Zero by Prime Bank Credit Card Review: Is a No-Fee Card Really Free?

Zero by Prime Bank is a Visa Signature credit card that Prime Bank launched in August 2025 with a bold promise: no issuing fee, no annual fee, no EMI processing fee, no SMS fee and no fee to move money to a mobile wallet. For most people in Bangladesh, that makes it one of the cheapest credit cards to keep. But “zero fees” does not mean zero cost. Interest, late payment and some other charges are not on the list of waivers, and the card’s own website does not publish them. Here is what the card really offers, what we could and could not verify, how much it can save you in taka, and who should apply.

How we reviewed this card

We read the card’s official website, zerobyprime.com, in full in November 2026, including the fee list, benefits, EMI terms and the application form. We read launch reports from The Business Standard, The Daily Star and The Financial Express, which were based on Prime Bank’s announcement on 31 August 2025. We compared the card’s costs with credit cards we have already reviewed. We also tried to open Prime Bank’s published Schedule of Charges for credit cards, effective 1 January 2026, but the file returned an access error, so charges that are not on the card’s website are marked as “not published” below. All savings examples are our own calculations. Prime Bank did not review this article, and we have no commercial relationship with the bank.

Zero by Prime Bank at a glance

What is Zero by Prime Bank?

Zero by Prime Bank is a premium-tier Visa Signature credit card designed around one idea: you should not pay just to own a credit card. Prime Bank launched it at Prime Tower in Dhaka on 31 August 2025, with Visa’s country manager present, and called it the first card in Bangladesh to waive issuing, annual, EMI processing, renewal and mobile wallet transfer fees, with “no hidden charges”, The Business Standard reported. The card also has a tactile blind notch to help visually impaired customers identify it, a first-of-its-kind accessibility feature that The Daily Star also highlighted.

Most credit cards in Bangladesh make money from you in two ways: fees you pay whether or not you use the card, and interest if you do not pay in full. Zero by Prime Bank removes most of the first kind. That is why it matters.

Which fees does Zero by Prime Bank waive?

According to the card’s official website, the following are free:

Comparison figures come from our earlier reviews of the UCB Visa Signature, Dhaka Bank Visa Signature, DBBL Nexus Mastercard World and BRAC Bank Visa Cashback cards, and from published EMI terms. VAT may apply to fees on other cards.

What does Zero by Prime Bank still charge?

This is the part most “no fee” marketing skips. The card’s website lists the fees it waives, but it does not list everything. Based on what is and is not on the waiver list:

Bangladesh Bank raised the maximum credit card interest rate from 20% to 25% from January 2025, The Daily Ittefaq reported. Before you apply, ask Prime Bank for the card’s current Schedule of Charges and confirm the interest rate, late fee, cash advance fee and foreign transaction fee in writing. Prime Bank’s contact centre number is 16218.

How much can Zero by Prime Bank save you?

Annual fees over five years

By our calculation, using fees from our earlier reviews and before VAT:

Those cards offer things Zero does not, such as lounges, dining offers or cashback. If you would use those perks, they can be worth the fee. If you would not, Zero keeps the money in your pocket.

0% EMI with no processing fee

Many “0% EMI” offers in Bangladesh are not free, because the bank charges a processing fee. ShareTrip’s EMI terms, for example, list bank processing fees of 4% to 6% for six months and 6% to 10% for 12 months (ShareTrip). By our calculation, on a Tk 60,000 phone over six months, a 5% fee costs Tk 3,000; on Zero by Prime Bank, the EMI processing fee is zero. If you regularly buy phones, laptops or appliances on EMI, this alone can be worth more than a typical annual fee. Shops can still add their own card charge or a higher “EMI price”, so compare with the cash price. We explain the trap in personal loan vs credit card EMI.

Free transfers to bKash and other wallets

Many cards charge for moving money from the card to a mobile wallet. On BRAC Bank’s Visa Cashback, for example, it is 1.5% plus VAT, or about Tk 345 on a Tk 20,000 transfer, by our calculation. Zero by Prime Bank charges no transfer fee. But a wallet transfer is still borrowing on your card: ask Prime Bank whether interest starts from the day of the transfer or only after the due date, and pay it back in full.

Rewards

You earn 1 reward point for every Tk 50 spent. By our calculation, spending Tk 30,000 a month earns 600 points a month, or 7,200 points a year. The website does not say how much a point is worth or what you can redeem points for, so treat rewards as a small bonus, not a reason to apply.

Benefits beyond the fee waivers

• Visa Signature acceptance worldwide at ATMs, shops and online stores.
• 0% EMI at partner merchants for 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, which the bank says covers thousands of retail outlets, online stores and service providers.
• Easy Pay Plan to split other large purchases at half the usual interest rate, per the bank.
• MyPrime app to manage the card, track spending and pay bills.
• Bill payments directly from the card.
• 24/7 contact centre support.
• Blind notch for visually impaired cardholders.
• Insurance coverage and airport lounge access are mentioned, but the website gives no details, and lounge access carries a charge.

What Zero by Prime Bank does not offer

• No free airport lounges. Frequent flyers will get more from a card like the UCB Visa Signature or DBBL Nexus Mastercard World, if they can justify the fee.
• No cashback. Grocery and pharmacy shoppers may earn more with BRAC Bank’s Visa Cashback.
• No published dining or hotel offers, unlike many Signature cards.
• No published interest rate or full charges on the card website, which makes comparison harder.

Zero by Prime Bank vs other popular cards

Who should get Zero by Prime Bank?

Good fit:

• Salaried professionals and business owners earning Tk 70,000 or more a month who want a card without yearly costs.
• People who buy phones, laptops or appliances on 0% EMI.
• People who pay their full bill every month.
• Anyone who wants a second card that costs nothing to keep for emergencies or online payments.
• Visually impaired customers, thanks to the blind notch.

Skip it if:

• You often carry a balance; interest will cost far more than any fee you save.
• You want free lounges, travel insurance or premium dining perks.
• Your income is below the application form’s lowest band of Tk 70,000 a month; see how to get your first credit card for other routes, including secured cards.

Eligibility and documents

The online form asks for your name, mobile number, profession (salaried, business owner or professional), monthly net income band, date of birth and district. Its income bands start at Tk 70,000 a month. The card website does not publish full eligibility rules. For Prime Bank’s other credit cards, the bank lists an age of 18 to 70 for the main cardholder, a valid e-TIN, and at least six months in the job for salaried applicants or three years in business for self-employed applicants (Prime Bank); expect similar checks.

Typically you will need: NID, e-TIN, recent photos, salary certificate or trade licence, bank statements, and a CIB declaration. Your credit record matters: read what CIB is and how it affects your application. If you do not have a salary account, see how to get a credit card without a salary account.

How to apply for Zero by Prime Bank

1. Fill in the short form on zerobyprime.com, or visit any Prime Bank branch.
2. Wait for a call from the bank and submit your documents.
3. Ask for the Schedule of Charges and the interest rate in writing before you sign.
4. Once approved, set up the MyPrime app and an auto-debit for the full statement balance.

How to use the card without paying anything

• Pay the full statement balance by the due date every month.
• Use 0% EMI only at partner merchants, and check the EMI price against the cash price.
• Avoid cash withdrawals from ATMs.
• Repay wallet transfers quickly, and confirm how interest is charged on them.
• Stay within your limit; “no over-limit fee” is not a reason to overspend.
• Check foreign currency charges before using the card abroad or on international websites.

Missing a payment hurts your credit record as well as your wallet; see what happens if you miss a credit card payment.

Key words explained

This review is for general information only and is not financial advice. Fees, benefits and rates change; confirm the current terms with Prime Bank before you apply. Last checked: November 2026.