. Because The National Bank Travel Card is a MasterCard® you can use your Travel Card online, over the phone and at millions of locations around the world.
What currencies is The National Bank Travel Card available in?
The National Bank Travel Card is available in four currencies – Australian Dollars, US Dollars, Euro or British Pounds.
What are the main benefits of The National Bank Travel Card?
The National Bank Travel Card is a convenient, cost-effective and secure way of taking money overseas:
- Because your card is preloaded with foreign currency, you're spending in the local currency of the country that you're travelling in. This makes it easier to budget and track your spending while you're travelling.
- When you load your National Bank Travel Card with foreign currency you're locking in the exchange rate, so you don't need to worry about the exchange rates fluctuating while you're overseas and you won't come home to unexpected bills and charges.
- The National Bank Travel Card is protected by chip technology, giving it an extra layer of protection by enforcing a PIN at chip-enabled retailers to help prevent fraud. For extra security and convenience we also give you a back up card just in case you lose the first card or it's stolen. You should keep them separate e.g. one in your wallet and the other with your luggage or in another safe place. Call us and we will cancel the card that you've lost but you can still use the other card to access your money.
What is the benefit of The National Bank Travel Card over Travellers' Cheques?
Like Travellers' Cheques, you can buy your foreign currency (Euro, British Pounds, American or Australian Dollars) before you leave – but instead of travelling with wads of paper based cheques, your foreign currency is loaded onto a card. This makes a Travel Card much more convenient than travellers' cheques because there's no need to ‘cash them in' at foreign exchange bureaus or banks while you're travelling – you just use your Travel Card wherever MasterCard is accepted electronically (it won't work with the old 'zip zap' machines).
How does the ‘chip' on the card work?
The ‘chip' is a new security feature, and enforces the use of a PIN at chip-enabled retailers. The main difference from cards that don't contain a chip is that you'll notice some retailers will insert the card in the EFTPOS terminal and keep it there while you enter your PIN and the transaction is processed.
How much does it cost?
| Card Fee |
NZD $12.00 |
Reload Fee
(applies when loading NZD onto your card) |
NZD $10.00 |
Foreign Currency Reload Fee
(applies to all funds loaded onto your card using foreign cash) |
1.1% of the foreign currency amount
(minimum NZD $12.00 or foreign currency equivalent) |
| |
AUD$ |
EUR € |
GBP£ |
USD$ |
| Initial Minimum Load |
$ 250.00 |
€ 150.00 |
£ 100.00 |
$ 200.00 |
| Maximum Available Balance |
$ 20,000.00 |
€ 12,000.00 |
£ 10,000.00 |
$ 15,000.00 |
Cash Withdrawal Fee*
(applies to all ATM and Teller withdrawals) |
$4.00 |
€2.00 |
£1.50 |
$2.50 |
Inactivity Fee
(applies if the card is not used for 12 months. Charged monthly) |
$4.00 |
€2.00 |
£1.50 |
$2.50 |
| Statement Fee |
$4.00 |
€2.00 |
£1.50 |
$2.50 |
Text Alert Fee*
(per message) |
$ 0.40
|
€ 0.20 |
£ 0.15 |
$ 0.25 |
| Dispute Handling Fee |
$12.00 |
€6.00 |
£4.50 |
$7.50 |
| Urgent Card Fee |
$28.00 |
€14.00 |
£10.00 |
$17.50 |
| Replacement Card Fee |
$8.00 |
€4.00 |
£3.00 |
$5.00 |
Currency Conversion Fee
(applies to transactions not in the currency of the card) |
2.5% of the transaction amount once converted to your card's currency |
* Does not include additional fees charged by third parties that The National Bank has no control over e.g. fees charged by ATM operators or other banks.
What happens if I use my National Bank Travel Card for a transaction in a different currency?
You can still use your National Bank Travel Card for purchases in other currencies. Transactions that aren't in your card's currency will be converted to the currency of your card at the applicable conversion rate and will be subject to a currency conversion fee ( for details see our fee schedule and The National Bank Travel Card Conditions of Use) .
Do I need to be a National Bank customer to get a Travel Card?
No – anyone 16 years and over with valid ID (such as a NZ Drivers license or passport) can be issued with a National Bank Travel Card.
Can I use The National Bank Travel Card for online purchases?
Yes, The National Bank Travel Card is also perfect for people that want to make purchases from overseas websites. Purchases in a currency other than that loaded on the card will attract a 2.5% currency conversion fee.
What text alerts can I set up?
You can set up regular text alerts to let you know:
- when your balance goes below a set amount
- your balance at a set time (daily, weekly or monthly)
- when you have loaded your Travel Card
Before you set up regular text alerts you'll need to register your mobile phone number. You can register your mobile phone number and set up (or turn off) regular text alerts online by logging in by calling 0800 75 73 72 (option 0) or at any National Bank branch. Fees Apply.
What one-off text requests can I make?
You can make one-off text requests by sending us a text from your mobile phone. To do so, you need to register your mobile phone number online by logging in, by calling 0800 75 73 72, or at any National Bank branch.
Requests are available for:
| Checking your balance |
text bal and the last 8 digits of your card to 4203 |
| Your Last 5 transactions |
text stmt and the last 8 digits of your card to 4203 |
| Locking your card |
text lock and the last 8 digits of your card to 4203 |
| Unlocking your card |
text Unlock and the last 8 digits of your card to 4203 |
How do I load my National Bank Travel Card?
You can load your card at any branch of The National Bank in New Zealand or by Bill Payment via online or phone banking from any New Zealand Bank.
What is the minimum and maximum amount you can load onto The National Bank Travel Card?
| |
AUD$ |
EUR € |
GBP£ |
USD$ |
| Initial Minimum Load |
$ 250.00 |
€ 150.00 |
£ 100.00 |
$ 200.00 |
| Maximum Available Balance |
$ 20,000.00 |
€ 12,000.00 |
£ 10,000.00 |
$ 15,000.00 |
Can the money I have left on my Travel Card be refunded when I get back?
Yes. Come and see us after you have finished your trip and we'll close your National Bank Travel Card. The remaining funds will be converted back to New Zealand dollars at the applicable exchange rate on the day.
Can I get a credit limit on my National Bank Travel Card?
No, The National Bank Travel Card does not have a credit facility and will only allow you to use the available funds you have loaded on the card.
What happens if lose both my cards?
If you're still in New Zealand pop into the closest branch of The National Bank and we'll be able to give you replacement cards on the spot. If you're abroad call us on +44 1 733 294 440 and we'll arrange replacements to be sent to you in whatever country you are in. An urgent card fee will apply (see above fee schedule).
