Review: ANZ Rewards Black credit card [2023]

By Chris C., December 3 2017
ANZ Rewards Black credit card [2023]
Disclaimer

Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.

The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.

Notes
The Good
  • 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points for eligible new customers
  • International Travel Insurance
The Bad
  • Tiered earning rates
Added Value
  • Earn points with four different airlines (VA, SQ, NZ, CX)

Introduction

Featuring a high earning rate for reward points, the ANZ Rewards Black Card helps you maximise your rewards.

This card is compatible with Apple Pay, allowing you to use your iPhone or Apple Watch to make payments wherever contactless cards are accepted, along with Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay and Garmin Pay.

Like other reward programs, you'll first accrue points in the ANZ Rewards scheme before later converting them into airline frequent flyer points or miles with either Virgin Australia, Air New Zealand, Cathay Pacific or Singapore Airlines, or for a raft of other goodies and gift cards.

Rounding out the deal: 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points and $150 back to your new ANZ Rewards Black credit card when you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from approval, getting you flying faster and reducing the cost of the card's annual fee in the first year.

ANZ Rewards Black Card: fast facts

  • Grade/tier: Black
  • Card type: Visa
  • Loyalty program: ANZ Rewards
  • ANZ Rewards airline conversion partners: Virgin Australia Velocity Points (2:1), Air New Zealand Airpoints (200:$1), Cathay Pacific Asia Miles (3:1), Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer (3:1)
  • ANZ reward points earned per $1 spent: 2 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to $5,000 per statement period, then 1 point per $1 spent on eligible purchases above $5,000 per statement period. No points earned on ATO.
  • 2 ANZ Reward Points = 1 Velocity Point, $0.01 in Airpoints Dollars, 0.66 Asia Miles, 0.66 KrisFlyer miles
  • 1 ANZ Reward Point = 0.5 Velocity Points, $0.005 in Airpoints Dollars, 0.33 Asia Miles, 0.33 KrisFlyer miles
  • Points capping: Uncapped, but tiered as above
  • Supported mobile wallets: Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay

Fees, charges and interest:

  • Total annual fee: $375 ($225 in the first year after receiving the $150 statement credit)
  • Additional/supplementary cardholder fee: $65 
  • Interest rate on purchases: 20.24% p.a.
  • Interest-free days on purchases: Up to 55
  • Interest rate on cash advances: 21.24% p.a.
  • International transaction fee: 3.0%
  • Minimum income requirement: None defined
  • Minimum credit limit: $15,000

Earning points for free flights:

Apply for the ANZ Rewards Black Card and spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months to pocket 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points.

Those 180,000 bonus points are worth 90,000 Virgin Australia Velocity Points, 60,000 Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer miles, 60,000 Cathay Pacific Asia Miles or $900 in Air New Zealand Airpoints value – all of which can go towards booking your next flight or upgrade to business class.

Airport lounge access

Airport lounge access is not available with ANZ Rewards Black.

If that's what you're seeking, an alternative could be the Qantas-attached ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card, which delivers two complimentary Qantas Club visits every year plus a discount on ongoing Qantas Club membership.

Complimentary insurance cover:

International Travel Insurance is available at no extra cost for trips of up to six months, and may be activated when holding a return international travel ticket and charging at least $250 of pre-booked travel costs (such as flights and hotels) to your ANZ Rewards Black credit card before starting the journey.

ANZ's line-up of insurance covers also extends to Purchase Protection Insurance, Rental Vehicle Excess in Australia Insurance, and Extended Warranty Insurance.

As always, refer to the policy documents to confirm whether (and how) you qualify for each type of cover, and to decide for yourself whether the level of insurance provided adequately meets your needs.

ANZ Rewards Black Card: our verdict

With no points capping, a solid earning rate and an offer of 180,000 bonus Reward Points for eligible new cardholders, the ANZ Rewards Black Card stacks up nicely.

The comparatively high earn rate on the card with its international airline partner programs also helps you maximise your points earning potential, thanks to its wide-reaching acceptance around the globe.

On the downside, there are no airport lounge access benefits at all – as opposed to other credit cards that offer domestic Qantas lounge passes, such as the ANZ Frequent Flyer Black card.

Also, if your travel patterns change and you begin to seek Qantas Points from your everyday spend, you'll also need to do a full product swap to ANZ's Frequent Flyer Black Card (which can change your card number, that you'd need to update on all your direct debits), so consider whether Qantas Points or ANZ Rewards and its linked frequent flyer programs are a better fit for your travel needs.

ANZ Rewards Black Card: FAQs

Do ANZ Reward Points expire?

Yes, ANZ Reward Points must be used within 36 months of 31 December of the year in which the Reward Points were earned. After this period, they will expire. 

If you decide to close your ANZ account though, any remaining points will expire after 90 days of the account’s closure.

What can I redeem my ANZ Reward Points for?

ANZ Reward Points can be redeemed for gift cards at a range of retailers, airline partner points or ANZ Cashback, which can be used to reduce your credit card balance or credited directly into your ANZ bank account.

Also read:ANZ Frequent Flyer Black credit card review

Disclaimer

Executive Traveller may receive a commission when you apply for these credit cards via our links.

The information provided on this page is purely factual and general in nature. You should seek independent advice and consider your own personal circumstances before applying for any financial product.

Chris C.

Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.

28 Sep 2017

Total posts 7

The card itself is quite good, but ANZ as a whole with customer service is terrible. Hopefully you don't have to deal with their branch or overseas call centre staff as their product knowledge is poor.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Jul 2014

Total posts 9

Hi Chris
Thanks for the review, anz black is no longer as good than when it had AMEX attached. Considering changing now.
Also might be worth noting whilst its uncapped, less points over $5k

2 Reward Points
per $1 spent on eligible purchases up to and including $5,000 per statement period

1 Reward Point
per $1 spent on eligible purchases above $5,000 per statement period

24 Apr 2012

Total posts 2432

Hi gravity, we've covered this in the review.

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Jul 2014

Total posts 9

Hi Chris
My apologies, i just re read the review. I missed that.
Sorry mate

Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer

23 Feb 2017

Total posts 12

I still use my CBA black combo as it is totally fee free and has good travel insurance. However as its FF points have become crap I use it spasmodically alongside an AMEX platinum. As I only fly business class lounge access is not a selling point.

13 Jan 2020

Total posts 1

hi there,

I see the anz black reward card has 150,000 anz reward points , if I want to go to LA from Sydney return its about 21 Airpoint dollars pp, and there are 4 adults in total. And may stop over at Honolulu on the way back to Sydney, which is another 47 airport dollars pp there are 4 adults. My question are:

1) if I attain the offer, does that mean I can book the flights as above. After converting the reward points on offer to Airpoint dollars does that mean I can have 750 airport dollars in total, my trip should equate to 272 airport dollars.

2) can I redeem and buy the fare using the points as soon as I receive the points

3) after I have converted the points to Airpoints can I use for the fare of my whole family, which includes myself, wife and 2 adult kids.

thanks

Joe

04 May 2015

Total posts 261

Sydney-LA return is a heck of a lot more than 21 airpoints dollars. Airpoints dollars are basically just like cash, so you should expect to pay far more than $21 for a return ticket: need to check your numbers there.


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