Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card review 2023

Suitably decorated with a picture of the Great Wall of China, this card lets you earn reward points while spending.

This credit card offers a decent rate to existing customers and doesn't have to cost you a penny if you use the reward programme to waive the annual fee.

  • Purchase rate is very competitive.
  • Reward program is quite limited and not great value.
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Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.1% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £10 per annum, your representative rate is 19% APR (variable).

Earn 10 points

per £1 spent

20.4%

Representative APR

£10

Yearly account fee

Up to 50 days

Interest-free each billing period

Details

IssuerBank of China (UK)
NetworkVisa
Representative APR20.4% APR (variable)
Annual/monthly fees£10 per annum
Loyalty schemePoints
IncentiveEarn 10 points per £1 spent on card; points can be redeemed for selected gifts or card annual fee waiver.
Purchases17.1%
Purchases interest-free period (days)50
Potential costs★★★★★
Doing its job★★★★★
Extras★★★★★
Overall Finder rating★★★★★

Review by


Chris Lilly is a publisher at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more.

Expert review

Only available to existing customers, Bank of China’s Great Wall International Classic Credit Card does the job nicely with a decent interest rate and the possibility to get an additional card at a reduced yearly fee.

Provided you don’t carry a balance from month to month, you’ll also enjoy up to 50 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle. Unlike with most credit cards, this also applies to cash advances.

The reward programme isn’t exactly breathtaking and you can only choose among a very limited catalogue of rewards that don’t translate as very good value for money. However, if you use the card enough you’ll be able to waive the annual fee completely thanks to the points you earn, so as long as you pay the bill on time every month, the Great Wall International Classic Credit Card doesn’t have to cost you a single penny.

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Earn points on day-to-day spending

Cons

  • £10 annual account fee
  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
  • Each additional card incurs a fee (£5)
  • Only available to existing customers

How does this card compare with other similar cards on the market?

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
0% for 18 months reverting to 23.9%
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
M&S Bank Credit Card Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9%
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Credit Card
21.9%
£24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum
26.8% APR (variable)
Go to site
Earn 1% back at supermarkets and 0.25% back everywhere else, including supermarket petrol stations. At selected retailers, you could earn 1-15% back.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 26.8% APR (variable).
NatWest Reward Credit Card
21.9%
£24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum
26.8% APR (variable)
Go to site
You'll earn 1% back at supermarkets and 0.25% back everywhere else, including supermarket petrol stations. At selected retailers, you could earn 1-15% back.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 26.8% APR (variable).
Santander All in One Credit Card
0% for 15 months reverting to 21.9%
£3 per month
27.7% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 27.7% APR (variable).
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
29.4
£0
29.4% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent. Spend £12K each year and get a travel companion voucher when redeeming Avios for a BA reward flight. - Earn up to 90,000 bonus Avios points per calendar year, 4,000 points per friend/family member that successfully applies for an American Express card (Excl. Basic card) and uses the Referral Programme. Avios value varies dependent on reward (min 1000pts for flights)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.4% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.4% APR (variable).
American Express® Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card
29.4
£0
29.4% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
New cardmember offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £100) for the first three months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.5% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1% cashback on purchases.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.4% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.4% APR (variable).
The American Express Rewards® Credit Card
29.4
£0
29.4% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Earn 1 Membership Rewards® point for every £1 spent thereafter. Earn up to 90,000 bonus points per year through refer a friend, 4,000 points awarded for every friend approved. 1 point = 0.45p (min 1000 points) to shop, other rewards have differing conversions
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.4% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.4% APR (variable).
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Name Product Ratings Customer rating Finder rating Purchases Balance transfers Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
The Co-operative Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
8.9%
8.9%
(0% fee)
£0
8.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 8.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 8.9% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Low APR Clubcard Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.941%
11.457%
(3.99% fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
1 point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco, must have available credit to earn points. Card can also be used as a Clubcard to collect standard points at 1 point per £1 spent on shopping and an enhanced rate of 1 point per £1 spent on fuel. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers which can be used towards shopping or exchanged for Partner Rewards. 1 point = 1p (min 250pts)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.941% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Lloyds Bank Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.94%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is completed within the first 90 days) fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Halifax Credit Card Mastercard
Finder score
★★★★★
User survey
★★★★★
★★★★★
User rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.9%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is done within the first 90 days) fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
10.94%
10.94%
(5% (0% fee if transfer is completed within the first 90 days fee)
£0
10.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 10.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 10.9% APR (variable).
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Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through Bank of China (UK)'s app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (020 7282 8763). Alternatively, you may wish to set up a direct debit.

A direct debit protects you from forgetting to make a repayment and either damaging your credit score, getting hit with a penalty fee (£12) or losing any promotional rates as a result.

You can arrange a direct debit for repayments when you apply for the credit card. The table below shows the options available.

Choose from the following direct debit options for your monthly repayments:

Minimum amount Fixed amount Fixed percentage Full amount

How to apply

If you've compared credit cards and decided this is the one that works best for you, you can apply at one of the five branches that Bank of China has in the UK.

In order to be eligible, you have to be 18 or more and hold a Bank of China current account with a good credit history. To complete the application, you'll need to bring the following:

  • A completed application form. You'll need to download it from Bank of China's website and complete it with your personal details and details of your employment.
  • Proof of ID. Such as your passport.
  • A bank statement. It has to cover the last three months.
  • Proof of employment. For example, your job's contract and payslips.

Unfortunately, no online application process is available for this card.

Frequently asked questions

What credit limit will I get with the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card?

If Bank of China (UK) is able to offer you this deal, the offer will specify a personalised credit limit based on Bank of China (UK)'s assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on the card is £250, while the maximum is £10,000. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Bank of China (UK) that you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.

Can I withdraw cash using the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card?

Although it's possible, withdrawing cash from a credit card account is generally not a good idea, as "cash-like transactions" (such as withdrawing cash at an ATM, getting cashback at the till, spending at a casino or buying currency) often incur steep fees and/or higher rates of interest.

The cash advance fee on the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card is 2%.

The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 17.1% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 50 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).

How much does it cost to use the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card abroad?

Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£176.58), it'll cost you around £3.53 in fees.

What is the minimum payment on the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card?

Each month you must pay at least 5% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £90.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £400.00 outstanding, you'd pay £20.00.

Paying only the minimum required amount each month is generally not advisable as it tends to be a very expensive way to borrow money which can lead to persistent debt.

Can I request an additional Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Classic Credit Card?

Yes, you can request one more. Each card comes with an additional fee of £5. Plus, with additional cards, you could earn points at a faster rate. Bear in mind that card debt accrued by additional cardholders is the sole responsibility of the account holder – not the additional cardholder.

Finder credit card ratings

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Our experts score rewards credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like welcome bonuses, introductory and ongoing earn-rates, any caps or restrictions on the points you can earn, plus the potential costs involved with running the card both in the short and longer term.

You can read more about our scoring criteria on our credit card methodology page.

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