Absa Credit Cards

Absa is one of the most popular and prominent banks in South Africa and the African continent. It was formerly Amalgamated Banks of South Africa, ABSA (1991-2005), then Barclays Africa Group Limited (2005-2018). It is led by CEO Arrie Rautenbach, who took on the role on March 29, 2022, and as of 2022, it had over 35,000 employees. Its headquarters is in Johannesburg, South Africa. Absa offers several financial services including digital banking, investments, corporate and business banking, as well as personal banking. Absa also offers credit cards that make banking enjoyable, as well as loans and insurance facilities. In this article, we take a quick look at Absa credit cards and how they work.

Absa Credit Cards

The following are credit cards offered by Absa, their features, as well as eligibility and requirements.

1. Gold Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Access Absa Online Banking and the Absa Banking App
• Bidvest Premier Airport Lounge access at preferential rates.
• R1,5 million automatic basic cover (underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited) for travel emergencies
• Free lost card protection
• Absa Rewards: Get cash back when you pay with your card
• Get R1,000 cash with a Gold Credit Card
• Absa Advantage: Get rewarded for completing simple challenges on your Banking App
• Exclusive Visa benefits: Visa Local Offers, Global Merchant offers and Buyers Protection
• Contactless payments: No PIN required for transactions up to R500. Just tap on a POS device to pay.
• NotifyMe: Activate SMS notifications for added security
• Credit history: Use your card and build a credit history

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income of R7,000 required
• 18 years or older
• Valid South African ID book or Smart card, proof of residence and the latest proof of income for three consecutive months
• Subject to affordability assessment

Rates and Fees:

• Get up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying transactions
• Monthly fee:R57
• Transaction fees on purchases: No transaction fees on purchases (excluding prepaid airtime, data, utilities and Lotto)
•  You can pay extra on your monthly instalments if you need to

2. Premium Banking Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Absa Online Banking and the Banking App
• Bidvest Premier Airport Lounge: 12 complimentary visits p.a. Access at preferential rates thereafter. Spend criteria rules apply
•  R3 million  automatic basic cover (underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited.) for travel emergencies
• Buyers Protection and Extended Warranty
• Free lost card protection
• Absa Rewards: Cash back when you pay with your card
• Get R1,500 cash with a Premium Credit card
• Absa Advantage: Get rewarded for completing simple challenges on your Banking App
• Exclusive Visa benefits Visa Local Offers, Global Merchant offers
• Contactless payments: No PIN required for transactions up to R500. Just tap on a POS to pay.
• NotifyMe: Activate SMS notifications for added security

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income of R25,000 required
• Monthly fee: R97
• 18 years or older
• Valid South African ID book or Smart card, proof of residence and the latest proof of income for three consecutive months
• Subject to affordability assessment

Rates and Fees:

• Interest rate: Get up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying transactions
• Transaction fees on purchases: No transaction fees on purchases (excluding prepaid airtime, data, utilities and Lotto)
• Fixed monthly payments: You can pay extra on your monthly instalments if you need to

3. Private Banking Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Global acceptance
• Digital banking: Use your Absa Banking App to stop and replace your card, report fraud, manage your daily card limits and more. Or you can logon to Absa Online Banking and bank wherever you are, 24/7
• Bidvest Airport Lounge: 24 complimentary visits.
• Travel insurance: Automatic cover for a range of travel emergencies when you book your return ticket using your card
• Buyers Protection and Extended Warranty
• Free lost card protection: You are covered if your card is lost or stolen, subject to letting the bank know
• Absa Rewards: Get cash back when you pay with your card locally and internationally
• Absa Advantage: Complete simple challenges on the Absa Banking App and get rewarded instantly
• Exclusive Visa benefits such as Visa Global Merchant offers, Visa Marketplace, Booking.com and Visa Luxury Hotel Collection
• Contactless payments: Tap to pay with your card, smartphone or wearable device at any point-of-sale machine worldwide
• NotifyMe: For added security, activate SMS notifications to get alerts of any activity in your account
• Visa Signature Credit Card benefits
  • Bidvest Airport Lounge: 24 complimentary visits plus 2 guest visits per year.
  • Lounge Key: Six complimentary international airport lounge visits per annum, including one guest per visit
  • Travel insurance (travel accident insurance, travel medical benefits and trip inconvenience benefits)
  • Collision damage waiver

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income required: R62,500
• Age: 18 years or older
• Documentation required: Valid South African ID book or smart card, proof of residence and the latest proof of income for three consecutive months
• Subject to affordability assessment

Rates and Fees:

• Interest rate: Get up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying transactions
• Monthly fee: R200
• Transaction fee: No transaction fees on swipes
• Fixed monthly payments: You can pay extra on your monthly instalments if you need to

4. Flexi Core Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Absa Online Banking and the Banking App
• Automatic travel insurance (underwritten by Bryte Insurance Company Limited) for a range of travel emergencies
• Free lost card protection: Call us on 0800 111 155 if your card is lost or stolen
• Absa Rewards: Get cash back when you pay with your card
• Absa Advantage: Get rewarded for completing simple challenges on your Banking App
• Exclusive Visa benefits: Local Offers as well as Visa Global Merchant offers.
• Contactless payments: Just tap on any contactless enabled POS device to pay. Your transaction will require PIN for authorization.
• NotifyMe: Activate SMS notifications for added security

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income required: R7,000
• Age: 18 years or older
• Documentation required: Valid South African ID book or Smart card, proof of residence and the latest proof of income for three consecutive months
• Subject to affordability assessment

Rates and Fees:

• Interest rate: Get up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying transactions
• Transaction fees on purchases: No transaction fees on purchases (excluding prepaid airtime, data, utilities and Lotto)
• Fixed monthly payments: You can pay extra on your monthly instalments if you need to

5. Student Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• Absa Rewards:  Get Cashback when you pay with your card
• Absa Advantage: Get rewarded for completing simple challenges on the App
• Build your credit record, and maintain a good credit score to enhance your financial future.
• Contactless payments: Just tap on any contactless enabled POS device to pay. Your transaction will require PIN for authorization.
• Absa Online Banking and your Banking App
• Bidvest Premier Airport Lounge:  Access 3 complimentary visits per year. See terms and conditions.
• Automatic travel insurance R1 million for a range of travel emergencies
• Free lost card protection: You are covered if your card is lost or stolen, subject to letting the bank know
• Exclusive Visa benefits: Local Offers as well as Visa Global Merchant offers.
• NotifyMe: Get notifications for added security
• Swipe, scan, or tap to pay at any point-of-sale machine worldwide
• Shop securely online or in-store
• Free rewards:
  • Earn real cash back monthly every time you swipe your card.
  • Earn up to 30% real cash back when you swipe at our partners.
  • Get free meal vouchers with Absa Advantage

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income required: R800
• Age: Between 18 and 30 years
• Documentation required: Valid South African ID book or Smart card, proof of residence, and the latest proof of income for three consecutive months
• Student registration:  You must be a registered full-time student at an FET college, SAQA-approved institution, university, university of technology or private institution

Rates and Fees:

• Up to 57 days interest-free on qualifying transactions.
• Transaction fees on purchases: No transaction fees on purchases (excluding prepaid airtime, data, utilities and Lotto)
• Fixed monthly payments, plus you can pay extra if you need to.

6. British Airways Credit Card

Features and Benefits:

• 5,000 Avios when you use your card for the first time
• 4,000 bonus Avios when you spend R24 000 in the first three months
• Collect one Avios for every R7.50 on everyday spend
• Earn faster by collecting one Avios for every R5.00 spent exclusively at British Airways
• British Airways Executive Club membership (exclusive benefits on www.ba.com) 
• Use your Avios to book international flights
• Individually determined credit limit
• No transaction fees on purchases at till points (excluding cash withdrawals, casino transactions, Internet Banking transfers and budget plan)
• Up to 55 days interest free credit on qualifying purchases (excluding cash withdrawals, casino transactions, Internet Banking transfers, fuel and budget plan purchases)
• Budget facility available for purchases over R300 with extended credit that gives you 6 to 48 months to pay
• Full ATM functionality, including cash withdrawals from any ATM worldwide
• Electronic monthly statements available at no additional cost
• Make cash withdrawals at selected ATMs and bank counters around the world
• Contactless (Tap-and Pay) technology
•  Safe online shopping through 3D Secure and OTP (One-Time Password) technology
• Lost Card Protection, which means that if your card is lost or stolen, you will not be held liable for any fraudulent transactions that may occur on the card after you have reported the loss or theft
• Basic Travel Insurance cover whenever international return travel tickets are purchased with the option to purchase Top Up Cover

Eligibility and Requirements:

• Monthly income of R8 000
• Valid ID
• Proof of residence
• Older than 18 years
• Subject to individual credit review

How To Apply For Absa Credit Cards

• Visit Absa credit card application portal
• Browse through all cards categories to find one that suits you best
• Click on the Apply now button
• On the Online Account Application page, enter the characters as displayed in the image
• Please complete the six-step assessment
• You may Save and continue later, or Continue at each stage of your assessment
• Click Apply when you have completed your assessment
• Alternatively:
  • Call Absa contact phone line on: 0860 553 553
  • Request a call back (exclusive to Private Banking Credit Card application)