OP Bank Credit Cards
OP is a cooperative bank—a Finnish banking group owned by its members. Customers can become members, take part in decision-making, and use member benefits such as bonuses and the ability to influence the bank’s operations. Many OP customers centralise most of their banking with the OP Group to maximise these benefits.
Like other banks, OP offers a range of debit and credit cards. The basic cards include OP Classic, Duo, and K-Plussa Maksuaika, while OP Gold and Platinum are premium-level cards. We generally do not review bank-issued credit cards aimed at a bank’s everyday customers because the target group is narrow and features are largely similar across banks. However, OP Gold and Platinum stand out because cardholders get access to the dedicated OP Lounge at Helsinki Airport.
In this article, we examine the OP Gold and Platinum cards, evaluate their benefits, and explain who they suit best.
Who Can Get an OP Gold or Platinum Card?
OP’s credit cards are mainly intended for the bank’s own customers, so applicants need an OP account.
You do not need a specific account balance to get a card. The bank assesses the applicant’s creditworthiness before issuing a card. This means OP checks, for example, the applicant’s income, debt situation, and any payment defaults.
Nordea also offers a Platinum Credit Card.
A basic account and good credit history are sufficient for standard cards, but OP Gold and Platinum are premium credit cards, and the bank places particular emphasis on the applicant’s financial stability when issuing them. A Gold card is likely available from age 18, but the Platinum card is mostly issued only to those over 23.
OP Gold and OP Platinum Card Features
Interest-Free Grace Period
Both OP Gold and OP Platinum offer an average of 35 days of interest-free time on credit purchases. This means purchases are billed without interest within that period, and there are no costs if the bill is paid by the due date. No separate account-handling fee is charged for the interest-free period, which sets OP’s cards apart from several competitors.
As with other banks, OP cards can also include a debit function so purchases are debited directly from an OP account.
Credit
The credit limits for OP Gold and OP Platinum are the same, 2 000–20 000 euros.
Both cards apply the 3-month Euribor plus an 8.95% margin to credit purchases, which at the time of publication equals about 10.94% interest. No separate account fee is charged if the bill is paid by the due date. If you use the credit and interest accrues, OP also charges a monthly handling fee of €3,50.
OP’s credit margin is reasonable compared with competitors. Still, we do not recommend using interest-bearing credit.
Insurance
Both OP Gold and OP Platinum include insurance and protection services. Both offer travel insurance that covers the cardholder, spouse, and children under 25 in Finland and abroad. The insurance includes, among other things, accident, medical treatment, and baggage coverage. For OP Gold, insurance is valid when at least 50% of the trip is paid with the card, whereas for OP Platinum, it is not required. Pohjola Insurance provides the insurance and is valid for trips of up to 45 days.
The cards also include ticket protection that reimburses theatre, concert, and event tickets if you cannot attend due to, for example, illness. Product protection covers purchases paid with the card against damage or theft for 365 days, and rental car insurance covers the deductible of the rental car’s insurance both in Finland and abroad. The maximum compensation is 2,000 euros for Gold and 5,000 euros for Platinum. In addition, both cards offer purchase protection, consumer protection in problem situations, and an emergency cash service.
Beyond the basic coverage, the OP Platinum card includes a broader protection package, making it an even stronger choice. Its travel insurance is more comprehensive than Gold’s, offering better protection. OP Platinum also includes data and identity protection via F‑Secure, which protects devices from viruses, trojans, and ransomware and provides personal guidance in problem situations.
Airport Lounge Access
OP Gold cardholders get LoungeKey membership, which allows two free lounge visits per year. The cardholder may give one of these to a travel companion. Additional visits cost €30 each.
LoungeKey lounges are available at many major airports, offering a calm environment, refreshments, workspaces, and Wi‑Fi to make waiting for flights more pleasant. In Helsinki, OP Gold cardholders can use the Plaza Premium Lounge through LoungeKey membership and, in addition, access the OP Lounge with the OP Gold card. Finnair lounges are not included.
The OP Platinum card includes Priority Pass membership, which allows unlimited access to over 1,700 lounges worldwide. The cardholder also gets access to the OP Lounge at Helsinki Airport and may bring up to three guests free of charge. At Helsinki Airport, Priority Pass provides access to several lounges, including two Aspire Lounges, the Plaza Premium Lounge, and the OP Lounge. Finnair Lounges are not accessible with the card.
Located at Helsinki Airport, OP Lounge is jointly operated by OP and Swissport. It offers quiet seating areas, food and drinks, and good workspaces. It provides a pleasant setting to relax and prepare before a flight, and the lounge is reserved for OP customers and selected partners.
Read More About Helsinki Airport Lounges
Mobile Payments
Both OP Gold and OP Platinum support mobile payments, making it easy and fast to pay without a physical card. You can link the cards to Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, or Garmin Pay to pay directly with your phone or smartwatch. This is a convenient option for both everyday purchases and travel.
In addition, the cards can be linked to Curve Pay. We especially recommend Curve because it offers a more versatile mobile payments experience: manage multiple cards in a single app, track spending, view transactions in real time, and use extra perks that traditional mobile payments do not offer. Curve makes payments more flexible and gives a better overview of your finances in one app..
OP Mobile
OP cards and other OP banking services are conveniently managed with the OP Mobile app. In the app, you can track card transactions, adjust card settings, set spending limits or temporary blocks, and manage mobile payments. OP Mobile works on both Android and iOS devices and provides a secure way to manage your banking anytime, anywhere.
OP Gold and Platinum Card Pricing
The monthly fees for OP Gold and OP Platinum vary based on owner-customer status. Below is an overview of pricing at the time of publication:
- OP Gold: 8 €/month for owner-customers, 13,25 €/month for other customers
- OP Platinum: 50 €/month for owner-customers, probably higher for others
The monthly fee covers core card services, insurance, and lounge benefits. No separate account-handling fee is charged for credit purchases if the bill is paid by the due date. If you carry a balance, a possible monthly fee of €3,50 is charged for interest-bearing credit.
Experiences With OP Cards
We did not use OP’s credit cards ourselves because we were not customers of the bank. Instead, we compiled experiences found online to reflect how customers view the cards in practice.
OP Gold
Users viewed the benefits offered by the OP Gold card mostly positively. The card’s comprehensive travel insurance received praise for being affordable and offering solid protection compared with many other options. Some users, however, noted that the insurance validity is limited to, for example, 45 days, which is shorter than with some other policies.
The card’s LoungeKey membership allows two free airport lounge visits per year, which many felt significantly improves travel comfort. Lounge access was seen as especially valuable on longer trips, and this perk receives positive feedback.
Opinions differ on the monthly fee. For owner-customers, it is usually considered reasonable and in line with the benefits, while others find the fee high. In addition, some users were disappointed that the scope of the travel insurance changed over time and would have preferred clearer communication about those changes.
Overall, OP Gold was considered useful, especially for travellers and those who value lounge access and insurance coverage. The benefits are significant, but users emphasise the importance of keeping track of the card’s terms and being aware of potential changes.
OP Platinum
The OP Platinum card targets customers who value comprehensive insurance, broad lounge benefits, and personalised customer service. The monthly fee is €50 for owner-customers. The fee covers many benefits that make the card attractive, especially for frequent travellers.
Users considering OP Platinum highlight its extensive benefits, including comprehensive travel insurance, rental car insurance, ticket protection, and F‑Secure’s data and identity protection. The included Priority Pass membership opens doors to over 1,700 lounges worldwide, and it also provides access to the OP Lounge at Helsinki Airport. The card’s perks also include selected travel and cultural offers, which add to its appeal.
However, the card’s high monthly fee can be a barrier for many customers. In one discussion, a user mentioned that the OP Platinum annual fee is 600 euros, which may feel steepgivens thecard'sdbenefitss.
Our Rating
We rate the OP Gold and OP Platinum credit cards at four stars. OP Gold offers versatile benefits at a modest price, even if its features are somewhat more limited than those of its bigger sibling. OP Platinum is considerably more expensive, but its extensive lounge benefits rival even the American Express Platinum Card. Because the cards are intended only for OP customers and do not offer truly unique features, they fall short of a full five stars.
Should You Get OP Gold or Platinum?
OP Gold and OP Platinum offer a wide range of benefits, comprehensive insurance, and convenient mobile payments, making them attractive choices especially for travellers and those who value the protections the cards provide. The Gold card is suitable for everyday use and occasional trips, offering basic insurance, lounge access, and a reasonable monthly fee. Platinum is the premium option for frequent travellers or anyone seeking the most comprehensive insurance, unlimited lounge access, and extras like identity protection.
These cards are especially suitable for those who are already OP customers.
If you are not an OP customer or the monthly fee feels high, there are plenty of alternatives from other providers. For example, American Express Gold and American Express Platinum are bank-independent premium cards that provide comprehensive insurance, lounge access, and other services for ffrequent travellers Meanwhile, the Morrow Bank Credit Card and Bank Norwegian Credit Card are free cards that often include travel insurance and mobile payment features. For many, a good complementary option is also Curve Pay, which works as a mobile wallet and lets you manage multiple cards in one app, making payments flexible and easy.
Read Our Review of the American Express Platinum Card
Bottom Line
OP Gold and OP Platinum offer versatile benefits, especially for travellers. Both include comprehensive travel insurance, lounge access, and the convenience of mobile payments, making them appealing for everyday use and trips.
Gold is a good choice for customers who value basic insurance, a reasonable monthly fee, and a few lounge visits per year. Platinum, on the other hand, offers much broader benefits such as unlimited lounge access and identity protection, but its higher price makes it best for frequetravellersers.
Overall, the cards serve OP’s own customers very well. If you are looking for travel-related benefits and are willing to pay a monthly fee in exchange for broad protection and convenience, OP’s premium cards may be worth considering.