Smart ways to get the most out of your credit card

A balance transfer to an ASB credit card could be a great way to save interest and make your money management easier.

How a balance transfer works

A balance transfer involves transferring your credit card debt (a balance) from another bank credit card or selected store card, to an eligible ASB credit card.

The advantage to you is that the balance transferred to an ASB credit card could be at a reduced interest rate for a set period of time; let's say, for example, 8.95% p.a. for six months. After the initial six month period the standard purchase interest rate will be applied.

By doing this, you are effectively using funds available from your ASB credit card to pay off what could be more expensive debt from another bank's credit card, or selected store card. This may save you money if the interest rate applied to the amount transferred is lower than the purchase interest rate you would have paid on your other card. You can 'balance transfer' up to 90% of your available ASB credit card limit.

How we apply payments can also save you money.

When making repayments ASB applies your payment to the expenses that might attract a higher interest rate before expenses on a lower interest rate – cash advances and purchases (other than Smart Rate purchases for Visa Light) are paid before balance transfers and Smart Rate purchases. Any extra payments could help reduce the balance transfer, so when the fixed interest rate term ends you may have less or no balance remaining. Any remaining balance on the balance transfer at the end of the fixed interest rate term will attract the standard purchase interest rate.

By allocating payments this way, it helps you to continue using your ASB credit card for your everyday purchases (note the standard purchase interest rate and cash advance rate will apply).

Use Card Control to help manage your spending

With ASB Card Control, you can command your card from your mobile phone if you have the ASB Mobile app or through FastNet Classic.

If you're out shopping and want to manage your spending, consider using Card Control to set a per transaction spending limit on your card, and turn off ATM cash withdrawals too (you can turn them on again at any time).

You can turn online transactions on or off too as it suits you. So if you're not sure where your card is, and you're concerned it may fall into the wrong hands, you can temporarily lock it from your mobile phone, and unlock it again if it turns up in your jacket pocket.

Card Control commands happen instantly and take effect immediately, no waiting and no fuss, so you really are in charge of your credit card.

Going travelling? Pack your credit card

ASB Visa credit and Debit cards are great when you are travelling. You can access money and pay for goods or services at millions of locations around the world; especially handy for purchases if you are short of cash and accessing an ATM isn't easy. Fees apply to these transactions.

You could also get access to overseas travel insurance

Travel insurance is important when you're travelling overseas. The cost of unexpected events, such as lost luggage and medical emergencies, can be very high in some countries. If you have an ASB Visa Platinum card, you can get access to overseas travel insurance per return trip. You need to activate the travel insurance by paying for at least 50% of your overseas return travel tickets using your ASB Visa Platinum credit card. There are also other ways to activate this cover. Find out more about how to activate credit card travel insurance and further details about this cover.