BNZ review

The monthly fee is NZD 0, so holding the card adds nothing to a household budget. On the ranking of monthly fees that puts BNZ at 1 of 379. The costs that do apply come from spending abroad rather than from keeping the card.

BNZ's currency conversion fee is 2.25%, and it sits 178 of 237 on the ranking of that charge. It is the main cost on the card, since paying in a currency the account does not hold is what triggers it.

It is a debit card on the visa network, so the money comes straight from the bank account rather than from a balance you load in advance. The multi-currency feature suits anyone who holds several currencies and pays from them.

Support runs on phone and help centre, so a phone call is the quickest route and the help centre handles written questions. Chat and email are not part of that list, so anything raised outside normal hours waits in writing.

It suits New Zealand residents who spend mostly in a single currency and want a bank-backed card with nothing to pay each month. Fees come from NZD 0 and the 2.25% conversion charge, so the card rewards spending at home more than spending abroad.

The account sits with Bank of New Zealand, a bank founded 1861 and headquartered in New Zealand. The card draws straight on the account balance, so there is no separate card balance to load or top up before spending.

Monzo Flex lists a monthly fee of £0, Wise lists £0 and Bitpanda lists €0, so BNZ's NZD 0 is level with the field. The difference shows up in conversion, where BNZ charges 2.25%.

The card includes a multi-currency feature, which suits anyone whose income and spending span several currencies. The conversion fee of 2.25% is what applies when a purchase is billed in a currency the account does not hold.