I found out about a website a few days ago called Yalla Compare which is a financial comparison website. It’s actually a website that sells insurance but is made to look like a financial comparison website but they do actually have comparissons. Using the website you can compare the different requirements and rates for personal and car loans between the different banks but more importantly, you can also see all the different credit cards offered by the local banks and compare their costs and benefits.
I’m not sure if people choose a bank based on credit card benefits, I’m assuming no. But, if you’re at least curious about what other banks are offering compared to what you’re getting, check out the list by clicking here.
17 replies on “Compare All the Local Credit Cards”
I dont know about the others but Gulf Bank has the trashiest credit card.. by spending KD 10,000 over a period of time I got 20,000 points that can be redeemed only at Alghanim travel and its not even worth KD 50 ( it gives me options like 20,000 points + KD 120.. etc so you can make out the value of your points)
That sounds a lot better than my NBK credit card. I’ve spent tens of thousands over years and I think I’ve gotten like 5 or 10kd cash back in my lifetime with the card. Maybe, might be less. No points, no miles, no nothing.
While I lived in Kuwait, I used the NBK credit card. I thought the rewards system was pretty neat if I shopped & dined almost exclusively with Al Shaya. There were a couple of other places where you could earn them, but the bulk of participating stores were Shaya. Mind you the conversion was 1KD in reward points for every KD 10 spend.
No rewards earned whatsoever no matter how much you spent on other stuff.
Lol. I get like 10-20 KD cash back every month. I got like 2 weeks of hotel stays free off the miles, and not to mention the regular cash from NBK rewards. You’re obviously doing something wrong or using the wrong card.
I second that! Gulf bank services could be counted as one of the poor ones. They are ages behind when it comes to technology, updating their customer database, providing solutions or support etc. You name a problem and they can never fix it. They make sure you visit them by taking an off from work, visit them during working hours after waiting patiently for your turn to come only to be told that there is some server problem at their end. Kindly visit again!
Actually, it’s a good reason nowadays to select a bank based on their credit card benefits. Everything is done online now through mobile banking, there’s hardly any need for customer service. The last time I went to a branch was a few years ago.
Outdated.. When they initially launched it for Kuwait, it was updated information.
I chose Boubyan bank because of their pure cashback scheme on their credit cards, no BS, no percentages only from X amount of stores. Its a straight forward cash back scheme you spend X amount you get Y amount back.
A friend had Boubyan credit cards and said the same a few years back, but i think this either applies to original customers only or they have changed it for everyone, because it’s not as lucrative (cash back) any more.
I had NBK inifinite or whatever but their rewards program wasn’t great, and I didn’t like their miles program at all. I have now switched to the NBK Kuwait Airways Oasis card and it offers much better value (for me KU is the airline i’m likely to use most due to direct routes to most places so it makes sense).
credit cards all depend on your spending habits and preferences, the same card might be great for some and horrible for others.
People in Kuwait choose banks
1) because they loans faster when other rejected them
2) They have a 1500-2000+ salary which gives them a premier status and offers special benefits
3) Flashy credit cards with lounge access (useless this year)
4) Customer service
5) Excellent App
The data on that site is at best totally outdated and at worst total nonsense. To everyone his own, but I shuttled and evaluated many banks in my time at Kuwait including NBK, GBK, ABK, Boubyan, etc and at the end chose CBK:
1) They had the best customer service ever. On a side note, never have they rushed me even if a local was waiting – Key criteria given the current anti-expat climate
2) Their card offerings are I think the best at the moment for premier customers. Free Visa Infinite 1st year, BA World card (that snagged me) and excellent concierge services! I went mystery shopping at times to other banks and have as recently as Feb this year found them lacking. The latest reason for me to stay at CBK is their app. With the additional of their electronic credit card through the app (like Google Pay) I no longer need to carry my wallet with me with NFC (its buggy but has mostly worked). It helps in this COVID era not having to take out my wallet at a POS.
The info is outdated, NBK’s world master doesn’t charge a 100KD annual fee anymore. just 50KD.
On another note, Gulf bank’s Visa infinite requires a minimum of 50k KD as a salary, that doesn’t add up?!
The website says World Master is 50KD a year not 100:
NBK – World Mastercard
KWD 1,500 Minimum Salary
KWD 50 Annual Fee
0% Rate
Used 2 Credit Cards from KFH 💳
First was MasterCard Platinum, now using Visa Signature, both free and the 2nd one gives some cash back every month too.
KFH App 👌🏻
+1 Visa Signature cash back is excellent. And yes, the app has improved a lot with many free services😊
KIB offers 3% cashback fixed. No matter what the amount spent 1 KD or 1000 KD. I’m so happy with it. I even have the prepaid one which is even better.
it used to be called Compareit4me, but they rebranded to Yalla compare in 2017 when they entered the Saudi market
STC ventures is a big investor in the company…..
Some analysis would make their service 10x better. For my current spending trends, this is what I recommend:
– KIB at flat 3% cash back trumps all (havent confirmed this and it is probably subject to change)
– Otherwise, the high mileage cards from BUrgan (qatar) and ABK (Emirates) are better for local purchases as you get good points with no exchange fee charged
– It gets tricky with international purchases as most banks charge you an extra 2.5% that is embedded in the exchange rate. If you are spending in USD, then an AMEX cards makes sense. The points earned are less but you aren’t getting screwed as their charge is around 1% over listed exchange rates. You also get higher limits making travel easier to use + no block amount is required. Insurance is easy to get as well. I’d recommend their gold charge card even if you qualify for a higher tier.
Many expats don’t use Boubyan. Maybe because it’s Islamic, but as far as service is concerned, they are up there. Their CC are decent, but 3% cash back is hard to compete with from KIB. Sadly, I need three diff cards if I want to maximize the benefits, which are:
– KIB/ Burgan Qatar/ ABK Emirates for local purchases
– AMEX for international
– Boubyan Bank for checking accounts
Note: I’m not sure if the value of a Kuwait Airways point but the points required to upgrade look attractive.