AIB

Compare AIB credit cards (formerly First Trust Bank) June 2023

While you won't find 0% balance transfer or purchase deals in First Trust's range, you can expect flexibility, competitive ongoing rates, appealing rewards and no annual fees.

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Compare AIB cards

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 4 of 4
Name Product Ratings Customer rating Finder rating Purchases Balance transfers Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
AIB Student Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
12.9%
N/A
£0
12.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).
AIB Options 2 Credit Card
Not yet rated
Not yet rated
Not yet rated
16.9%
16.9%
(1.5% fee)
£0
16.9% APR (variable)
Option 1 is also available & customers can switch between the options even if the outstanding balance is not cleared in full each month.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 16.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 16.9% APR (variable).
AIB Options 1 Credit Card
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
18.9%
18.9%
(1.5% fee)
£0
18.9% APR (variable)
0.5% after £5000 of yearly spend. Minimum of 12 transactions per year required. Maximum of £250 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. For initial £5K a £25 cashback is paid, plus an additional £1 for every further £200 spent.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 18.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.9% APR (variable).
AIB Gold Charge
Finder score
★★★★★
Not yet rated
★★★★★
Expert analysis
N/A
£0
N/A (this product is a charge card).

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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.

What is AIB?

AIB Group is a commercial banking group in Northern Ireland. As such, it forms part of one of the “Big Four” banks in Northern Ireland. First Trust Bank was formed in 1991 when TSB Northern Ireland merged with AIB Group’s other interests, then in 2019 it made the switch to simply “AIB”.

Its credit cards are issued on the Visa or Mastercard networks (you can decide which you’d rather), meaning they’re accepted pretty much everywhere that takes plastic. For most of us, either network is perfectly fine, but you can read up on some of the differences between the biggest card networks.

Types of AIB credit cards

AIB offers a range of credit cards designed to suit a range of purposes.

  • Cashback cards. If you don’t anticipate carrying a balance from month to month, you could benefit from cashback on all purchases combined with interest-free days each billing cycle, meaning your credit card could earn rather than cost you money.
    Compare cashback credit cards
  • Low rate cards. For those who aren’t impressed by 0% periods that expire only to be replaced with punishing rates, or those who don’t anticipate carrying a balance from month to month, low rate cards can be a hassle-free option.
    Compare low rate credit cards
  • Student cards. If you don’t carry a balance from month to month and use a student card responsibly, it could help you to handle fluctuating costs and help kickstart a positive credit record, standing you in good stead for your future borrowing requirements.
    Compare student credit cards
  • Charge cards. Charge cards come with a 0% ongoing interest rate, but your balance must be settled in full every month or you’ll incur late payment charges.

What's the difference between a charge card and credit card?

With a charge card, you’re expected to clear your balance in full every month. As such, these cards don’t charge interest, although there are usually harsh fees if you fail to clear your balance. The benefits of charge cards include flexibility over payments (purchases at the start of the billing cycle are paid for at the end of the billing cycle) and in some cases, rewards on your spending. Charge cards can come with a monthly or annual fee attached and do not offer purchase protection under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.

While charge cards are fairly rare in the consumer space, they are more prevalent in business banking.

What benefits can I get with an AIB Bank credit card?

  • 24-hour customer support. The AIB customer care team is on hand around the clock to answer any queries you have.
  • No annual/monthly fees. You will not be charged an annual fee on any of the AIB credit cards.
  • Global usage. The AIB credit cards are part of the Visa and Mastercard networks, meaning they are accepted at more than 35 million locations worldwide.
  • Contactless payments. All the AIB credit cards are enabled for contactless payments of under £45.
  • Enhanced security. Have peace of mind when shopping online with Verified by Visa and Mastercard SecureCode.
  • Online account management. See your balance and make a payment at any time, from anywhere.

Applying for an AIB credit card

  1. Fill out the application form on the website with your basic personal and contact details.
  2. An AIB advisor will call you to complete your application. This will take about 10 minutes. Alternatively, you can call the AIB freephone number.
  3. A credit check will be performed based on the information you have given and you will receive a quick decision.
  4. Once approved, you should receive your new AIB credit card within 3–5 working days.

Eligibility requirements

To be eligible for an AIB credit card, you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Be resident in the UK.
  • Have an AIB current account.
  • You must ensure that you can meet the repayments. Missed payments incur a charge and could have severe consequences on your ability to obtain future credit.

For the Student Mastercard, you must also be in full-time education as a third-level student.

Why might you not be approved?

On the whole, if you meet the eligibility requirements but have a history of bad debt or no credit history at all, you may be rejected. Equally if you’re in an IVA or have had a CCJ you may not be accepted. If you’ve ever declared bankruptcy you’re also unlikely to receive a card.

AIB customer reviews

AIB has received mostly negative reviews from customers, according to review platform Trustpilot. It currently has a rating of 1.9 out of 5, based on more than 120 reviews (updated 11 March 2021).

Some customers cited poor customer service, and issues when using their cards.

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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