Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.7% (variable) p.a. your representative rate is 13.50% APR (variable).
- Account fee
- £0
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 50 days
- Minimum credit limit
- £250
Our verdict
Bank of China customers can enjoy a well-below-average interest rate with this solid credit card.With up to 50 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle if you clear your debt in full every month, this card is a comparatively cheap and flexible way to borrow money. Bank of China has recently removed its reward programme and scrapped annual fees.
Pros
- A low ongoing interest rate (variable)
- No annual fee
Cons
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- Each additional card incurs a fee (£20)
- Only available to existing customers
- You may be offered an opening credit limit as low as £250
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | Bank of China (UK) |
| Network | Visa |
| Representative APR | 13.5% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Purchases | 12.7% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 50 |
| Potential costs | 2.5 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 3.5 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder score | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 5% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 5% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £0 |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2% |
| Cash advance fee | 2% (min. £0) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £3 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £0 |
| Additional card fee | £20 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Availability | Available to existing customers |
The Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold Credit Card is issued on the Visa network (used by a whopping 4.2 billion cards), so you'll be able to use it at more than 100 million merchant locations across more than 200 countries and territories.
How does this card compare with other similar cards on the market?
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 cards and want to apply, here's what to do:
- Check the eligibility criteria. You can only apply if you're 18 or more and already have a current account with Bank of China, with no history of missing payments or bad debt.
- Download and fill in the application form. It's available on Bank of China's website. You'll have to provide your personal information and details of your employment.
- Visit a branch. Bring the application form, your ID, a bank statement of the last three months and proof of your current employment.
Bank of China has five branches in the UK: two in London and one in Manchester, Birmingham and Glasgow. Unfortunately, you cannot apply for this card online.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold Credit Card?
If Bank of China (UK) offers you this deal, it 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) 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 Gold 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 Gold Credit Card is 2%.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 12.7% (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 Gold Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£171.60), it'll cost you around £3.43 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold 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.
Finder credit card scores
Our experts score low rate credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like exactly how low the low rate is, any perks/benefits, 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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