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Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold Credit Card review 2023
Bank of China customers can enjoy a well-below-average interest rate with this solid credit card.
- Very competitive interest rate.
- There’s a hefty annual fee.
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Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £40 per annum, your representative rate is 20.1% APR (variable).
20.1%
Representative APR
£40
Yearly account fee
Earn 10 points
per £1 spent
Up to 50 days
Interest-free each billing period
Details
| Issuer | Bank of China (UK) |
|---|---|
| Network | Visa |
| Representative APR | 20.1% APR (variable) |
| Annual/monthly fees | £40 per annum |
| Loyalty scheme | Points |
| Incentive | Earn 10 points per £1 spent on card; points can be redeemed for selected gifts or card annual fee waiver. |
| Purchases | 12.7% |
| Purchases interest-free period (days) | 50 |
| Potential costs | ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | ★★★★★ |
| Extras | ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder rating | ★★★★★ |
Review by
Chris Lilly
chris.lilly@finder.comChris 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
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. The higher annual fee is compensated by a lower interest rate than the one offered by its twin, Bank of China’s classic credit card option.
Technically, you also earn rewards while you’re spending. With such a limited choice of gifts and the number of points they’ll cost you, it probably isn’t the case to get overexcited about it, but if you spend enough, you may still be able to use the points to waive the annual fee completely, thus getting the card for free.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Earn points on day-to-day spending
Cons
- £40 annual account fee
- Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
- Each additional card incurs a fee (£20)
- 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
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) 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 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 (£172.04), it'll cost you around £3.44 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.
Can I request an additional Bank of China (UK) Great Wall International Gold Credit Card?
Yes, you can request one more. Each card comes with an additional fee of £20. 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
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
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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