Allied Irish Bank (GB) Classic Credit Card review
- Representative example:
- When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.64% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £8 per annum, your representative rate is 24.3% APR (variable).
- Interest-free each billing period
- Up to 56 days
- Minimum credit limit
- £500
Our verdict
A straightforward credit card for existing AIB customers.This credit card is as straightforward as it gets: it does the job, but doesn't offer anything more than that. It's only available to existing AIB customers.
If you don't plan to carry a balance from month to month, then you'll get up to 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases each billing cycle, which really is the main pro of this card. That's in return for an account fee of £8 per annum.
Apart from keeping accounts "under one roof", there's little to encourage you to choose this card over others available on the market. Fees are very average, interest rates on purchases and balance transfers aren't competitive and there are no perks or rewards to make the rest a bit more attractive.
If you're looking to earn rewards on your spending or to spread the cost of upcoming expenditure, there are better deals out there, for those willing to shop around.
Finally, AIB cards are offered on the Visa network, so they're accepted at over 20 million locations worldwide.
Pros
-
The APR is relatively low
Cons
-
It's only available to existing customers
-
£8 per annum annual fee
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You're unlikely to be approved if you have bad credit
-
There's plenty of better options out there that don't charge annual fees
Details
Product overview
| Issuer | Allied Irish Bank (GB) |
| Network | Visa |
| Annual/monthly fees | £8 per annum |
| Balance transfers | 20.64% |
| Balance transfer fee | 1.5% |
| Purchases | 20.64% |
| Purchases interest-free period | Up to 56 days |
| Money transfers | 20.64% |
| Cash advances | 22.79% |
| Minimum credit limit | £500 |
| Maximum credit limit | Subject to status |
| Additional cards available | 1 |
| Potential costs | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
| Doing its job | 2.5 ★★★★★ |
| Extras | 2.0 ★★★★★ |
| Overall Finder Score | 3.0 ★★★★★ |
Fees and charges
| Minimum monthly payment | 3% or £5 (whichever is greater) or the total of any interest, default fees and charges plus 1% of the outstanding balance. |
| Annual/monthly fees | £8 per annum |
| Balance transfer fee | 1.5% |
| Foreign usage charge (EU) | 2.75% |
| Foreign usage charge (rest of world) | 2.75% |
| Cash advance fee | 1.5% (min. £3) |
| Late payment fee | £12 |
| Duplicate statement fee | £10 |
| Exceeding limit fee | £12 |
| Additional card fee | £0 |
| Dormancy fee | £0 |
Application requirements
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Availability | Available to existing customers |
How does this card compare with other similar cards on the market?
Compare low rate credit cards
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
Repayment options
You can make manual repayments through Allied Irish Bank (GB)'s app by logging in to your online banking or over the phone (0345 600 5204). 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 your options and wish to apply for an AIB card, you'll need to head to a branch or phone AIB on 0345 600 5204.
Frequently asked questions
What credit limit will I get with the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Classic Credit Card?
If Allied Irish Bank (GB) offers you this deal, it will specify a personalised credit limit based on Allied Irish Bank (GB)'s assessment of your situation. The minimum limit offered on this card is £500, and Allied Irish Bank (GB) does not specify a maximum. Once you've had the card for a while and shown Allied Irish Bank (GB) you're reliable, you may wish to apply for a credit limit increase.
Can I withdraw cash using the Allied Irish Bank (GB) 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 Allied Irish Bank (GB) Classic Credit Card is 1.5% (min. £3). For example, if you withdraw £50, you'll incur a fee of £3.00. Withdraw £250 and you'll incur a fee of £3.75.
The interest rate on this part of your balance will be 22.79% (chargeable from the day of the transaction – the card's usual "up to 56 days interest-free" grace period won't apply).
How much does it cost to use the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Classic Credit Card abroad?
Non-sterling transactions are subject to a 2.75% charge. For example, if you spend 200 euros (£168.85), it'll cost you around £4.64 in fees.
What is the minimum payment on the Allied Irish Bank (GB) Classic Credit Card?
Each month, you must pay at least 3% of your balance at that point or £5.00 – whichever of the 2 figures is greater. So if you had, say, £150.00 outstanding, you'd pay £5.00, and if you had £666.67 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 credit cards to determine their value against similar products on the market. We look at a number of important factors, like its suitability for its intended purpose, any perks/extras it brings to the table, 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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