ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum Credit Card

Roland Bleyer

Credit Card Expert with over 15 years card experience and the founder of Creditcard.co.nz. Ask Roland a Question about this card.

The Big Review: ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum

With its current introductory offer, the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum provides cardholders the opportunity to earn cashback rewards on their card spending while enjoying the rest of the card’s features. Cardholders can benefit from up to 1% cashback on their card spending, with no cap on the amount they can earn back. Other features offered include overseas travel insurance and access to platinum privileges.

• Up to 1% cashback on spending
• No cap on cashback rewards
• Access to platinum privileges
• Complimentary overseas travel insurance
• Annual fee: $125
• Additional Cardholder Annual Fee: $10
• Purchase Rate: 19.95% p.a. (variable)
• Cash Advance Rate: 19.95% p.a. (variable)
• Interest free days on purchases: Up to 55 days

This Card: The Lowdown

One of the most appealing aspects of the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum is its simplicity. This is a rewards card without the complex rewards programme. Instead of worrying about tiered earn rates, points shaping and how to get the most out of the points you earn, you simply receive cashback on your card spending at the end of each year, which you can then spend as you like.

Like most rewards cards, it rewards bigger spenders most of all. On an annual spend of $5,000 to $9,999, you would receive 0.5% cashback. So, on a spend of $9,000, you would get $45 back. However, if you spend more than $10,000 in a year, you will receive 1% cashback. That means if you spend $30,000, you’ll get $300 cashback in return. And the best bit? There is no cap on the amount of cashback you can earn in a year.

As for extras, this is not a card built for the feature hunter. Yes, it offers a platinum concierge and complimentary overseas travel insurance, but that’s where the extras end. However, with its affordable standard annual fee, this may work well for those who want a simple platinum option, offering a way to earn cashback rewards without too much small print or complex extras to worry about.

Digging Deeper

With the basics covered, it’s time to dig a little deeper into what’s on offer with the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum, so you can decide whether this card is right for you.

This Card: As a Rewards Card

Unlike some cashback cards, the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum offers unlimited cashback rewards. That means no cap on the amount of cashback you can earn, so, the more you spend, the more cash you get back. With that being said, there is some rewards shaping to be aware of.

First up, you must spend at least $5,000 on eligible purchases during the year to qualify for cashback. From there, if you spend between $5,000 and $9,999 on your card within the year, you will receive 0.5% cashback on the amount you spent. However, if you spend $10,000 or more, you will receive 1% cashback.

As we mentioned before, this card – like most rewards cards – rewards bigger spenders. Let’s take a look at some examples.

• If possible, it’s better to hit that $10,000 spend threshold. If you spend $9,999, you will get $49.99 cashback. If you spend $10,000, you will get $100 in cashback. That’s double the cashback for a dollar difference in spending.
• After the first year, your standard annual fee will be $125. That means you will need to spend at least $12,500 on the card each year just to break even. Any amount over $12,500 will earn cashback that’s yours free and clear.
• Getting into larger spends, you can see how this card could work well for those who channel higher amounts through their card. An annual spend of $30,000 provides $300 cashback, $50,000 gives $500 cashback, and $750,000 gives $750 cashback.

Whether this card would be the best option for big spenders really depends on their desire for features. Those who spend big on their cards may look for more extras than this card offers. On the other hand, if you simply want to use your card to get something back on your spending, this card could provide the perfect option.

The Essentials

While this cashback rewards programme is not as complex as some other rewards programmes out there, there is some need-to-know info.

Your Cashback year starts on the date of your first purchase, and runs for a 12 month period. (This is not to be confused with your card anniversary when your annual fee is due. That will be every 12 months from card approval.)

All eligible purchases made within your Cashback year will accrue cashback according to the percentages mentioned above. The total cashback reward will be credited to your credit card automatically at the end of your CashBack year.

Eligible purchases do not include cash advances, balance transfers and the purchase of cash substitutes (such as travellers’ cheques), gambling transactions, or business related expenditure.

It’s also worth pointing out that a joint or additional cardholder can be added to the account for $10 per year. If you have a family member who needs access to credit, this could provide an easy way to boost your cashback earnings each year with their card spending. Just remember, as primary cardholder, you are responsible for their spend.

This Card: Extras on Offer

With ‘platinum’ in its name, you would expect the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum to have a little something extra to offer over its classic cousin. While this card may have a few nice extras, it’s not overloaded with features. Instead, ANZ provided this card its ‘platinum’ branding for its unlimited cashback earning.

Platinum Privileges

The ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum advertises “Special Platinum Privileges”. However, it doesn’t go into much detail regarding what these privileges are. It does mention 0% commission on foreign cash purchases from any ANZ branch in New Zealand, as well as access to the Visa Concierge service.

A concierge service can come in handy both at home and overseas, allowing you to call 24/7 to ask for assistance with anything from travel arrangements to restaurant reservations. Want some ideas on what you can use your concierge service for? Check out the Visa Concierge site for more info and essential contact details.

Overseas Travel Insurance

While it may not knock your socks off with excitement, credit card travel insurance can come in very handy indeed. If you are a frequent traveller – or even if you’re not – you could use this cover instead of standalone cover, saving you both time and money.

This card provides complimentary overseas travel insurance, covering overseas medical expenses, luggage and personal effects, missed transport connections, loss of income, personal liability, rental vehicle excess and more. Check out the PDS for eligibility, limits and sub-limits, exclusions and full activation details.

You and immediate family members travelling with you could enjoy full cover under the policy as long as you are departing from and returning to New Zealand, you have a return ticket prior to departure, and you have paid at least half of the prepaid travel expenses on your card. Trip duration can be up to 90 days, with extended cover available upon payment of a premium.

Apple Pay and Google Pay

Want to pay with your phone? Or perhaps with your smartwatch? You can with the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum thanks to its compatibility with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Simply sync your device to your card and use your device to pay next time you’re at the checkout. Fast and easy payments, allowing you to leave your wallet at home.

This Card: The Essentials

One of the first things to look at on any rewards card is its annual fee. After the first year, the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum has an annual fee of $125. This is about standard for a platinum card on the lower end of the scale, however, paying that annual fee has to be worthwhile for you. To work that out, you need to think about how much you get back in cashback and what kind of value the card’s features provide.

In terms of interest, this card is not a low interest card. Rewards cards generally aren’t, which is why they tend to suit people who pay off their balance each month before it starts accruing interest. As long as you clear your balance each month, this card could certainly provide value. However, if you carry and balance and pay out interest, that value may be more difficult to find.

Decision Time

Offering access to a simple rewards programme, the ANZ Cashback Visa Platinum could be the ideal option for cardholders who want to earn something back on their spending while keeping complex features to a minimum. Offering uncapped cashback potential, this card could work very well for bigger spenders.