NAB Low Fee Platinum Card
Highlights
- 24 hour, 7 day Platinum Concierge Service.
- 12 months at 0% p.a. on balance transfers (3% balance transfer fee applies). Reverts to variable cash advance rate of 21.74% p.a.
- Access to six complimentary insurances when you make an eligible purchase.
Pros and cons
Pros
Cons
History
Our review
Convenience
Customer service
Rates and fees
Rewards
Trust
Having a platinum credit card with lots of complimentary benefits can be a great money-saver, but its appeal can be significantly reduced if there’s a high annual fee attached to the card. So it’s refreshing to find a card like the NAB Low Fee Platinum Card, with extensive complimentary insurance cover and a concierge service, but without an inflated annual fee.
Find out everything that comes with this offer, from low rates and fees to insurance and concierge services, in our comprehensive review.
$90 p.a. is a moderate charge for a card loaded with platinum benefits
The very reasonable $90 annual fee makes this a worthwhile option for anyone not looking for the rewards points that are often offered in tandem with platinum benefits, with an inevitable upward effect on the annual fee.
Interstate or overseas travellers in particular will be able to extract a value from the card far in excess of its cost, courtesy of the complimentary travel insurance.
There’s also no cost for a supplementary card on the account, for example for your partner.
Short but potentially useful 0% p.a. balance transfer offer
Have you maxed out your existing card, to a point at which you are seriously doubting your ability to get out of debt in the foreseeable future?
In a situation like this, 12 months of breathing space, obtained by transferring the debt to this card, could be a great help. No interest will be charged on the transferred balance for 12 months, meaning that every dollar of your repayments is dedicated to reducing the debt principal instead of being eroded by interest.
For example, if you have accumulated a $10,000 debt on your existing card, on which you are paying interest at 20% p.a., you will save a $990 in interest charges over 12 months by transferring it to this card.
There is, however, a 3% balance transfer fee to be paid upfront, which effectively reduces your saving to $790.
Beware the revert rate
It’s best to use the 12 month-long absence of interest charges as an incentive to apply as much of your spare cash as possible to reducing the debt. That’s because the revert interest rate, applied to any balance remaining after 12 months, is the high cash advance interest rate, a punishing 21.74% p.a. It’s not unusual for a revert interest rate to be this high, and revert rates always need to be avoided if possible.
Immediate platinum benefits if you forego the balance transfer
One of the downsides of having an unpaid balance transfer is that you’ll temporarily forfeit the up to 44 interest-free days normally allowed on each month’s purchases. Instead, the standard purchases interest rate of 19.74% p.a. will be applied immediately on each purchase transaction.
This makes it unlikely that you’ll use the card for purchases until the balance is cleared, meaning that for the first six months you’ll miss out on all the complimentary benefits promised in the card’s title. The word ‘Platinum’ is there for a reason, because the extensive built-in advantages are:
- Comprehensive overseas travel insurance, which provides cover for the cardholder and accompanying spouse and dependent children, activated by using the card to cover at least $500 of pre-paid trip expenses.
- Interstate flight inconvenience insurance, covering travel and luggage delay, unavoidable trip cancellation and rental vehicle insurance excess, activated by paying for return airfares using the card.
- Transport accident insurance, providing compensation for serious injury on a plane or public transport, both in Australia and while travelling overseas, when fares are paid with the card.
- Domestic hotel burglary insurance (exclusive to NAB cards), covering loss, theft or damage to personal items in a locked Australian hotel room, where payment for the accommodation was made or secured using the card.
- Purchase protection insurance, covering major purchases made using the card, against loss, theft or damage, for three months.
- Extended warranty insurance, doubling the manufacturer’s warranty, up to a maximum of 12 additional months.
- NAB concierge service to assist with recommendations and bookings for travel, dining and entertainment, at any time, anywhere in the world. More about what credit card concierge services can do here.
- Visa Premium Access for special discounts and privileges, including reserved tickets to the hottest events before they go on general sale.
Low-fee but not low-tech
You could be forgiven for thinking that NAB might cut corners on the technology for a card laden with platinum benefits, but costing only $90 per year, with no charge for an additional cardholder. But that is not the case. You can still enjoy all the latest technology and security that comes with more expensive cards, including:
- NAB Pay for Android, converting your phone into a Tap & Pay digital wallet. Once approved you can download the app, and you don’t even need to wait for your new plastic card to arrive in the mail.
- One Touch ID fingerprint log-in on your phone.
- Block and unblock your card instantly if you temporarily mislay it.
- Control permitted transaction types with a swipe, turning payWave, overseas or online transactions off or on.
- Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay are also available.
- NAB Defence, always on the lookout for suspicious transactions, your protection against fraud.
- Verified by Visa, another layer of online security to ensure that the purchaser is really you.
- 24/7 global emergency assistance by phone, if your card is lost or stolen.
Verdict
The NAB Low Fee Platinum Card is one of the cheapest benefit-laden cards currently available.
Regular travellers in particular will be able to make good use of this card’s complimentary insurance policies. $90 is a very low fee to pay for insurance benefits worth an estimated $1,370 per year. Even if you do take up the balance transfer option, when your balance is paid off those enticing platinum benefits will still be waiting.
Reviewed by Yvonne Taylor
Lead Product Analyst
User reviews
Convenience
Customer service
Rates and fees
Rewards
Trust
I'm happy with my card
Reviewed by Naughty & Necessary
As a Centrelink Pensioner I find this card helps me budget my finances & at the same time provides rewards I use at Xmas time. The Fly Buy points I earn are the only reason I chose this card. On the other hand I don’t understand why credit card providers need to charge 3 to 5 times the housing loan rate. Furthermore I don’t see the need for some service providers, Telstra, Origin Energy, need to charge a processing fee when, as a CPA
No fees or interest credit card
Reviewed by Christine
Great card to use, very convenient and easy to use, no trouble with it or the bank since we started using it five years ago. So much easier to use than having to carry cash everywhere to make payments and settle bills. Recommended to all busy working people.
Great as part of a package
Reviewed by Ady
As part of a package it is great, but expensive on its own. Good rewards, but high interest if not paid off in full. It is accepted everywhere as it is a Visa. Easy to apply for and frequent flyer points are pretty goods. It is trustworthy and I would recommend it.
Trust the NAB
Reviewed by Leonie
Is there any bank or credit card that you would trust these days. I think more than anything it is convenient to be able to do things online, but what is needed more than anything is good old fashion customer service instead of talking to an automated machine. The interest rates and because lots of us rely on our credit card to get us through the tough times makes it very hard to repay the full amount each month. But the customer service I receive at my local branch I would highly recommend the NAB.
"Generally happy with this card
Reviewed by SSW
I’m very happy with this card as I don’t have to pay any interest rates and/or annual fees. The staff are always happy to help and give me good financial advice. The only con I have is that I don’t receive any Qantas Frequent Flyer points. All in all happy with it.
Great rewards
Reviewed by Sally
It’s a great card to earn flybuys points. You can use it overseas with a fee and there’s a good online banking app, but if you don’t pay the account in full at the due date, the interest and fees are high, so use it wisely.
Telephone banking help line is quite good – staff are helpful and friendly. Apply for this card if you are into getting flybuys points.
It's a good card
Reviewed by Koula
The card is fine. I have just been changed to Premium, so I’m not sure on the rewards side of things as yet. However, the rates and fees on the card are good and I am happy with it.
I would recommend NAB cards generally as I have always had good experiences with them.
"NAB is the best bank I've ever dealt with
Reviewed by Joy Harris
I’m 63 and have moved back and forth between continents and NAB has been the best for instant and cheerful service. I’ve never enjoyed their policy of no overdraw or late fees at any other bank.
I was on my own for the first time due to domestic violence and have been grateful for their patient serving someone who was unfamiliar with online banking and other aspects of their account.
After 2 years of paying off my credit card monthly (no interest charges)
I love my card, it never lets me down
Reviewed by Christine
I put all my expenses, bills, and holidays on this card and it allows me to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points. I have never had any issues with security and NAB have always been very pleasant to deal with. I actually stopped using all my other credit cards because this one is so simple and easy to manage online
12 months interest-free was a life saver!
Reviewed by Jessie
I got this card just under a year ago to make a purchase I was struggling to save for. I payed that off and it’s just become such a useful tool to have if I ever see anything on sale that I’ve had my eye on. I pay it off at the end of the month, and that’s that! I don’t know how I ever lived without it.
nab card
Reviewed by Nigel
The interest rate on the card is far too high. The rewards it gives me are great and the convenience of the card is fantastic. It was very easy to sign up for and didn’t take a lot of time. The security on the card is of the highest level.
Handy credit card to have
Reviewed by Raschle
I am overall very pleased with this card although rewards are missing. I’ve had it now for a number of years and never really had any problems with it anywhere I have used it in the world. It’s accepted worldwide. The interest-free period is very good before having to pay interest.
Fantastic credit card
Reviewed by Tiffany
This is an excellent card with a low interest rate and low annual fee, 0% interest on balance transfers, no additional fees, and no late payment fees. I’m enjoying spending with my card and using the reasonable interest-free days. NAB is helpful to customers so as not to get them into financial trouble. They have great customer service
Generally pleased with this card
Reviewed by Grant
Offers a fast and convenient service and the security is good. An attempt to scam my card was picked up quickly by the bank and communicated well with me.
I would recommend this product to other prospective customers looking for solid service.
Switched from Low Annual Fee Card
Reviewed by Norina
It’s an OK card, and it has its good and bad points. I’m just not too sure what other cards are out there, and if they compare. I have looked around to see what is there.
My card was updated from the Low Annual Fee Card and I was given this one instead. I just hope the annual rate does not go up when renewal is due.
Saved a ton
Reviewed by Paula
This card was great. We were able to book a holiday and pay it off because of the 0% interest for 15 months.
it was quick and easy to apply for, and the card was delivered quickly. I even recommended it to another friend who also applied for it and got it.
Like the payWave feature
Reviewed by jamie
I use a NAB Visa card and it’s fantastic. I strongly recommend this card.
I use payWave all the time
Rip-off annual fee
Reviewed by Malik
It’s good for the AmEx card option for rewards, but not worth it to get one if for other reasons. You can get a card with much better rewards directly issued by AmEx.
You need to decide yourself if the card is good for you or not. I like it because it links with a package.
Good online budgeting tool
Reviewed by Catherine
We pay in full every month so never pay interest.
The internet login allows budgeting in detail, to see what we’re spending, including comparing to prior month/quarter/year etc.
NAB have contacted me VERY quickly when suspected unauthorised transactions have flagged with them. (Sometimes these transactions have been okay
OK for travel insurance, but a few problems
Reviewed by Anney
I claimed through the travel insurance that came free with this card and it worked, although there were a few problems. The phone number for the insurance provider that had been given was wrong, and when I finally got to make the claim it took a very long time to be processed. Finally the money was deposited into a bank account number different from the one I provided, so there were additional delays. I continually asked for a statement to show what had been paid and finally received one months later.
AmEx card earns 1.5 points per dollar
Reviewed by Janice
I love this card since I discovered, recently, that it is accepted by Coles, Woolworths, IGA
Best card currently available
Reviewed by Heather
I have a variety of credit cards, some for rewards, others for specific purchases and one for its interest rate. It is possible to have a credit card at half the interest of others. So why use anything else but a NAB Premium Credit Card? I am planning on closing the others
Disappointing and misleading
Reviewed by Annoyed
The application process took three weeks. Once the account had been created, I then checked my other account each day waiting for the balance transfer to be completed. Nothing was happening. I phoned the bank and they told me that sometimes it can take five business days.
Finally I received a letter in the post advising they were unable to process as there was an error in the account to be transferred. This letter was dated 23 February and I received it on 6 March! It stated that if they didn’t hear from me within 14 days, they wouldn’t proceed. I immediately phoned them to enquire about the problem. It turns out that they don’t provide credit card transfer to all accounts. Given that the application required all this information when I applied online, it would have made sense if I was advised of this from the beginning.
I’ll be going into the branch and closing the account … such a waste of time. Really disappointing given that NAB seem to be the only bank that pick and choose. I would have expected a far better service given it’s one of the major banks in Australia. That’s one of the main reasons I went with them.
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