Coutts and Co Silk Credit Card review 2023

Enjoy luxurious gifts and 24/7 expert advice for your travels with this VIP credit card.

Finder rating: ★★★★★

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Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 14.71% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 14.7% APR (variable).

14.7%

Representative APR

0%

Foreign transaction charge

£0

Account fee

Up to 46 days

Interest-free each billing period

Details

IssuerCoutts & Co
NetworkMastercard
Representative APR14.7% APR (variable)
Annual/monthly fees£0
Additional Rewards InfoThank You From Coutts - as spending increases cardholders automatically become eligible for a choice of gifts.
Lounge accessMembership to LoungeKey, access to over 700 airport lounges worldwide. Charged at £20 per person per visit.
Purchases14.71%
Purchases interest-free period (days)46
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

A private bank known for its three-century-long history and for being used by the British Royal Family, Coutts isn’t exactly your average financial institution.

However, if you are lucky enough to be part of Coutts’ exclusive club of customers, this credit card’s impressive series of perks is within your reach.

While “gold” credit cards usually charge expensive annual fees that are balanced out by generous reward programmes and wide ranges of perks, Coutts Silk Credit Card comes for free and sticks to high-quality services and luxurious gifts.

Especially suitable for frequent travellers, this card’s benefits include fee-free spending abroad, LoungeKey access and the opportunity to get a series of gift cards to spend in flights, hotels, experiences, food and drink and more.

Coutts’ Concierge Team will advise you and solve problems for you 24 hours a day, be it to deal with accommodation and car hire or to book exclusive dinner reservations and theatre tickets.

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Pros and cons

Pros

  • Avoid currency conversion charges when spending abroad
  • Airport lounge access
  • No annual fee

Cons

  • Applicants with low credit scores are unlikely to be eligible
  • Only available to existing customers

Compare Coutts alternatives

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first

If (as is the case for most of us) a Coutts credit card is out of your reach right now, there are plenty of cards like Coutts credit cards on the market to make you feel like a VIP. American Express offers an impressive selection of cards catering to all sorts of consumers, all with rewards attached, from lounge access to hotel upgrades.

Much more of a luxury option than your average credit card, premium American Express cards come with perks aplenty. Expect to pay an annual fee, but in some cases this will be waived for the first year.
1 - 3 of 3
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
29.7%
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
73.8% APR (variable)
2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 73.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
29.7%
£250 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
110.7% APR (variable)
Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. New Cardmembers Only

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £250 per annum, your representative rate is 110.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
The Platinum Card® by American Express
29.7%
£575 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
464.4% APR (variable)
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points plus £200 Credit towards your next getaway with Amex Travel Online when you spend £6,000 in your first 6 months of Cardmembership. Offer ends 13 June 2023. Terms apply.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £575 per annum, your representative rate is 464.4% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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With an American Express reward card you earn points on almost everything you purchase. With pure reward cards, instead of just cashback, you build up points for all the spending you do and these can be exchanged for exclusive rewards including flights, hotels, gift cards and more.
1 - 3 of 3
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
The American Express Rewards® Credit Card
29.7%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
29.7% APR (variable)
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 29.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Nectar Credit Card
29.7%
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £25 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
35.3% APR (variable)
Earn 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months. Earn a minimum of 3 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent at Nectar partners, and 2 Nectar points for virtually every £1 spent elsewhere.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £25 per annum, your representative rate is 35.3% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
29.7%
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
73.8% APR (variable)
2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 73.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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With an American Express cashback card you’ll be able to enjoy cashback on almost everything you purchase.
1 - 2 of 2
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
American Express® Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card
29.7%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
29.7% APR (variable)
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 29.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Platinum Cashback Credit Card
29.7%
£25 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
35.3% APR (variable)
New cardmember offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first three months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.75% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1.25% cashback on purchases.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 35.3% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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American Express has teamed up with BA to enable you to earn Avios on your day-to-day spending. You can use your Avios to buy flights, hotel stays, car hire and more.
1 - 3 of 3
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
British Airways American Express® Credit Card
29.7%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
29.7% APR (variable)
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 29.7% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card
29.7%
Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
73.8% APR (variable)
2 points earned per £1 spent on travel related purchases and spending abroad. 3 points for every £1 spent when booking through American Express Travel.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum, your representative rate is 73.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
British Airways American Express® Premium Plus Card
29.7%
£250 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
110.7% APR (variable)
Earn 25,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms apply. 18+, subject to status. New Cardmembers Only

Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.7% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £250 per annum, your representative rate is 110.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
loading

Repayment options

You can make manual repayments through Coutts & Co's app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (020 7753 1000). 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, or losing any promotional rates as a result (although there's no penalty fee for late payments to worry about, there are still plenty of other good reasons not to miss a payment).

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 for the Silk Credit Card

Coutts is well-known for the high standards it sets to accept new customers. If you try to apply online, you'll be asked about your annual income and total assets, and if you don't have either a £1 million to invest or an annual income of at least £500,000, you'll just get a message that suggests an alternative banking option.

If you do manage to become a customer and you can't wait to have Coutts Silk Credit Card in your wallet, you can speak to your financial adviser or call Coutts' customer service.

Frequently asked questions

Can I withdraw cash using the Coutts & Co Silk 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 Coutts & Co Silk Credit Card is 2% (min. £1.5). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £1.50. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £5.00.

The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 14.71% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 46 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).

What is the minimum payment on the Coutts & Co Silk 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.

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